The Best Black Hair Braids for Every Face Shape in the UK in 2024

For multi-ethnic women in the United Kingdom, choosing the perfect braid style can make all the difference in highlighting your natural beauty and accentuating your unique features.

With so many black hair braid styles to choose from, finding the best one for your face shape can help you achieve a look that is both trendy and flattering. 

This post will help you identify your face shape and suggest the best braid styles to complement each one, along with styling tips to enhance your overall appearance.

Identifying Your Face Shape

Before diving into the best braid styles, it’s essential to determine your face shape. Here’s a quick guide to help you figure it out:

• Oval: Your face is longer than it is wide, with a gently rounded hairline and jaw.

• Round: Your face is about as wide as it is long, with soft, rounded edges.

• Square: Your face has a strong, angular jawline and a broad forehead.

• Heart: Your face is wider at the forehead and gradually narrows down to a pointed chin.

• Diamond: Your face is widest at the cheekbones, with a narrower forehead and jawline.

• Oblong: Your face is significantly longer than it is wide, with a long, straight cheek line.

1. Black Hair Braids for Oval Faces

If you have an oval face, consider yourself lucky! This versatile face shape suits almost any braid style. Here are a few braid styles that can enhance your look:

Box Braids: Box braids are a classic and versatile style that looks fantastic on oval faces. The length and fullness of the braids balance well with the longer proportions of an oval face, creating a harmonious look.

Senegalese Twists: These twists are perfect for showing off an oval face shape. They add volume and can be styled in various ways, such as pulled back or swept to one side, enhancing the natural symmetry of your face.

Fulani Braids: These intricate braids often incorporate beads or cowries, adding a decorative touch that frames an oval face beautifully. They offer a mix of volume and delicacy, perfect for highlighting balanced features.

Oval Face Black Hair Braid Styling Tip

To further accentuate your oval face, try pulling some braids back into a half-up, half-down style or adding a high bun for an elegant, elongated effect.

2. Black Hair Braids for Round Faces

For round faces, the goal is to add length and structure. Braids that create height and vertical lines are ideal:

Goddess Braids: These large, thick braids create a vertical line that elongates a round face, providing balance and definition. They also offer a regal, sophisticated look.

Cornrows: Cornrows, especially when styled into a mohawk or braided updo, can add height and definition to a round face, giving it a more oval appearance.

Lemonade Braids: Made famous by Beyoncé, lemonade braids swept to one side can add asymmetry and length to a round face, making it appear longer and slimmer.

Round Face Black Hair Braid Styling Tip

Keep braids sleek and close to the scalp at the sides, while adding volume or height on top to create the illusion of a longer face.

3. Black Hair Braids for Square Faces

For square faces, softening the strong jawline is key. Opt for braid styles that add curves and volume around the face:

Bohemian Braids: These loose, curly braids can soften the angles of a square face, adding texture and a romantic feel. The added volume around the jawline helps to balance a strong chin.

Halo Braids: A halo braid wraps around the head, adding softness and a round shape that contrasts beautifully with a square jawline. This style also draws attention to the eyes and cheekbones.

Side-Swept Braids: Styles that are swept to one side, such as a side braid or side cornrows, can add asymmetry, breaking up the strong lines of a square face and adding a softer appearance.

Square Face Black Hair Braid Styling Tip

Choose braid styles that frame the face gently and avoid tight, severe styles that may emphasize angular features.

4. Black Hair Braids for Heart-Shaped Faces

For heart-shaped faces, it's all about balancing a wider forehead with a narrower chin:

Braided Bangs: Adding braided bangs or side braids can help minimize a wide forehead while drawing attention to the eyes and cheekbones. This style also adds volume around the lower part of the face.

Layered Box Braids: Longer box braids with layers can add volume around the chin and jawline, balancing the narrower lower half of a heart-shaped face.

Dutch Braids: These inverted braids add depth and volume to the top of the head, complementing a heart-shaped face by balancing out a broader forehead and a pointed chin.

Heart-Shaped Face Black Hair Braid Styling Tip

Avoid styles that add too much volume at the crown, as this can exaggerate a heart-shaped face’s wide forehead. Instead, focus on adding volume at the sides or below the chin.

5. Black Hair Braids for Diamond Faces

For diamond-shaped faces, the goal is to balance a narrow forehead and chin with wider cheekbones:

Crown Braids: These braids encircle the head, adding width at the crown and softening the angles of a diamond face. Crown braids are perfect for drawing attention to the eyes and cheekbones.

Medium-Sized Box Braids: These braids add fullness around the face without overwhelming the narrow forehead or chin. They help create a more balanced appearance.

Side-Parted Braids: A side-parted braid style can create the illusion of a wider forehead and balance a diamond face’s proportions.

Diamond Face Black Hair Braid Styling Tip

Opt for braid styles that add volume and softness at the sides, particularly around the cheeks and jawline, to create a more harmonious appearance.

6. Black Hair Braids for Oblong Faces

Oblong faces are longer than they are wide, so the key is to create the illusion of width rather than length:

Short Braids with Curls: Braids that fall just below the shoulders, with curled ends, can add volume around the face, making it appear shorter and fuller.

Chunky Braids: Chunky braids like jumbo box braids or knotless braids add width and volume, helping to balance the length of an oblong face.

Braided Bob: A braided bob with a blunt cut can give the illusion of a shorter face, balancing an oblong shape. The braids add volume at the sides, enhancing fullness around the cheeks.

Oblong Face Black Hair Braid Styling Tip

Avoid braid styles that add too much height at the crown, as this can elongate the face further. Instead, focus on adding volume to the sides to create a balanced look.

Finding the Right Afro Hair Stylist for Your Face Type

Choosing the perfect braid style for your face shape is just the beginning. To achieve the best results, finding a skilled black hairdresser in the UK who will make you look beautiful regardless of your face shape is essential. 

Understanding your face shape and how to enhance it with the right braid style will not only elevate your look but also make you feel confident and beautiful. By choosing trendy black hair braids that complement your facial features, you will create a stunning look that is both unique and timeless.

Ewa hair stylist booking app helps you find home-service afro hair stylists in the United Kingdom. Download our app now to book the best black hairdressers in London, Manchester, and Birmingham for your face type. Are you a professional stylist looking to increase your client base and income? Sign up with us today.