Introduction
Alicia Keys has been my braids hairstyle inspiration.
If you've been following Alicia Keys for a while now, you will know she's quite popular for her love for intricate braids and creative style.
It's no wonder we've seen her rocking gorgeous braids on many occasions. From her debut music video Fallin to the 2020 Grammy Awards, Alicia Keys has boldly repped protective styles.
The singer, songwriter, pianist, and entrepreneur has showcased the beauty of braids over the years, and many now regard her as a trendsetter for braided hairstyles.
From rocking Fulani braids to modern intricate cornrows and twists, we've found many unique Alicia Keys hairstyles we can’t overlook.
So, in this post, let's take a look at 15 of her iconic braid styles and how you can recreate and make them your own.
What Makes Alicia Keys’ Braided Hairstyles So Popular?
How and where she wears her braided hairstyles makes them so popular.
As someone who's known for embracing her identity and strands, it's no surprise that she's represented her culture on various stages and platforms.
In an interview, she's claimed that our hair is what expresses our individuality, and she's never been prouder, wearing braids. She's also mentioned that they make her feel like royalty, and it connects her to her African ancestry.
But the singer hasn't had any dull moments when expressing herself through braids. She's gone bolder, more creative, and bigger. Alicia Keys isn't shy about experimenting with her braid styles and even complements them with her dresses. This is one of the reasons they've become so popular and iconic.
Clearly, many are also inspired by her loud, bold, and intricate braid styles that speak volumes about who she is and show her authentic self, making women take pride in their African braiding patterns. This has led many to recreate her styles all over social media and wear them unapologetically.
Moreover, over time, her braided hairstyles have become a symbol of her growth, transitioning from simple Fulani braids to more intricate and creative braided looks. She's incorporated them into her wavy styles and also rocked boho looks.
Meaning, we can't fail to mention her versatility. The 45-year-oldsongwriter has sported tons of braiding styles. The list of her braids goes on and on. Unsurprisingly, she kills these looks every time she rocks them.
Her versatility and creativity don't just end there with the style. She also adds traditional and modern accessories, including gold rings, beads, cowrie shells, and crystals for unique looks.
This is to say Alicia Keys ' braids are not easily forgotten. They leave a strong impression, making you check them out. She's telling a story with them, and we all are listening.
15 Iconic Alicia Keys Braids to Inspire Your Next Style
From her previous looks to her most recent ones, Alicia Keys has an incredible list of braided hairstyles you can recreate. We've gathered a few of her hairstyles over the years, and we're certainly sure you'll find just the right one to inspire your next hairstyle. Here are 15 Alicia Keys braids to check out.
1. Cornrows with Embellishments
Alicia Keys is known for her embellished cornrows and braids. For this look, she added cowrie shells to every cornrow, giving the style its own personality. This reminds us of the African heritage and how they represent the culture. The green color of the shells matches her outfit perfectly, making her whole look pop.
You can recreate this look by adding embellishments that suit your personality and the event. For a cultural feel, you can try using cowries; for a more modern look, you can try gen stones or rings to elevate the cornrows.
2. Half Intricate Braids with Extensions
In her early debut years, Keys set the stage for braiding looks that were about to become the trend. She featured not just cornrows, which were her favorite, but also hair extensions at the back. The mixture gave it a modern, classy vibe. Today, it's become one of the trendy braided hairstyles to style.
This hairstyle looks like the Tyla signature hairstyle. You can make it your own by choosing the hair extension style and texture that best suits your style and natural hair.
3. Side Braids with Curls
I rock this hairstyle when I want to look good without doing too much.
This is another phenomenal look you can recreate in minutes. Alicia Keys didn't play with incorporating braids into her styles. Instead of a full braided frontal style, she added them by the side, which makes it look a bit edgy and fun. Here, she proves there are plenty of ways you can incorporate braids into a curly hairstyle.
You can add embellishments like cuffs, stones, etc. to elevate the hairstyle even more.
4. Sleek Bun with Braids
Instead of showing up with the regular high bun, you can throw in some cornrows on the side to make it more stylish.
Alicia Keys proves to us that you sure can rock cornrows anywhere. She does it again with this sleek bun with the side cornrows. By infusing braids into the usual slick bun, the singer takes things up a notch. You can easily recreate this with a pack of hair extensions if you have short hair.
5. Half Braided Ponytail with Short Kinky
If you thought you'd seen the end, Alicia Keys brings yet another creative braid hairstyle that makes you gasp. Since she's worn different ponytail looks, Alicia Keys showed up with a braided ponytail and short kinky hair, another variation only she can come up with.
Bravo! The jumbo braids wrapped around the kinky ponytail add to the detailing of the hairstyle. Simply classy.
You can easily recreate this if you don’t like hair all over your body.
6. Intricate Fulani Braids and Beads
Take a look at another Alicia Keys braid sported at the 15th annual Soul Train Awards in 2001.
The singer has always elevated her cornrows with each new look, and the details consistently depict that. This features a bit of zig-zag cornrows and straight cornrows that create a fantastic result.
