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18Trendiest Side Braid Hairstyles

A photo-first guide to trendiest side braid hairstyles, with concise image-specific notes and practical comparison points.

By Bella Ross
Updated August 25, 2026

See the 18 looks

Editor's note

How to choose from these trendiest side braid hairstyles

Start with the feature that matters most to you, then use the photographs to compare the remaining details. Treat color, lighting, and a fresh salon finish as separate from the underlying cut or style.

— Bella Ross

Compare these 18 trendiest side braid hairstyles by their visible shape, texture, front detail, and wearability. Save the details that fit your hair and routine.

Long copper side braid with a side part.

Look 01

Long Copper Side Braid with a Side Part

For shape comparison, this braided is defined by a braided surface, a clear lower edge, and side part.

Length Long
Style Braided
Front Side part

Long copper side braid with a side part; the style is organized around the braided, with the braided finish controlling how polished or relaxed it reads; pay attention to placement, visible tension, and where pins, ties, or braided sections anchor the shape; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Loose dark side braid with face-framing layers.

Look 02

Loose Dark Side Braid with Face-Framing Layers

At a glance, the clearest visual cues are the braided, braided texture, and face-framing pieces.

Style Braided
Front Face-framing pieces

Loose dark side braid with face-framing layers; the style is organized around the braided, with the braided finish controlling how polished or relaxed it reads; pay attention to placement, visible tension, and where pins, ties, or braided sections anchor the shape; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Relaxed brunette side braid with a center part.

Look 03

Relaxed Brunette Side Braid with a Center Part

For shape comparison, the braided remains readable through the braided texture, and the main front detail comes from center part.

Style Braided
Front Center part
Color Brunette

Relaxed brunette side braid with a center part; this photograph shows the structure of the braided clearly enough to separate it from decorative details; the braided finish and center part determine whether the result feels sleek, soft, or intentionally undone; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Short loose blonde side braid with side-swept bangs.

Look 04

Short Loose Blonde Side Braid with Side-Swept Bangs

For shape comparison, the photograph makes the braided, braided movement, and side-swept bangs easy to compare.

Length Short
Style Braided
Front Side-swept bangs

Short loose blonde side braid with side-swept bangs; this photograph shows the structure of the braided clearly enough to separate it from decorative details; the braided finish and side-swept bangs determine whether the result feels sleek, soft, or intentionally undone; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Long highlighted side braid with loose front pieces.

Look 05

Long Highlighted Side Braid with Loose Front Pieces

The face frame is set by an open front, while the braided finish keeps the braided from looking rigid.

Length Long
Style Braided

Long highlighted side braid with loose front pieces; the style is organized around the braided, with the braided finish controlling how polished or relaxed it reads; pay attention to placement, visible tension, and where pins, ties, or braided sections anchor the shape; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Photo showing slim dark fishtail side braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 06

Slim Dark Fishtail Side Braid

At a glance, the face frame is set by an open front, while the braided finish keeps the fishtail braid from looking rigid.

Style Fishtail braid
Finish Braided

Slim dark fishtail side braid; the style is organized around the fishtail braid, with the braided finish controlling how polished or relaxed it reads; pay attention to placement, visible tension, and where pins, ties, or braided sections anchor the shape; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Loose highlighted fishtail side braid.

Look 07

Loose Highlighted Fishtail Side Braid

The braided texture softens the fishtail braid; the main face-framing detail comes from an open front.

Style Fishtail braid
Finish Braided

Loose highlighted fishtail side braid; the visible anchor point and direction of the hair are the practical references here; the braided texture adds character, but secure placement is what preserves the fishtail braid through wear; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Relaxed blonde side braid over the shoulder.

Look 08

Relaxed Blonde Side Braid Over the Shoulder

At a glance, the photograph makes the braided, braided movement, and an open front easy to compare.

Style Braided
Color Blonde

Relaxed blonde side braid over the shoulder; the style is organized around the braided, with the braided finish controlling how polished or relaxed it reads; pay attention to placement, visible tension, and where pins, ties, or braided sections anchor the shape; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Photo showing long slim brunette side braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 09

Long Slim Brunette Side Braid

The photograph makes the braided, braided movement, and an open front easy to compare.

Length Long
Style Braided
Color Brunette

Long slim brunette side braid; the style is organized around the braided, with the braided finish controlling how polished or relaxed it reads; pay attention to placement, visible tension, and where pins, ties, or braided sections anchor the shape; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Loose brunette side braid with an open front.

