A Look Into The Past: A History Of Modern Braid Styles

A Look Into The Past: A History Of Modern Braid Styles

Braids are an incredible hairstyle that has been around for centuries now. They can elevate your look and they are a great way to get creative with your hair. Of course, to understand the different styles, you need to know where they came from.

So, here is your ultimate guide to the history of braid styles and how they differ from each other.

The Origin Of Braided Hairstyles

Braided hairstyles have been known to exist since 3,500 BC. We know this because ancient African cave paintings show images of various women with braided hairstyles. These braids were weaved close to the scalp and in modern times these braids are known as cornrows.

At that time, braids were a big part of the identity of the African people. Other people could depict everything about the identity of a person through their braids. It helped express:

• Societal status
• Family lineage
• Age
• Ethnicity
• Religious beliefs

Men, women, and children had their hair braided in some way to reflect all of these things.

Braids And The Modern Culture

One thing you probably don't know is that braids are a symbol of resilience from trans-Atlantic slavery and colonization. That is because to strip African people of their identity, their heads were shaved. So, people started wearing them more to show their strength.

Here are three purposes braids fulfilled at that time:

• Kept hair out of the way while doing labor
• Became a symbol of communication between people
• It could last a long time without needing to be cared for

Now, people wear braids to protect the integrity, length, and volume of their hair. They are the perfect style to wear on vacations or during the workweek. Here are the many braids that are in these days and everything you need to know about them:

1. Box Braids

Box braids are a big part of pop culture. Singers such as Brandy and Janet Jackson brought box braids into style in the 90s. After that, many followed suit and it became one of the most popular braids out there.

The best part about a box braid is that you have infinite options when it comes to styling. You can choose from an endless variety of lengths, colors, accessories, and much more. You can also opt for box braids extensions to achieve the best look.

2. Passion Twists

Passion twists have gained popularity in recent years. That is because this style is known to be easy to make, romantic, and a fun way to style hair. However, these twists are more unique than normal braided hairstyles.

In passion twists, the hair is not braided all the way through. Instead, the twists are braided at the root of the hair. After that, the hair is divided into two parts that are intertwined till the end.

The primary aim of passion twists is to provide the hair with a voluminous and luscious look. However, the best part is that it consumes less time to take than conventional braids. You can also opt for passion twist style extensions to save more time.

3. Crochet Braids

These braids are a technique more than a style. The style of crochet braids is one where extensions are applied to the cornrows. However, the hair is looser in this style and there is no weft.

These braids are not sewn in the hair. Instead, they are secured under the cornrows using a needle and then secured with a knot. Many people have opted for crochet braids in recent years.

That is because they are fast to do, they are affordable, and they are great for girls who want to do DIYs. If you also want to make your hair look better, you can opt for crochet hair extensions.

4. Senegal Twist Style

These are some of the most popular hairstyles after cornrows and box braids. That is because achieving this twist style is incredibly easy and it saves the time of people. To achieve this look, two strands are wrapped around each other for each section of the hair.

The Senegal twist style will always be there for you on the days you don't know what hairstyle to make. You can make it easily as it doesn’t require much knowledge or work to achieve this look.

5. Cornrows

It all started with the cornrows. These were the first braid hairstyles that came into existence, and they are still a big part of braided hairstyles. The style can be as simple or as complex as you like depending on the intricacy of the want.

If you want even more volume, length, and drama, then you can add hair extensions to achieve your desired look. Everyone from celebrities to influencers to bloggers has worn this hairstyle. It is the foundation of braid hairstyles and it will never get old.

How To Achieve Braided Hairstyles

You can make the braids such as crochet braids, crochet twist braids style, box braids, Senegal twist style, and passion twists yourself. However, if you want to save time and you don’t want to go through the hassle and time-consuming process of making a braid on your own, then you can just opt for braid hair extensions.

Braid hair extensions don't require much time and effort, and you can simply secure them in your hair along with your natural hair braid. Extensions add more volume to the hair and it will make them look voluminous and luscious. Of course, for that, you need to choose the right kind of extensions to suit your braided style.

Final Words

That is all you need to know about the history of braids, their origin, and the different braids that exist in the modern world. By far, cornrows, crochet braids, and box braids are the most popular options among people out there. You can choose the one that you think suits you the most and make the best out of your hair. After all, braids will never go out of style.