Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids

Alica Keys is the quintessential multi-hyphenate. Singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, actress, author—and, since her 2000 debut, Songs in A Minor, a hair icon. Throughout the years, the Keys Soulcare founder has garnered plenty of attention for her beautiful protective styles, rocking everything from Fulani braids to jumbo twists. (Indeed, #aliciakeysbraids has over 45 million views on TikTok.)

What makes Keys' braided hairstyles so iconic is how she always finds a way to make each style her own—and we love it. Ahead, 17 of our favorite Alicia Keys hair looks to date.

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Braids and Buns

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (2)

There are plenty of styling options for jumbo braids, as Keys' look here proves. Take a few notes from the singer, who rolled two of her four jumbo braids into buns and added one small cornrow to give the style some additional flair. (We also love the addition of gold twine to the ends of the braids.)

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Beaded Braids

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (3)

Keys loves matching her braids to her outfits. Here, she elevated her shoulder-length braided lob by adding silver, pink, and blue beads to complement her shimmering blue jumpsuit. Not only do beads add a fun, nostalgic touch to braids—they're also super easy to secure.

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Fulani Braids

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (4)

Since wearing Fulani braids in the video for "Fallin,'" Keys has remained loyal to the style, showcasing many variations through the years. In this look, beads add a stunning (and perfectly matched) finishing touch.

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Jeweled Stitch Braids

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (5)

Stitch braids are achieved with the feed-in technique, wherein extensions are added to natural hair during braiding. The style has many variations—though few are as glamorous as Keys' silver bejeweled take on the look.

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Embellished Braided Ponytail

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (6)

At the 2022 Met Gala, Keys paid homage to New York with a cape bedazzled in a design of the city's skyline. She completed the look with an extra-long braided ponytail featuring sparkling, disc-like accessories and rhinestones on her edges.

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Zig-Zag Braids

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (7)

Snake braids (or zig-zag braids) are cornrows twisted into a wavy pattern on the head. They can be chunky or slim and achieved with braiding hair or without. Here, Keys opted for medium-sized braids, leaving out her baby hairs to add flair to the style.

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Braided High Ponytail

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (8)

With a few subtle changes, it can be easy to transition a high ponytail from day to night. Take inspiration from Keys, who achieved a red-carpet-ready look with structural styling and gold chains.

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Cornrows With a Side Bun

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (9)

At the 2003 VIBE Awards, Keys combined two of her signature braid styles. Her Fulani braids were woven into her cornrows, then tied into a cute bun for a face-framing style.

Large Cornrows With a Low Bun

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (10)

Here, Keys' cornrowed hair was wrapped into a low bun. Perfectly laid edges add a polished finishing touch; check out some of our favorite edge-control products to get your baby hairs in fine form.

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Afro Puff and Cornrows

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (11)

In this look, Keys put a fun spin on the afro puff by braiding the front of her hair and leaving out a few face-framing plaits. One of the great things about afro puffs is that they can be created in numerous ways—with natural hair, braiding hair, or a drawstring ponytail.

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Zig-Zag Braids With a Curly Ponytail

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (12)

Zig-zag braids were big in the '90s and '00s, and Keys tapped into the trend on many occasions. The style can be achieved by braiding the hair on a zig-zag part or parting the hair straight, then braiding it in a zig-zag pattern. (The former tends to be the more popular choice, as it shows off the artistry that goes into creating the style.) Here, Keys has combined her braids with straight cornrows before adding a bit of glamor to the look with a curly ponytail.

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Fulani Braids With Center Parting

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (13)

Keys has returned to Fulani braids time and time again, and we can see why. When it comes to Fulani braids, there are many partings to choose from. The center part is a popular choice that tends to look good on everyone. But, based on your face shape or personal preference, a side part might be more your speed.

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Braided Updo Ponytail

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (14)

To create a slicked-back updo on natural hair (like this one), try wetting your hair with a mixture of water and leave-in conditioner before smoothing it back with a boar-bristle brush. Click here for some of our favorite leave-in conditioners for curly hair.

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Jumbo Twists

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (15)

Jumbo twists are relatively easy to install, making them ideal for naturals looking for a low-maintenance hairstyle they can DIY. Here, Keys' jumbo twists have been pinned back on one side and let down on the other to show off the beauty of the style.

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Cornrows and Curls

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (16)

Why choose one style when you can have two? We love how Keys paid homage to the Regency era with poufed-up cornrows and flowing natural curls in this promo shoot for Queen Charlotte.

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Fulani Braids With a Curly High Pony

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (17)

Fulani braids, cornrows, beads, and curly hair might sound like a lot, but Keys pulls it off so well. It's the hair inspo we never knew we needed.

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Low Twisted Ponyail

Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (18)

Low ponytails are perfect for days when you aren't quite sure what to do with your hair. Here, Keys slicked hers back and added one of her favorite hair accessories—rhinestones—to her center part. As this look proves, everyday hairstyles don't have to be boring.

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Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It (2024)