5 Easy Braided Hairstyles For Natural Girls & Mommy Beginners

Hi Ladies!

Contrary to the myth, not all Black women are able to french braid or cornroll! Although I had been trying to learn ever since I was a little girl, I could never get it right! It was only a few years ago that I successfully french braided my daughter's hair and I know of multiple other Black women who have admitted that they couldn't cornrow to save their lives!

I was determined to teach myself to braid better because honestly, I can't afford to pay $50+ for a hairstyle every other week and I would rather my extra money be spent on home decor, family activities, and food I don't want to cook (like some good BBQ!).

This year, I vowed to take better care of my daughter's hair. Last year, it stayed in a top bun. All. The. Time. I washed her hair about once a month (she has a lot of hair!) and it has broken off a lot. I gave myself a pep talk and promised my daughter I would do better from here on out. One of the techniques I have incorporated for healthy hair growth is protective styling with braids. So far, so good!

I don't like to do hair often, so I opt for styles that are easy and can last a few days to a week. I could probably do an elaborate style with a lot of tiny braids but it would take longer than I would like so I prefer thicker braids.

I can't help anyone learn how to braid, but after you're done learning from a YouTube video, you can try these styles on your beautiful baby girls for practice :-)

Style #1

With this style, her hair was previously blown out a couple weeks ago. 1. I parted three large sections at the top and made three individual braids. 2. Pinned them into a bun. 4. I put 4 thick twists in back and made them into Bantu knots. 5. I took them down in the morning and pulled them up into a ponytail, leaving the top in a bun.

Style #2

1. I parted out hair in the front for a braid to go across the front and temporarily pinned it up to keep it out of my way. 2. I started the back as if I was braiding her hair into a mohawk and parted down the middle. 3. I parted and braided as I went; making 3 braids on each side. 4. I crossed the braids together going down the middle and made a little bun near her nape area. 5. I braided the section in the front and pinned it back into the other braids.

Style #3

These are actually two different styles, but they could be combed. Above, the rest of her hair wasn't braided, it was pulled back into a bun. Below, the back is braided up, but I was too lazy to finish the top of her hair and she was tired of sitting. I could have just made a big braid going across her head like the one in the photo above.

Style #4

1. I sectioned off the back of the hair and kept it out of my way with a big hair clip. 2. I parted and braided the top and put it in a bun. 3. I twisted and knotted the back. 4. Took the knots and twists down the following morning for a 'twistout'.

Style #5

2 braids. Her part in the front begins about 1.5-2 inches over from the middle and curves into the middle.

Pretty simple styles right?

You don't have to braid perfectly, I sure don't, as you can see.

I do what I can and make it work.