Collage of Black men with different braid styles, including box braids, Dutch braids, and side braids, showing versatile and trendy looks for Black men.

10 Braid Styles Any Black Man Can Wear

Last Updated: October 12, 2025

This guide is reviewed and refreshed to stay up to date.

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NECK TATTOO IDEAS HERE

Hey brothers, if you’re thinking about getting braids and want a good style, this guide’s for you.

Let’s go over 10 braid styles every Black Man should try.

Braid Styles for Black Men

Box Braids

Two Black men with medium-length box braids featuring clean partings and a natural hanging braid style, showcasing a trendy and low-maintenance protective look.
Two Black men with clean and stylish box braids, showcasing different parting patterns and braid thickness for a modern protective hairstyle.

Box braids are the perfect choice for Black Men if you’re looking for a protective braided style. 

There are different partings you can get, and haircuts to go along with.

Triangle Box Braids

Two Black men with triangle box braids showing sharp parting patterns and clean sectioning for a bold, geometric braided hairstyle.

High-taper Box Braids

Two views of a Black man with high taper box braids featuring sharp parting and clean fade, showing a detailed and stylish protective braid look.
Black man with high taper box braids featuring clean parting and a faded lineup, showing a modern and stylish braided look with defined sections.

If you’re thinking about pairing your braids with a clean fade or taper, check out 8 Fade and Taper Hairstyles for Black Men to find the perfect match.

Larger box braids

Two Black men with larger box braids featuring clean parting and thick braids, showing a bold and low-maintenance protective hairstyle.
Black men with larger box braids featuring thick, well-defined sections and clean parting, showing a bold and stylish protective braid look.
Two Black men with larger box braids featuring clean parting and thick, even sections, showing a bold and stylish braided hairstyle for men.
Two Black men with larger box braids showing clean parting and thick sections, including a polished style similar to A$AP Rocky’s signature braids.

These are perfect choices for box-braids, and you can choose between any of them.

If you’re thinking of getting dreads, here are 13 dread hairstyles you can check out here.

Pop Smoke Braids

Two Black men with Pop Smoke braids featuring clean middle parts and thick cornrow sections, showcasing the iconic protective hairstyle popularized by Pop Smoke.

These are probably one of the most popular braid styles out right now.

Everyone wants these. 

Looking for a similar style, here’s another one:

Side Braids

Two Black men wearing side braids with clean fades and sharp parts, showing a neat and modern take on the classic braided hairstyle.
Two Black men with side braids featuring clean parts and tight cornrows, showing a sleek protective style with a modern twist.
Two Black men with clean side braids featuring sharp parting and tapered fades, highlighting a fresh and stylish braided look.

Dutch Braids

Close-up of a Black man with clean Dutch braids paired with a sharp fade haircut, showing a detailed, modern protective style with tight braid definition.
Black man wearing neat Dutch braids with a clean taper fade, showcasing a tight, defined braid pattern that highlights texture and length.
Black man with two tight Dutch braids and a clean fade haircut, showing a sharp part and neat braid definition for a polished protective style.
Two views of a Black man with Dutch braids featuring clean parting and a natural finish, showing a neat and well-maintained protective braid style.

Personally, these are my favorite, however you’ll need consistent haircuts every two-three weeks to keep up the look. 

Also, you’d need hair on the longer side, I’d say around 8-12 inches.

If you don’t want to deal with longer styles, or weekly haircuts. 

Here’s 10 low-maintenance hairstyles for black men you can wear.

Drake Braids

Drake wearing his signature braided hairstyle with clean middle parts and tapered sides, showing a modern protective look popular among Black men.

If you like Drake, these are one of his popular braid styles. 

Check out my full Drake guide covering his haircut, fashion, and tattoos.

A$AP Rocky Braids

Side-by-side images of A$AP Rocky showing his signature box braids hairstyle, a popular braided look among Black men known for clean parting and stylish pattern.

A$AP Rocky’s signature box braids are hot right now, and a lot of Black men want this look.

You can also check out my full A$AP Rocky guide.

Shai-Gilgeous-Braids

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wearing his signature braids with clean middle parts and neat styling, showcasing a trendy and confident braided look for Black men.

SGA’s signature braids are tough too.

You can also check out my full SGA guide.

Braids Maintenance & Aftercare Tips

Taking care of your braids is super important. 

Here are four tips: 

  1. Wash your scalp every 1–2 weeks to remove buildup and keep it clean.
  1. Use a light oil like jojoba or argan to prevent dryness and frizz.
  1. Sleep with a durag or satin bonnet to protect your braids at night.
  2. 6 to 8 weeks max is best for healthy hair and scalp.

Here’s some tattoo ideas you can get to match your braids:

30 forearm tattoo ideas for Black men

36 neck tattoo ideas for Black men

35 chest tattoo ideas for Black men

Braid Hairstyles FAQ

What are the best braid styles for beginners?

If you’re new to braiding, start with simple styles like box braids. They’re easy to maintain and don’t require tight grip or advanced parting skills.

How long do braid hairstyles usually last?

Most protective braid styles last between 2 to 4 weeks depending on the type, hair texture, and how well you maintain them. 

Box braids tend to last longer with proper care.

Do braids help your hair grow faster?

Braids don’t make your hair grow faster, but they can help retain length by protecting your ends and reducing breakage. 

Just avoid overly tight styles that can cause tension or damage.

How should I care for my braids at night?

Use a satin or silk bonnet, scarf, or pillowcase to reduce friction while sleeping. You can also lightly oil your scalp or apply a braid spray to keep your hair moisturized overnight.

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