20 Side Part Braid Styles 2027 for Hair

Braids have always been a reliable way to add structure to hair, but the side part version brings a deliberate asymmetry that a center part cannot match. The current shift leans toward softer, more lived-in textures with braiding techniques that work with your natural wave rather than fighting it.

These 20 Side Part Braid Styles span from quick five-minute accents to salon-level cornrow patterns that last weeks. Whether your hair is fine and falls flat by midday or thick enough to hold a Dutch braid on its own, there is a variation here that solves the problem. Each style accounts for a specific texture, length, and color treatment so you can walk in with a clear ask.

01Thick Wavy Dark Brown Hair With Subtle Highlights Braid

This braid uses the hair’s natural thickness and wave pattern rather than fighting it. The side part adds volume at the root, and that wave texturizes each section as it weaves together. Thick, wavy hair at mid-back length is the sweet spot here; oval and square face shapes get the most from the soft, asymmetrical drape. Ask your stylist for: intricate side part braid with subtle highlights. A smoothing serum applied before braiding keeps the wavy texture from fluffing, and the hold is firm enough to last a long day without looking stiff.

02Black Hair With Cornrows Into Long Box Braids

Cornrows feed directly into box braids here, with no break in the pattern. The side part lets the cornrows fan across the scalp before the weight of the box braids pulls everything to one side. This construction works best on thick, straight hair at mid-back length; the uniform tension keeps the braids smooth and the part crisp. Ask your stylist for: cornrows transitioning to long box braids with a side part. The process takes several hours in the salon, but the hold is strong enough that you can wash and style around it for weeks.

03Voluminous Dark Brown Braid With Honey Highlights

The honey highlights add dimension and create the illusion of more thickness, while the dark brown base grounds the braid so the texture looks deliberate rather than loose. Thick, wavy hair at mid-back length holds this shape best. Ask your stylist for: voluminous side part braid with honey highlights. After braiding, gently pull out a few face-framing pieces for a softer line, and the braid keeps its body through a full day.

04Sleek Cornrows Into Long Braid Dark Brown

A single long braid at the end can feel simple compared to multiple box braids. The difference here is that thin cornrows run from the deep side part all the way to the nape before they merge, so the scalp pattern does the work while the bottom braid keeps the weight manageable. Fine to medium straight hair of mid-back length holds the clean lines best; the sleek finish is a salon result, not a DIY project. Ask your stylist for: thin cornrows leading to one long braid with a deep side part.

05Black Cornrow Braids With Blonde Thread Accent

The blonde thread woven into these cornrows is a detail that requires precision to achieve. The deep side part angles the cornrows across the scalp, and the thread reflects light without needing product. Straight hair at mid-back length works best for keeping the thread woven evenly from root to the transition point. Ask your stylist for: cornrow braids with blonde thread and loose ends, deep side part. This is a festival or event style where the contrast between black hair and blonde thread earns its place in the lineup.

06Neat Cornrow Detail Black Thick Hair Braid

Ever wonder what to call those precise cornrows that feed into a single large braid? Ask your stylist for neat cornrows into a large braid with a side part. This look suits thick, straight hair at mid-back length, where the clean lines and structure can really show off. A rat-tail comb helps you achieve the exact parting and clean edges at home between salon visits.

07Blonde Wavy Hair With Small Temple Braid Accent

A tiny braid near the temple changes the whole feel of loose waves without requiring a full redo. This small braid accent on wavy hair is a five-minute DIY for mid-back lengths with some natural wave. The drawback is that the accent braid can loosen faster than the main style, so a tiny elastic and a bobby pin are your friends.

08Collarbone Bob Dark Brown With Multiple Small Braids

Multiple small braids woven into the side of a dark brown bob add texture where a shorter cut usually lacks real estate for braiding. Ask your stylist for a collarbone bob with multiple small braids on the side. This works best on thick, wavy hair because the layers give the braids something to grip. A square or heart-shaped face benefits from the asymmetry, while a long face might find the side volume a bit much. A texturizing spray helps the waves and braids hold their shape through the day.

09Loose Side Braid Blonde With Curtain Bangs

A loose side braid paired with curtain bangs is a reliable combination, but the hold depends on the braid tension. Ask your stylist for a loose side braid with curtain bangs. On thick, wavy hair at mid-back, the braid stays put if you secure it with a clear elastic and let a few strands escape for that relaxed finish. The curtain bangs need a quick blow-dry each morning to keep their shape, and the braid will loosen slightly by evening, which gives it a lived-in look.

10Collarbone Box Braids Two-Tone Black and Blonde

Two-tone box braids in black and blonde are a statement that lands best at festivals or events where bold color is the dress code. Ask your stylist for collarbone box braids with black and blonde two-tone color. The collarbone length keeps the weight manageable for thick, coily hair, and the middle part lets the color contrast read clearly. It is not a quiet style, which is exactly the point.

11Waterfall Braid Dark Brown With Curtain Bangs

Waterfall braids work by dropping each strand of a standard three-strand braid into the loose hair below, creating a cascading effect that stays visible even when the rest of the hair is down. Thick, wavy hair at mid-back length holds the structure best, and curtain bangs soften the line where the braid begins. Ask your stylist for: waterfall braid with curtain bangs and loose waves. The technique takes about 30 minutes and leans toward salon precision, though a determined DIYer with a mirror can manage it. A texturizing product keeps the waves distinct and the braid from slipping apart by evening.

