20 Braided Hairstyles That Look Great With Short Hair

Chopping your hair off can be a liberating experience for many people. Whether you've just done a big chop, gone through a breakup, or simply want to mark a change in your life, the choice to cut your locks can take a heavy weight off your shoulders (via Elite Daily).

Something that can add more pressure, however, is figuring out a way to style your hair once it's short. While there are a number of celebrities who transformed their looks with a haircut and serve as short-hair inspirations, they have a glam team while all you may have is a brush and a dream. Elaborate braids are often created with longer hair, but it doesn't mean these looks can't be recreated with shorter hair.

Experimenting with your hair can make the growing-out process seem to take less time and allow you to learn to love your shorter strands. It's not always easy, but there are tons of guides on the internet to help you learn to braid your short hair.

Aside from the "The Rachel" and messy buns held up by scrunchies, pigtails are another one of the '90s hairstyles predicted to make a 2023 comeback. While the style has been rocked by long-haired celebrities such as Yara Shahidi and Tessa Thompson, the style can easily be worn with short hair, too (via Glamour UK). A simple Dutch braid, aka an inverted French braid, will help you complete the style. Section your hair into two and tie one section off to the side, instructs A Beautiful Mess. Split one side into three and braid down, repeating on the other side.

If you think you can't fit your hair into a rope braid, think again. A take on the style that was popularized a few years ago, this tutorial from YouTube creator Milabu shows you how you can transform your short locks into a style that looks way more complicated than it actually is. According to the video, the style is created by twisting the hair and adding some pieces as you go down. Pull the braids slightly for some volume and use hairspray to set them in place.

Straightback cornrows will simply never go out of fashion. They're not just for wearing under wigs and head wraps, but they get your hair out of your face while accentuating it. A great protective style for natural hair, it remains a classic in the Black community (via Essence). From Alicia Keys to Keke Palmer, the style has been worn time and time again. If you're part of the Black girl brigade that can't braid, this TikTok tutorial for jumbo cornrows will have you braiding in no time.

Reject the polished look and opt for a messy, sexy, just rolled-out-of-bed look instead. Creating a deep part on one side of your hair, braid the bangs into either a French or Dutch braid and tie it at the back (via Byrdie). Then, do the same on the other side of your head. Loosen the hair slightly and use a teasing comb to lightly brush upward. Pin the braids at the back of your head and put the rest of your hair into a bun, placing the braids inside using bobby pins.

Growing out your bangs can be a long and frustrating process. Yet once they're at the length you want them, having wisps of hair flowing in your face is even more annoying. With a fishtail knot braid, you can lift your hair away from your face without simply resorting to a messy bun or an abundance of bobby pins. Create a fishtail braid on each side of your head, tying them with an elastic band. Bring them toward the back and tie them together in a knot, says All things Hair, holding them in place with a bobby pin.

Bolder than your average top knot, this style is business in the front and party in the back with the addition of a Dutch bun. If you struggle to put your hair into a bun, it's also great for stretching out the hair to ensure that it all fits. Split your hair into two from ear to ear, as this creator does in a YouTube video. Create a Dutch braid at the back of your hair, going up until you create a ponytail. Combine the two sections into a bun and use bobby pins to keep it in place.

In order to protect your natural hair, doing protective styles every few months is necessary. While box braids have been a popular style for decades, consider doing knotless braids instead. Knotless braids offer tension-free styling that allows your hair to grow without added pressure on the roots, says Pattern Beauty. If you want to embrace the length of your hair, spring for a knotless braid bob, like this cross between boho and knotless braids from Vandy Vanity on YouTube.

Embrace your inner child and the Y2K aesthetic with mini braids and beads. This protective style allows you to get a break from your hair without having to add extensions if you don't want to. Angie Adisa on YouTube shows how to do the simple yet chic style. Add beads and switch them up to match your mood or outfit. One of the best parts about this style is that you can install faux locs if you want to protect your hair longer.

Throughout time, the pixie haircut has never failed to be a daring and dynamic haircut. While the style is versatile and looks good with everything, the growing-out stage is infamously aggravating, particularly if your bangs start to grow out longer than the rest of the hair. The best part about this, however, is that the longer your hair grows, the more styling options there are available to you. All Things Hair explains that a simple French braid across the hairline will elevate your short strands.

A faux hawk braid is the perfect juxtaposition of femininity and boldness. The striking look is a great style for events, but it can be a bit hard to achieve on shorter hair. With a pull-through braid, you can mimic the look without actually having the length to achieve it. Per Glamour UK, the pull-through method is done by twisting two sections of hair around a strand in the center. For short hair, this YouTube tutorial from Amanda Cypert Beauty shows how it can be accomplished.