Look 10

Loose Brunette Side Braid with an Open Front

This view clearly records an open front, the braided perimeter, and the direction of the braided texture.

Style Braided
Color Brunette

Loose brunette side braid with an open front; the visible anchor point and direction of the hair are the practical references here; the braided texture adds character, but secure placement is what preserves the braided through wear; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Thick brunette side braid under a wide-brim hat.

Look 11

Thick Brunette Side Braid Under a Wide-Brim Hat

At a glance, this braided is defined by a braided surface, a clear lower edge, and an open front.

Style Braided
Color Brunette

Thick brunette side braid under a wide-brim hat; this photograph shows the structure of the braided clearly enough to separate it from decorative details; the braided finish and open front determine whether the result feels sleek, soft, or intentionally undone; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Low blonde side braid under a felt hat.

Look 12

Low Blonde Side Braid Under a Felt Hat

For shape comparison, the braided finish gives this braided visible movement, with the front defined by an open front.

Style Braided
Color Blonde

Low blonde side braid under a felt hat; the visible anchor point and direction of the hair are the practical references here; the braided texture adds character, but secure placement is what preserves the braided through wear; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Long brunette side braid with a center part.

Look 13

Long Brunette Side Braid with a Center Part

At a glance, the photo is most useful for comparing the braided edge, center part, and braided movement.

Length Long
Style Braided
Front Center part

Long brunette side braid with a center part; the visible anchor point and direction of the hair are the practical references here; the braided texture adds character, but secure placement is what preserves the braided through wear; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Loose copper side braid with natural texture.

Look 14

Loose Copper Side Braid with Natural Texture

At a glance, the face frame is set by an open front, while the textured finish keeps the braided from looking rigid.

Style Braided
Finish Textured
Color Copper

Loose copper side braid with natural texture; the visible anchor point and direction of the hair are the practical references here; the textured texture adds character, but secure placement is what preserves the braided through wear; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Soft blonde side braid with loose face-framing pieces.

Look 15

Soft Blonde Side Braid with Loose Face-Framing Pieces

The braided texture softens the braided; the main face-framing detail comes from face-framing pieces.

Style Braided
Front Face-framing pieces
Color Blonde

Soft blonde side braid with loose face-framing pieces; the visible anchor point and direction of the hair are the practical references here; the braided texture adds character, but secure placement is what preserves the braided through wear; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Photo showing long blonde fishtail side braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 16

Long Blonde Fishtail Side Braid

The balance comes from a defined fishtail braid, braided movement, and the way an open front shapes the front.

Length Long
Style Fishtail braid
Finish Braided

Long blonde fishtail side braid; this photograph shows the structure of the fishtail braid clearly enough to separate it from decorative details; the braided finish and open front determine whether the result feels sleek, soft, or intentionally undone; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Photo showing loose copper fishtail side braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 17

Loose Copper Fishtail Side Braid

Here, an open front connects cleanly to the fishtail braid, and the braided finish keeps the shape light.

Style Fishtail braid
Finish Braided
Color Copper

Loose copper fishtail side braid; this photograph shows the structure of the fishtail braid clearly enough to separate it from decorative details; the braided finish and open front determine whether the result feels sleek, soft, or intentionally undone; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

Textured brunette side braid with wispy front pieces.

Look 18

Textured Brunette Side Braid with Wispy Front Pieces

For shape comparison, the balance comes from a defined braided, textured movement, and the way an open front shapes the front.

Style Braided
Finish Textured
Color Brunette

Textured brunette side braid with wispy front pieces; the visible anchor point and direction of the hair are the practical references here; the textured texture adds character, but secure placement is what preserves the braided through wear; compare these visible proportions with your natural density, texture, growth pattern, and usual styling routine rather than expecting an identical result.

The salon brief

Choose placement and structure

Compare where the style is anchored and how the hair travels into it. That structure determines the silhouette more than decorative finishing touches.

Balance hold with softness

A smooth base usually lasts longer, while loose texture feels softer and more relaxed. Decide which matters more for your routine or occasion.

Save the useful angle

Back views explain braiding, twisting, and pin placement; front views show face framing. Keep both when the style needs to be recreated accurately.

Bella Ross

About the author · Hairstyle editor

Bella Ross

Bella Ross is the hairstyle editor behind Latest Easy Hairstyles. She curates practical haircut, braid, color, and styling ideas with a focus on looks that are easy to browse, realistic to recreate, and useful for everyday hair decisions.