Braided Headband Hairstyles: 24 Braids and Hairband Ideas
Braided headband hairstyles can frame the face without hiding the rest of your hair. These looks range from thick crown plaits and ponytails to smaller side braids, plus a few fabric and floral headband alternatives.
Braided Bob Headband
A chunky braid cuts across this softly curled bob, making the headband shape clear even on shorter hair. Keeping the ends loose lets the plait stand out without hiding the cut.
Style note: Position the braid a little behind the hairline if you want more volume at the front.
Side Braid Ponytail
The raised side braid leads neatly into a high ponytail, while a slim loose strand softens the face. It is a useful way to keep the front defined without tying every piece back.
Fine Braid With Waves
This slim plait sits just behind the hairline instead of covering the soft blonde waves. A finer braid is a good choice when you want a subtle detail rather than a full crown.
Pro tip: Keep the braid narrow so it does not compete with the loose waves.
Braided Ponytail Crown
A wide braid sweeps across the side of the head before meeting the ponytail at the back. The wrapped shape adds detail while the long straight tail keeps the overall style simple.
Raised Front Braid
The rounded plait sits high above the forehead, giving the front a sculpted outline. It works especially well as the focal point when the rest of the hair stays relatively understated.
Ask your stylist: Request a raised braid if you prefer visible texture rather than a flat plait.
Double Braid Headband
Two parallel braids create a wider headband effect over the long hair underneath. Leaving the lengths down keeps the look softer, while the paired plaits bring a more defined pattern.
Braided Low Updo
A thin braid follows the side of the head and meets the loosely gathered curls at the nape. This pairing gives an updo some detail without making the crown look too busy.
Crown With Long Plait
The crown braid follows the top of the head, with a separate slim plait falling through the long straight lengths. That extra vertical detail makes the style interesting from behind as well.
Style note: Let the hanging plait stay visible against the loose hair rather than tucking it away.
Side Braid With Waves
A tidy braid frames one side of the forehead while the rest of the dark hair falls in relaxed waves. The contrast between the smooth plait and textured lengths makes the braid noticeable.
Double Diagonal Braids
Two slender braids angle across the crown with clean partings between them. This arrangement creates a geometric headband effect while allowing the long straight hair beneath to stay loose.
Good to know: Clear sectioning matters here because the spaces between the braids are part of the design.
Beaded Front Braids
Several fine braids hug the front hairline, dotted with tiny colorful accents. The decoration creates a playful border while the rest of the blonde hair falls straight behind it.
Braids With Snake Clips
Small braids sweep back from the front, with bright snake-shaped clips placed across the top. The colorful accessories draw attention to the partings without requiring the loose lengths to be braided.
Color pairing: Use fewer clip colors for a quieter effect, or mix bright shades as shown.
Wide Side Crown Braid
A broad blonde plait runs from the temple across the front, with the remaining hair left loose and fairly straight. The wide sections make this braided headband the main feature.
Layered Side Braids
Several small plaits sit in close rows along one side of the head, creating a woven pattern. Keeping the opposite side loose helps the intricate sectioning remain the focus.
Ask your stylist: Show the side view so the spacing and number of rows are clear.
Loose Crown With Waves
A soft crown braid crosses the front of long blonde hair and blends into loose waves. The slightly relaxed plait suits an unfussy half-up look more than a sharply defined braid.
Side Crown On Curls
A thick dark braid curves over the crown and sits above the softly curled ends. Keeping the braid higher separates the woven detail from the volume through the lower lengths.
Close Braided Hairline
A narrow braid follows the hairline beside sleek, shoulder-length hair. Its compact shape adds interest to a blunt-looking lob without changing the clean line of the cut.
Style note: A neat side part helps show off the braid against straight hair.
Silver Crown Braid
The pale silver lengths sit below a wide, darker-rooted braid that crosses the crown. That contrast makes the plait easier to see and adds structure around the forehead.
Side Braid Tutorial
The photo sequence shows a braid travelling above one temple, with the remaining auburn hair styled in waves. It is a helpful reference for where to position the plait before shaping the lengths.
Pro tip: Focus on the braid placement in the tutorial panels rather than the unrelated outfit photo.
Beaded Mini Braids
Small braids at either side of the hairline carry bright blue and green beads. The rest of the naturally textured hair stays loose, so the tiny braided accents frame the face.
Braided Hairband Pieces
A brown plaited band sits over smooth hair, with several separate braided headband pieces shown in the foreground. This offers the appearance of a full crown braid without needing the entire front section woven.
Good to know: Match a braided hairpiece to your own hair tone if you want a more blended finish.
Patterned Fabric Headband
This blue patterned headband is fabric rather than a hair braid, but it gives a similar across-the-crown shape. The low side-swept curls keep the accessory clearly visible.
Daisy Flower Headband
A row of white, yellow and brown flowers sits over straight brown hair and a soft fringe. It is a floral alternative to the braided headband shape, with no plait required.
Crown Braid Half Up
Small braids lift the hair away from the temples while the highlighted lengths fall in open waves. This half-up approach balances a tidy crown with plenty of movement around the shoulders.
Style note: Leave a little face-framing hair loose if you prefer a softer outline.
