A set of fresh braids means something. Black women don’t get them only because they’re cute, although of course they are that, too. We get them because we’re preparing for rest, romance, adventure, and reinvention. They’re a protective style but also an act of proactive beauty.
I still remember being a kid, sitting on the floor between my Aunt Elaine’s legs as she braided my hair and we laughed at a TV comedy marathon to pass the time. Many hours later, I stood up with waist-length box braids swinging down my back like I’d unlocked a new level of fly. I can now see this experience for what it really was: a lesson on patience and love that I didn’t even know I was learning. Braids are about endurance, care, and tradition. Somebody taking the time.
Braids also carry so much history, so many crucial reminders. Cornrow designs once mapped escape routes during slavery. Women braided grains of rice into their hair for sustenance on their journeys, literally weaving in what we needed to survive. Today, the stakes are different, but the symbolism remains.
Even in a bustling braid shop packed with busy hands tethered to countless crowns of hair, there is an overwhelming sense of being part of something special. And I love the rituals behind each look. There are vacation braids, for which the appointment on your calendar is basically a boarding pass. There are birth braids that let you focus on contractions and cuddles instead of wash day. There are back-to-school braids, prom braids, breakup braids, new-job braids…the list goes on and on. There isn’t a milestone that wouldn’t benefit from—or be made better by—some badass plaits, be they cornrows, box braids, knotless braids, Fulani braids, goddess braids, or stitch braids.
Each style speaks its own language and tells its own story, something our pop culture icons know well. Living rent-free in my head are Janet Jackson’s iconic jumbo box braids in the movie Poetic Justice. Alicia Keys’ signature micro straightbacks. Serena Williams and Venus Williams serving braids, beads, and backhands. Lina Bonet’s boho-chic installs. And Beyoncé leaning backward out of a car window in her Lemonade-era honey-hued sideswept plaits.
Braids are art and ancestry, a love letter to where we’ve been and where we’re going. They’re also a fuss-free flex, and the products below will help get you ready for whatever comes next.
A must-have spray for soothing itchiness, cutting buildup, and making your scalp feel fresh again. I use this about twice a week whenever I have a set of braids or any other protective style.
Frizz and flyaways don’t stand a chance with this foam that keeps braids neat, shiny, and locked in place.
Protective styles give your hair a break, but your scalp still needs love. This nutrient-rich serum keeps things happy and healthy.
Most hair clips can’t handle the volume, but this magnetic snap design makes ponytails and buns actually doable. Genius!
Created by celebrity hairstylist Naivasha Grace, this hydrating pomade lays your edges and creates the crispest parts and sections for a polished final look.
A few drops of this lightweight oil (it smells like wealth and abundance!) will bring dry braids back to their glory. Pro tip: Use this right after washing your braids and cleansing your scalp.
This gold-plated charm gave my braids the same effect a great piece of jewelry gives an outfit—instantly elevated. They feel refined and luxe, and I love that they make protective styles look intentionally styled.
This will seriously cut my takedown time in half. Less breakage, less frustration, and way easier on my hands than a rattail comb.
This gel gave my braids hold without the crunch. My parts stayed sleek for days, and the shine? Soft, healthy, never greasy.
This bb is going to give you the cleanest parts and slicks down the baby hairs around your braids like a dream. Plus, it has some real weight to it, which gives incredible control and feels luxe.
Julee Wilson is Beauty Editor at Large at Cosmopolitan. Previously, Julee was Beauty Director at Cosmo and Global Beauty Director at Essence and has held various editorial positions at Huffington Post and Real Simple. She counts herself lucky AF that she gets to play with beauty products for a living and tell dope stories. And if you’re as obsessed with beauty as she is, make sure to follow her on Instagram for plenty of product recs, natural hair inspo, skincare testing, and Black girl magic shenanigans.