12Black Braids With Blonde Highlights Scalp Detail

The design here is a study in contrast: tight scalp braids carved into a side part on one side, releasing into looser, wavy braids with scattered blonde pieces. Thick, wavy hair at mid-back length gives the loose ends the weight they need to hang well. Ask your stylist for: intricate scalp braids into loose wavy braids with blonde highlights. The honest trade-off is that the tension required for clean scalp work can cause discomfort for the first day or two. A hydrating serum applied to the scalp helps, but if you have a sensitive head, you might want to skip the tight sections near the hairline.

13Mid-Back Black Box Braids With Golden Beads

Golden beads turn a standard box braid set into something that announces itself before you walk in the room. The braids here reach mid-back with a middle part and a uniform thickness. Ask your stylist for: mid-back box braids with golden beads. A few specifics to discuss: whether the beads are crimped or threaded on, and whether you want them on every braid or just a few scattered throughout. The beads add weight, so expect a slight pull at the roots for the first few days. Secure fastenings matter. A loose bead is a lost bead by the end of a festival weekend.

14Braided Updo With Wispy Side-Swept Bangs

A braided updo like this one is a different beast from a simple side braid. The deep side part and chunky braided section require the hair to be woven into itself, which changes both the look and the time investment. Medium-density wavy hair at mid-back length gives enough body to hold the updo without needing a can of spray. Ask your stylist for: textured braided updo with wispy side-swept bangs.

Styling runs about 40 minutes with a flexible hold hairspray to keep the tendrils soft and in place without stiffness. The wispy bangs soften angular faces, so a trim every six to eight weeks keeps them from turning into blunt blocks. It is not a quick after-work style, but an updo for a Saturday wedding or a formal dinner.

15Textured Dutch Braid Brown With Blonde Strands

Dutch braids are essentially inverted French braids, the strands cross under rather than over, which makes the braid sit on top of the hair instead of blending into it. That raised construction shows off every blonde strand woven through the brown base, so the color placement matters. Wavy hair at mid-back length works best because the texture grips the braid and keeps it from sliding loose. Ask your stylist for: thick textured Dutch braid with blonde strands. Gently tugging at the edges after braiding creates the fuller, more voluminous look. The drawback is that a Dutch braid this dense takes about 25 minutes and is nearly impossible to do neatly on yourself past the crown.

16Collarbone Fishtail Braid Blonde With Side Swept Bangs

A fishtail braid often looks like it took an hour, but the weave is simpler than a classic three-strand plait. Thick, wavy blonde hair with subtle highlights gets extra dimension from the alternating sections, and the collarbone length keeps the braid from feeling heavy. Side-swept bangs soften the asymmetry of the side part, making the style work for round and square face shapes. Ask your stylist for: collarbone fishtail braid with side swept bangs. Loosen the braid by gently pulling the outer edges apart for a finish that looks relaxed but polished.

17Braided Crown Sweep Brown With Blonde Highlights

The braided crown relies on a continuous Dutch or French braid that wraps from one ear around the back of the head and sweeps to the opposite side. Thick, wavy brown hair with blonde highlights gives the crown visible depth, and the mid-back length provides enough weight to hold the structure in place without slipping. This is a salon build: the braider sections the hair cleanly along the side part and pins the crown flat against the scalp before letting the tail cascade down. Ask your stylist for: intricate braided crown sweeping to the side. For a DIY attempt, practice on damp hair with a mirror behind you, and expect to redo the first section at least once.

18Sharp Cornrows Black With Blue Undertones

This is not a subtle style. A deep side part divides the head into two zones: one side with precise cornrows sculpted flat to the scalp, the other with loose, straight hair falling past the shoulders. The black base carries subtle blue undertones that show in cooler light. Fine, straight hair of mid-back length works best here because the cornrows need a clean feed and the loose side needs to lie flat. Ask your stylist for: sharp side part with cornrows on one side and loose straight hair. A color-safe shampoo preserves the blue tone for about four to six weeks before a refresh is due.

19Simple Red Side Braid Mid-Back

A single braid is the lowest-effort entry in the side part braid category. Straight, medium-density red hair with a clear side part gets pulled into a three-strand plait that ends at the mid-back. The trick is to keep the tension even so the braid lies flat against the head rather than puffing out at the crown. Ask your stylist for: simple single braid to the side. To do it yourself: brush the hair to one side, split into three equal sections, cross the right strand over the middle, then the left over the new middle, repeat, and secure with a black elastic. That is five minutes, no mirror required.

20Intricate Black Braided Updo With Cascading Braid

An updo that involves multiple braids woven together looks impressive but requires time. Thick, wavy black hair at mid-back length provides enough material for the stylist to create a structured crown and a single braid that cascades down the back, all anchored by a clear side part. The hold depends on how tightly each braid is secured, so a texturizing spray and plenty of bobby pins are essential. Ask your stylist for: intricate braided updo with a cascading braid. Anyone with fine or shoulder-length hair should pass, as the braids need density to stay put without slipping loose by the second hour.

21Final Thoughts

For intricate cornrow patterns, ensure your stylist has experience with detailed scalp work. For looser, wavy braids, consider investing in a good texturizing spray to enhance hold and definition.

• Keep scalp braids moisturized with a lightweight oil or serum.
• Refresh wavy braids with a texturizing spray and gentle tousling.
• Protect braids from heat styling with a heat protectant spray.
• Tighten loose braid ends with a small elastic or by re-braiding.
• For salon braids, plan touch-ups every 4-6 weeks depending on growth.

A side part braid is a style that commands attention.