The 21 Chicest Braided Hairstyles of All Time, According to Short-Haired Celebs

Whenever we find ourselves in the midst of a hairstyling rut (which, to be honest, is pretty much always), braids never fail to save the day. Alongside ponytails and buns, braided hairstyles are an effortless and strategic way to add some flair and zing sans tons of extra styling products or hot tools. (They're also a fabulously sneaky antidote for camouflaging roots or bangs as they're growing out.)

There are plenty of chic braided hairstyles well suited for every hair type, texture, and length, but today, we're zeroing in on 21 options that look especially cool on short hair. Since celebrities are constantly switching up their hair vibe—whether it's for a new role, concert tour, or just because—we're looking to their chameleon-like tendencies to inspire our next braided look. From Zoë Kravitz's tied-back cornrows to Constance Wu's tendril-sprinkled crown braid, we have all the braided hairstyles to accentuate a variety of short hair lengths just below. Keep scrolling! 

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Amandla Stenberg
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Amandla Stenberg is the unofficial official queen of braided hairstyles. (Even a brief Google search will quickly prove there really isn't a look she hasn't tried.) Currently, we can't get enough of her platinum-blonde box braids cut to shoulder length. (Bonus points if you channel that prismatic sapphire eye, too.)

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Danai Gurira
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Why stop at just one style of braid? Here, Danai Gurira marries cornrow braids and box braids—a brilliant way to accentuate her chic chin-length bob.

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Lupita Nyong'o
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Braided hairstyles don't have to be complicated or time-consuming, and this low-maintenance, pulled-back style à la Lupita Nyong'o proves it. 

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Yara Shahidi
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If anyone can convince us to try sky-high space buns, it's Yara Shahidi. We love the actress's take featuring braided buns and pristinely laid baby hairs.

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FKA Twigs
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A handful of small polyband elastics and a side dose of hair gel are all it takes to try FKA Twigs's collarbone-grazing braided hairstyle.

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Jada Pinkett Smith
(Image credit: Getty Images)

How copyable is Jada Pinkett Smith's bleached micro-braids look piled on top of her head? It's the perfect braided style to show off her super-cool side shave.

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Sienna Miller
(Image credit: Getty Images)

An oldie but a goodie, we still reminisce about Sienna Miller's adorable braided style she debuted at Cannes back in 2015. 

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Kristen Stewart
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Here's another option for you: Opt for one braid straight along your part instead of two on either side.

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Zoë Kravitz
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you're sporting cornrow braids like Kravitz, pulling them back into a chic low knot is an easy styling variation.

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Margot Robbie
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Margot Robbie definitely falls on the longer end of our short-hair spectrum, and we love how elegant and simple this sprinkled-in braid look is. No elastics needed—just spritz strands with strong-hold hair spray to keep the look locked in.

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Constance Wu
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Wu just made the beloved crown braid that much cooler—her wispy tendrils add a super-fresh update. 

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Issa Rae
(Image credit: Getty Images)

How do you take a braided half-up hairstyle even further? Add an extra-subtle accent via micro-braided tendrils like Issa Rae.

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Halle Berry
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Halle Berry's knotty braided updo epitomizes "business in the front, party in the back," and we're obsessed.

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Kerry Washington
(Image credit: Getty Images)

We don't usually see fringe (or a half-up style!) paired with a milkmaid braid, but this throwback à la Kerry Washington makes a super-chic case for the combination.

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Ruby Rose
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ruby Rose is one of our favorite short-hair muses, and while this braided look is relatively demure for the actress, we're smitten nonetheless. 

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Lucy Hale
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Smooth, sleek, and everything we want in an unexpected braided hairstyle, we love the way Lucy Hale's single, middle-part braid gives an almost mohawk vibe to your standard slicked-back ponytail.

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Diane Kruger
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Pigtails are huge trend right now, so we're revisiting Diane Kruger's cool, braided pigtail buns for yet another short-hair styling option. 

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Kate Mara
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Here, Kate Mara accentuates her deep, glamorous side part with Old Hollywood waves on one side and a perfectly placed braid on the other. 

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Kate Hudson
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Looking for something sophisticated, easy, and simple? Kate Hudson's classic French braid is an effortless alternative to your go-to pony or bun. And yes, we definitely recommend adorning it with a velvet bow or ribbon.

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Miley Cyrus
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Miley Cyrus has no fear when it comes to dramatic plot twists in regard to her hair, and we're very much into the juxtaposition between her side braids and mohawk-inspired style.

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Julianne Hough
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Julianne Hough wore some brilliant styles while growing out her pixie a few years back, and this pretty pin-heavy side braid circa 2014 has to be one of our all-time favorite moments. 

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Up next, How to Not Ruin Your Hair With Extensions, According to Angelina Jolie's Stylist

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.

Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.