Braids and plaits

The choti, French and Dutch braids, cornrows, box braids and the fishtail. 28 hairstyles on EveryHairstyle so far.

Braids, or plaits, are made by weaving three or more strands of hair over and under one another. They are among the oldest hairstyles: figurines carved more than 25,000 years ago appear to show braided or coiled hair. Every region has its own braids, from the single long choti of South India to the cornrows of West Africa, the Russian braid and the French and Dutch braids of the school playground.

Kinds of braid

The basic plait crosses three strands in turn. A French braid picks up new hair at each cross and lies flat on the head; a Dutch braid crosses under, so it stands up. Cornrows are many small Dutch-style braids in close rows. Box braids hang free from square sections, often with added hair. A fishtail uses only two sections. Each braid can be large or small, tight or loose, and decorated with beads, ribbons, flowers or tassels.

Meaning and history

In much of Africa, braid patterns have long shown a person's region, age, marriage, rank or mourning, and named styles such as the Yoruba shuku are still worn. In Russia and Ukraine a single braid was the sign of an unmarried girl. Braids travelled with the African diaspora and became a powerful sign of identity; in recent decades laws such as the CROWN Acts in the United States have protected braids at school and work.