Hair braiding is a well-known traditional social art.
While many believe it to have originated in Africa, there really is no way to pinpoint exactly where it first started. It is a tradition that was passed down from mothers to daughters.
From a very tender age, our mothers helped maintain our hair neat by braiding it in different styles, since it was prone to dryness and breakage.
Braiding makes African-American hair easy to maintain as it keeps moisture locked in and protects it from too much breakage resulting from combing the hair several times a day.
It also helps during the cold and rainy seasons. And let’s not forget the fact that it saves the time it takes us to get ready every morning seeing that some braids do not even require styling!
Now braiding has become the new norm, as many want to enjoy the benefits of minimal hair maintenance for 4-8 weeks at a time.
Caucasians, Blacks, and Asians often braid their hair. Among the common braiding styles are box braids, crotchet braids, cornrows, and French braids.
Black actresses in Hollywood are known to have the most beautiful braiding styles that the world dotes on.
We have seen celebrities such as Gabrielle Union, Beyoncé, Solange Knowles, Alicia Keys, and Rihanna in very unique braided looks.
The list goes on, and here are the black actresses with braids right now.
1. Serayah Ranee Mcneil
Born June 20 1995, Serayah is a Black-American actress, model, and singer. She is most famous for her role as Tiana Brown on the Television drama Empire.
Serayah has been able to pull off amazing looks in short hair, bob, afros, bangs, as well as cornrows and braids.
She recently put on long box braids with a post stating that the protective hairstyles are helping her hair grow.
Just before the box braids, she was in amazing cornrows.
2. Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys was born on January 25, 1981. She is a singer, songwriter, and actress.
She has been cast in films such as The Nanny Diaries (2007), Smokin’ Aces (2006), and The Secret Life of Bees (2008) among many more.
When it comes to hairstyles, Alicia Keys is mostly known for her cornrow braids.
As a matter of fact, there was no shortage of her photos on hair salon banners when we were growing up. We all wanted to imitate her stylish cornrows.
At the moment, the 42-year-old is in large braided twists.
3. Storm Reid
Reid is a 19-year-old American actress. She was born on July 1st, 2093, most known for the 2023 film Missing, and the 2020 horror movie The Invisible Man.
She is a huge fan of braided hairstyles and seems to go with goldish-brown braids.
Reid is currently rocking in stylish cornrows mixed with long braids, brown in color.
4. Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae is an award-winning singer, rapper, model, and actress.
She was born in Kansas City, United States on December 1st, 1985.
She is known for the 2016 films Hidden Figures and Moonlight, Glass Onion (2022), and Antebellum (2020).
She is also working on StyleLikeU: The What’s Underneath Project, an interview where she talks about her feelings towards her body and looks.
Monae favorite hairdos are black and gold hair colors.
Right now, the 37-year-old is in medium-sized long black box braids.
5. Taraji P Henson
We all love and adore Taraji for her unmatchable acting skills and beauty.
Born September 11, 1970, Taraji Penda Henson is a single mom who has managed to climb up her acting career ladder since her breakthrough in the 2001 Baby Boy film, where she starred alongside Tyrese Gibson.
She is known for her roles in the TV drama Empire (2015-2020), Think Like A Man (2012), What Men Want (2019) and Proud Mary (2018).
Though she mostly slays in blunt and asymmetrical bob wigs, she can also pull off quite an amazing look with braids.
Her current hairdo is long light brown box braids, which she has been spotted styling into a ponytail or bun.
6. Joy Bryant
Born October 11, 1974, Bryant is a Black American actress, model, and businesswoman.
She began her acting career back in 2001 and is known for Bobby (2006), Parenthood (2010-2015), Cherish The Day (2020), and Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2005).
The 48-year-old is currently rolling with long medium-sized black braids.
7. Kerry Washington
Kerry Marisa Washington (born January 31, 1977) is an American actress.
She is most famous for her roles in Scandal (2012-2018), Our Song (2000), ‘Django Unchained’ (2012), among many others.
She is currently pulling off her look in long, loosely tied blonde box braids.
8. Danai Gurira
Gurira, born on February 14, 1978, is a Zimbabwean-American actress.
You may remember her from her role in the Black Panther (2018, 2022) films, where she played Okoye, head of the Wakandan armed forces.
Other MCU films she’s featured in are Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Gurira wears her dark melanin well, with a combination of hairstyles that suit her.
We have seen her go bald, done short hair, afro, and even locs.
She is currently rocking in short, natural box twists.
9. Aja Naomi King
Naomi was born on January 11, 1985. She began her acting career in 2008 but got her breakthrough in 2014 when she was given a recurring role as Ali Henslee in Black Box.
She has played in many films and TV series such as How To Get Away With Murder (2014-2020), with some of her recent works being in Sylvie’s Love (2020), and A Little White Lie (2023).
In her latest Instagram post, Naomi is seen with braids that appear to be styled into cornrow lines.
10. Danielle Brooks
Brooks is an American actress and singer. She was born on September 17, 1989.
She rose to fame due to her roles in the TV comedy series Orange Is the New Black, and superhero series, Peacemaker.
She is currently in redhead half cornrows with a long extension hanging back.
11. Loren Lott
Lott is a 30-year-old American actress. She was born on September 9, 1992.
She is known for her roles in Tag (2018), Praise This (2023), The Porter (2022), and A Wesley Christmas (2022).
She likes to wear long and bulky hair. At the moment, she is rolling with long gold and black box braids.
12. Amandla Stenberg
Stenberg is a 24-year-old American actress.
She caught her breakthrough in the 2012 film The Hunter Games and has appeared in The Hate You Give (2018), The Darkest Minds (2018), and Everything, Everything (2017).
She has naturally curly hair, which she is good at playing around with, adding a variety of colors of long braids, bob braids, stylish cornrows, and ponytail buns.
At present, she has used long braids to make large box afro twists.
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