I don't know if you've taken a look outside your window lately, but, uh, summer is approaching. For lots of folks, the summer months are synonymous with wearing bikinis, spending time on rooftops, and just soaking in plenty of sun in general. While that's true for myself and almost every other Black woman I know, it's also the most perfect time to rock protective styles [1] like braids. Styles like box braids and cornrows are fun and low-maintenance, and, most importantly, installing them buys you a few weeks of time to not worry about how to wear or style your hair.
Even though a lot of us will be staying home this summer, that doesn't make it any less necessary to keep the manipulation of your natural hair to a minimum. In case you're looking for some braid inspiration, we spoke to celebrity stylist Annagjid "Kee" Taylor [2] about the two braid trends [3] she predicts will rule the summer.
Summer Braid Trend: Bohemian Box Braids
If you're looking to try out a style that makes your hair look perfectly undone, consider looking into bohemian box braids.
"This is a newer version of box braids where there are hairs left out of the braid for a more casual undone-yet-cool look," Taylor said. "Most of us who get box braids actually wait for that moment where the hairs start to come out a bit and we can wear the style with baby hairs! This style is almost a blend of faux locs [4] and goddess locs, so there's a timeless vibe to it while it still feels really modern and fresh."
Summer Braid Trend: Knotless Box Braids
Knotless box braids [5] aren't new — they've been growing in popularity since last spring — but Taylor predicts that this will still lead as a go-to style for those of us looking to protect our ends without putting too much stress on our scalps.
"This style is better for your hair because there's less tension on the strands," Taylor said. "This is a healthier alternative to box braids and looks super natural, plus it's a great protective style to wear while we're [social distancing]."