6 popular long hairstyles for Black men including braids, twists, afro, and curly hair.

6 Long Hairstyles for Black Men

Last Updated: October 25, 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 growing your hair or already got some length, this guide’s for you.

Let’s go over 6 long hairstyles every Black man can try.

Some styles in this article might need curling, so check out this curling guide for 4c hair first and then come back to pick the hairstyle for you.

in a hurry?

use this 👇

Long Hairstyles for Black Men

1. Braids

Travis Scott with two long braids and faded sides, paired with a back view of clean straight-back cornrows on a Black man.
Two Black men with straight-back braids — one with medium parts, the other with long, tucked ends.
Black men wearing cornrows and individual braids — one with a fade design and straight-back pattern, the other with loose front-hanging braids.
Two Black men with scalp braids — one with side-swept braids and a taper, the other with intricate parting and feed-in braid designs.
Two young Black men with medium-length braids — one with braids hanging forward, the other with thick box braids and a clean fade.

Braids are one of the best long hairstyles for Black men because they’re low-maintenance, protective, and look clean for weeks. 

You can go with simple straight backs, dutch braids, or add more detailed designs once your hair gets longer.

Here’s a full braids guide you can check out just for black men.

Into Tattoos? 

Here’s a full guide going over the best neck tattoo ideas in 2026 for Black Men 👇

2. Dreads

Two Black men with thick, semi-freeform dreads styled in a middle part with clean scalp designs. Both styles feature long locs with twisted roots and neat sectioning.
Two Black men with thick medium-length dreadlocks dyed light brown and blonde in the front, styled with a center part or loose flow.
Two Black men with short to medium-length blonde dyed dreadlocks—one with a full bleach look and the other with rose-gold toned locs and a taper fade.
Two Black men with short red dreadlocks styled into fresh retwists. The locs are thick, vibrant, and parted cleanly for a neat, bold finish.
Two Black men with short thick dreadlocks and clean square parts. The locs are freshly twisted and styled to hang naturally around the forehead.
Two Black men with medium-length dreadlocks and taper fades. One has freeform locs, the other has styled two-strand twists with a sharp hairline and fresh fade.
one Black men with thick freeform locs styled upward in a natural afro shape. Both have high top dreads with loose, unstructured texture and taper fades.

Dreads are a classic long hairstyle for Black men. 

They’re protective, easy to grow, and look better over time.

Check out 10+ dread styles for Black men if you’re thinking about changing up your dreads style 👇

3. Twists

Short chunky twists with no defined parting on one side, paired with clean two-strand twists and a precision middle part on the other.
Black men with neat two-strand twists and crisp parting; one with chin-length twists and a middle part, the other showing a clean top-down grid pattern.
Black men with freshly done two-strand twists and precision square parting; tight, defined twists styled with high shine and neat edges.
Black men with jumbo twist braids in clean, straight-back rows; low taper fade paired with sharp, parted sections.
Two-strand twists with curved parting and a low bun; clean taper fade and twisted ponytail on Black men.
Medium-length two-strand twists with clean square parts, mid-taper fade, and tied ponytail on a Black man.

Twists are one of the easiest styles to try when your hair gets longer. 

They’re clean, protective, and work with all curl types. 

You can keep them chunky, small, or stretch them out for more length.

If you like NBA YoungBoy, this is one of his favorite styles, and he’s even rocking the two-strand twist style currently. 

Here’s a sneak peak of the article, and if you want the whole thing. Scroll down 👇

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4. Twist Outs

Black men with long twist outs, one wearing a red Miami snapback and tee, the other styled with diamond chains and middle-parted twists falling to his chest.
Black man with twist-out hairstyle taking mirror selfies; his hair is shoulder-length, slightly frizzy, and full of texture, with visible chest tattoos in both shots.
Black man with medium-length twist outs and defined parting; front view shows thick curls hanging forward, side view shows intricate diamond part design across the scalp.
Black man with medium-length twist outs, front views showing thick curls falling forward; one with jet black twists and the other with dyed brown tips, both styled loose and natural.

Similar to the Twists style, it’s great when your hair gets really long.

Around 10 inches is when you can start experimenting with twist-outs. 

Here’s a YT video I recommend you watch to get started.

5. Regular Afro

Two curly afro hairstyles for Black men — one short and defined, one long and full.
Two afro hairstyles for Black men—one curly and one natural.
Big Sean and The Weeknd with shaped afro hairstyles.
Two afro hairstyles for Black men, one short and shaped, the other long and full.
Two afro hairstyles for Black men — one shaped short, one large and round.

This style is perfect if you’re not into protective styles, and want more of a natural grown-out look for your hair. 

Here’s a curling guide you can check out just for black men.

It covers the different curling methods black men with 4c hair can use.

6. sponged Afro W/ Taper

Two Black men with sponged afro hairstyles and clean taper fades; one has tight coils with a sharp lineup, the other pairs the look with visible chest tattoos in a mirror selfie.
Two Black men with sponged afros and sharp taper fades. The curls are tight and defined, with a clean hairline and low taper around the ears and neck.
Two Black men with short, sponged afros and crisp taper fades. Both styles feature clean hairlines, tight curls, and low-maintenance cuts that frame the beard.
Smiling Black man with a classic sponged afro and smooth taper fade on both sides. Hairline is sharply defined, giving the cut a polished, low-maintenance look.

A low taper is shown on the left, while a high taper is on the right.

Both these styles are good if you’re looking for a curly, but semi-low maintenance hairstyle.

If you want more, check this out 👇

9+ low maintenance hairstyles for black men

and if you want some shorter styles, here's 4 short hairstyles just for black men.

Long Hairstyles for Black Men FAQ

What’s the best low-maintenance long hairstyle for Black men?

Twists or dreadlocks are solid options. 

Once locked up, they don’t require daily styling, just routine maintenance and moisturizing.

How do I grow my hair long without breakage?

Keep it moisturized, avoid heat, and limit tight protective styles. 

Use a satin durag or bonnet at night to reduce friction and protect your ends.

Can long hair look professional on Black men?

Absolutely. It’s all about how you maintain it. Check out this full guide on corporate haircuts just for black men.

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