Do you want to explore black braided hairstyles? Whether you have long locks or medium-length hair, a braided style can give you an ethnic and polished look, leaving you with lots of options for styling. Here a few of the top black braided hairstyles.

Micro Braids
The trendiest of the black braided hairstyles right now is micro braids. Many top African American celebrities, like singer Alicia Keys, wear this hairstyle. To get the look, you’ll need to go to a braiding salon—some stylists can give you over 1,000 micro braids in an hour. Once the braids are in place, you can style your hair as normal in ponytails, updos and more.

Cornrows
For artful definition along your scalp, you can have cornrows created. Whether you have a few zig-zags that lead to braided locks at mid-scalp or an entire head of cornrows that lead to a braided pony tail, this approach will add another dimension to black braided hairstyles.

Beaded Braids
Add some color and flare to your braided hair with beads. Ask your stylist to put beads throughout or just a few on the end for a summery look.

Black Braided Updo Hairstyles
For formal or special occasions, a polished updo might be the best bet. After your hair is braided, you or your stylist can pull it up and away from your face. Go for a simple bun, use one braid to pull the rest into a ponytail or ask your stylist to come up with something more spectacular.