Braided Down
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The history of Black hair braiding runs deep. With ties extending back centuries, braids are an ever-present staple of black and subsequently popular culture. Black hairstyles are known to provoke controversy, curiosity, and oftentimes imitation that exceeds the limits of creative inspiration. Like many other aspects of Black culture, there’s been blatant appropriation regarding hairstyles–specifically braids. I’m sure we all remember when Kim Kardashian infamously attempted to coin “boxer braids,” a hairstyle better known by Black people as “cornrows.” Despite this, Black braiders have always found a way to create new, innovative, and uniquely Black styles.
Anyone who has sat down in a salon for five-plus hours to get their hair braided can attest to the skill, precision, and pure artistry that goes into creating these styles. Braids from the early 2000s exemplify this artistry perfectly, and with the whole world amid their “y2k era,” what better time to cover these iconic looks than now?
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Micro braids
Micro braids are exactly what the name entails: small braids across the head. There was no escaping those itty-bitty braids; they were THE style of the early 2000s. What made the micro braid such a staple of this era is its versatility. Wear them up or down, it was still a serve and honestly a discrete flex–micro braids were not for the tender headed nor thin-haired. Brandy, the queen of the early 2000s braid herself, is a prime example of micro braids and their versatility. Whether your ends were straightened, burned & blunt or curled with darling hair, they were still a cute everyday style that could be dressed up or down at the wearer’s discretion. Despite the long installation and even longer removal, everyone was rocking micro braids because they were just that good.
While we don’t see many people wearing microbraids today, we have seen the small knotless braids with curly ends become increasingly popular. As the knotless braids get smaller and smaller, it won’t be long before the micro braid makes its resurgence.
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Tree braids
Tree braids were the braids of illusion. Similar to microbraids, tree braids consisted of small braids across the head, only they weren’t braided all the way down, giving a wig-like effect. Another method for achieving the tree braids look is getting small cornrows down your head and braiding the desired hair into the cornrows–akin to the crochet styles that were popularized in 2016.
Both methods allowed wearers to rock whatever curl pattern or cut they desired, and it seems like Beyonce tried them all. Known for her honey-blonde hair, Beyonce would wear her tree braids in any style or texture. Both of these gorgeous looks were achieved with tree braids, and we would be remiss to forget.
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Honorable Mentions: the bob and the braided up-do
Lastly, I’d like to touch on two ways to wear braids that deserve their flowers: the bob and the braided up-do. While they’re wildly different styles, they further prove the endless possibilities with braided styles.
Braided bobs were worn in various ways— my favorite of which is the kinky twist—but bobs with burned ends were popular too. Braids in up-dos gave us timeless looks. The claw-clip updo is wildly popular today because of its predecessors, like the look to the right. Braided up-dos embodied that quintessential y2k look.
Much like the early 2000s, the braid styles of that time were fun, fresh, and unique. We won’t know how long y2k is here to stay until it's gone again but be assured that these braid styles have left a permanent stamp on our culture.
Strike out,
Kyndal Coleman
Editor: Gianna Rodriguez
Athens