The Knotless Box Braids That Are Giving Us IG Hair Envy
Protective styles are having a great year, something we haven't seen since our beloved '90s IT girls. With the pandemic still looming, social events paused, and work-from-home statuses prolonged, more women are gravitating towards protective styles like box braids, jumbo twists, and locs. We all know how important black hair is, in our culture and the way it's represented in mainstream media and pop culture. Without the prying, and many times judgemental, eyes of society, many women are trying these styles for the first time while in lockdown. There are a plethora of styles to choose from, but right now we're coveting the knotless box braids.
Different from the traditional box braid, knotless braids do not rely on an 'anchor knot' to secure the braid. Instead, a stylist will gradually weave the braiding hair with your natural strands to create a seamless finish that won't put tension on your scalp or ruin your edges. The ease on the scalp coupled with the low-maintenance upkeep makes knotless box braids the go-to protective style.
Whether you're contemplating taking the plunge into the braid world or simply looking to try another type of braid, keep reading for 4 knotless braids trends that give us IG hair envy.
Bohemian Knotless Box Braids
Unstructured and feminine, bohemian knotless braids are very on-trend for 2020. The chaotic and unplanned year is directly reflected in this look, often accompanied by yarn, thread, or small accessories like gold clamps. To create a less uniform look, make each braid a different size, and leave the ends loose.
Brandy
Aspen
Khat Brim
Ombre Knotless Box Braids
One of the dopest things about box braids is the harmless ability to play with color. Ombre knotless braids interweave darker and lighter braiding hair, much like the traditional ombre process, to create a beautiful multidimensional shaded effect. This style adapts to suit your face shape, as lighter pieces can be situated to flatter your best features. As we get into the season of muted tones and high necklines, this is a great choice to add a bit of dimension.
Alissa Ashley
Red (or Any Color) Knotless Box Braids
Speaking of color, don't be afraid to go there with your braids. There's nothing more worthy of a double-tap than braids full of color. Red is the hair color trend of fall so the combination only elevates your quarantine style. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and choose a statement color that turns heads.
The Tori J Touch
Short Knotless Box Braids
This is a low-maintenance look that is chic and sophisticated. Let's be honest: if it's good enough for '90s Brandy, then it's got to be good for us. Knotless braids are already easy on your scalp, the shorter style is even lighter and more comfortable. You can spice this up by adding an ombre color or adorning the ends with accessories.
Silver Hair GH
Pearl The Stylist
Featured image by Shutterstock
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Courtney is a contributing writer, based in Puerto Rico by way of Tennessee. Interested in the intersection of fashion and culture, she has an affinity for fashion, empowerment, and really good tacos. Keep up with her on Instagram (@hautecourtxo).
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images