The Best Celebrity Box Braid Styles Throughout History

For Black and Brown folks, protective hairstyles are deeply rooted in our culture. Some people think curly and coily hair patterns are difficult and undesirable; I just think they need a little extra tender love and care. More prone to damage, whether that be from manipulation (combing, styling, etc.) or environmental factors contributing to fast moisture loss, protection, whether in the form of braids or wigs, is key. And box braids are one of the most popular, go-to protective hairstyles.

For box braids, a particular section of the hair is divided up into three parts and intertwined, forming square shaped sections. While the box braid is just one of many protective styles, it has proved to be incredibly versatile, and some of our favorite stars are a testament to that. In the '90s, the box braid was Brandy's signature look, and Janet Jackson made a case for the box braid bob. Alicia Keys often rocked cornrows that fed into box braids with beads attached to the ends. More recently, waist-length and beyond box braids are embraced by Zendaya, Solange, and Storm Reid, all in different sizes and colors.

Below you'll find all of the box braid inspiration that you need, and everything that you need to agree that this is a multi-dimensional, versatile style that can be played and experimented with. It's a go-to protective style for a reason.