This particular hairstyle was called “Alicia Keys” for many years. If you want to show up anywhere showcasing your natural beauty, then this is the hairstyle for you.
7. Sleek Braided Bun with Creative Side Braids
Alicia Keys isn't just a huge fan of Fulani braids; we've seen her wearing different bun styles, too.
She frequents it just as much, adding a twist to the classic style. The singer and songwriter puts most of her strands in a high bun style, creating a huge, braided bun. On the sides are intricate braids designed in the form of hearts. The overall look is sculptural and elaborate, something Alicia Keys will do.
If you are thinking of showing up to an event looking exquisite without doing too much, I think this is the hairstyle for you. It is clean, natural, and has a luxury feel.
8. Alicia Keys Embellished Braided Ponytail
At the 2022 Met Gala, Keys took an embellished braided ponytail to the red carpet, wowing everyone. The accessory was dazzling enough to hit the headlines. Her sleek hairstyle and shining crystals added at the front of her hair completed the look.
You can easily recreate this look with a pack of braiding hair extensions, some embellishment from the tailoring shop, and a few stones.
9. Long Cornrows with Silver Accessories
Straight cornrows are one of the simplest braiding hairstyles to rock. But trust Alicia Keys to make any look ordinary. Adding silver accessories to each cornrow, the songwriter elevated the look to fit for the pictorial. Take the inspiration from her and style an all-back look with accessories. You'll be ready to shine anywhere.
If you are a cornrow girl, adding this embellishment is a quick way to elevate your cornrow in minutes.
10. Rolled Braids with Curls
With a pack of braiding hair extensions and curly hair, you can achieve Alicia Keys' rolled braids with curls for a classy, stunning style.
This look is totally different from her signature braid styles, but she rocked it hard, making you wonder if she's been styling it all along.
Her single braids were sewn to form the rounded shape, then placed strategically to sit at the front of her head. The curls at the back, on the other hand, added volume and movement to the style.
A pack of braiding hair and curly hair extensions is what you need to recreate this beauty.
11. Single Lob Braids with Bangs and Beads
If you love wearing protective hairstyles with your natural hair, then this should be your top pick.
Alicia Keys has always loved to combine braids with beads. In this look, she went for a single braid style and bangs to frame her face. But the colourful beads at the ends gave it a polished finish.
12. Cornrows and Afro
Huge afro puffs have always been a thing for a long time, and Alicia Keys always brings the style to life while adding her own edge. So, it wasn't a surprise to see the crossed braids that framed her face beautifully for Alexander McQueen in 2002.
Looks old school, but still a great style if you are feeling cute.
13. Zig-Zag
Zig-zag was a popular braid choice in the 2000s, and we've seen her rock them in creative ways several times. It was no different this time. The singer added the zig-zag detail at the front and finished the braids to the back in straight lines.
The ends were wrapped with red and transparent beads, which complemented her red outfit and red eyeshadow. Love when she matches her braids with her outfit and makeup!
14. Jumbo Twists
Twists have to be another braiding style Alicia Keys loves to try out. Time and time again, the singer has worn twists in creative ways.
She's tried creating an updo with them or even leaving them to flow after placing them in a side ponytail like in the image above. Always epic! The braids are huge, framing a side of her face.
You can easily recreate this hairstyle using a good braiding hair. You can install it yourself or visit the hairstylist.
15. Sculptured Braids
If it's not sculptured, artistic, or expressive, then it's not Alicia Keys. Her take on the simple, all-back cornrow bun style is out of this world. She achieved the cornrows in straight lines.
With the ends, she created a sculptured, architectural do that gives the style the perfect icing. What more can we say? The perfect look for the occasion.
How to Make Alicia Keys Braids Your Own
Alicia Keys has been known for her authenticity and individuality. While you can recreate all of her styles we've listed above, don't forget to add your own touch and personality to the looks. This makes them stand out even more and suit your overall appearance.
Here are a few tips:
Add embellishments
Adding embellishments is a quick way to make any Alicia Keys hairstyle yours. You can add them to braids, cornrows, and more.
Experiment with hair extensions
Alicia Keys experimented with hair bundles to elevate some of her braided hairstyles. You can too, from straight to curly and wavy hair. Hair extensions like clip-ins and tape-ins can help you recreate these hairstyles easily.
Stop at WowAngel
At WowAngel, you can find all of your favorite hair extensions and braiding hair to recreate Alicia Keys' hairstyles. From the perfect curly and straight hair extensions to clip-ins for your ponytails, many products are waiting for you at the store. These bulk braiding hair and crochet hair extensions will blend perfectly with your natural hair to give you a smooth and clean style. Also, you will get to enjoy a flawless, lightweight, and long-lasting style.
So, shop for some trending human hair extensions to get the best of every world. Visit WowAngel to make a purchase now!
Conclusion
Alicia Keys has become the blueprint of braid styles. The singer has gone far and wild with not just her music but also her distinct, unique, and incredible braiding styles. We've listed a few of her hairstyles and how you can recreate them in this post. Make sure to select the looks you like and style them.
For your fabulous, versatile, and soft human hair extensions, check out WowAngel today.
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