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15Styling a Side Braid in Two Ways

A photo-first guide to styling a side braid in two ways, with concise image-specific notes and practical comparison points.

By Bella Ross
Updated August 25, 2026

See the 15 looks

Editor's note

How to choose from these styling a side braid in two ways

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 15 styling a side braid in two ways by their visible shape, texture, front detail, and wearability. Save the details that fit your hair and routine.

Loose dark side braid with crown volume.

Look 01

Loose Dark Side Braid with Crown Volume

For shape comparison, here, an open front connects cleanly to the braided, and the voluminous finish keeps the shape light.

Style Braided
Finish Voluminous

Loose dark side braid with crown volume; the style is organized around the braided, with the voluminous 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.

French-braided dark headband with loose lengths.

Look 02

French-Braided Dark Headband with Loose Lengths

The braided finish gives this braided visible movement, with the front defined by an open front.

Style Braided
Shape Braided

French-braided dark headband with loose lengths; 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.

Thick dark side braid viewed from above.

Look 03

Thick Dark Side Braid Viewed from Above

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

Style Braided
Shape Braided

Thick dark side braid viewed from above; 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.

Loose dark side braid with a swept front.

Look 04

Loose Dark Side Braid with a Swept Front

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

Style Braided
Shape Braided

Loose dark side braid with a swept front; 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.

Silver Side Braids With a Casual Finish.

Look 05

Silver Side Braids with a Casual Finish

The braided remains readable through the braided texture, and the main front detail comes from an open front.

Style Braided
Color Silver

Silver Side Braids With a Casual Finish; 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 polished Side Ponytail Braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 06

Polished Side Ponytail Braid

At a glance, the clearest visual cues are the braided, smooth texture, and an open front.

Style Braided
Finish Smooth

Polished Side Ponytail Braid; the visible anchor point and direction of the hair are the practical references here; the smooth 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 relaxed Gray Side Braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 07

Relaxed Gray Side Braid

At a glance, visible braided separation gives the braided movement without obscuring an open front.

Style Braided
Color Silver

Relaxed Gray 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 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 Silver Braid With a Smooth Crown.

Look 08

Long Silver Braid with a Smooth Crown

At a glance, the photo is most useful for comparing the braided edge, an open front, and smooth movement.

Length Long
Style Braided
Finish Smooth

Long Silver Braid With a Smooth Crown; the style is organized around the braided, with the smooth 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 soft Double Braids for Gray Hair, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 09

Soft Double Braids for Gray Hair

At a glance, the braided finish gives this braided visible movement, with the front defined by an open front.

Style Braided
Color Silver

Soft Double Braids for Gray Hair; 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.

Long Double Braids With Natural Texture.

Look 10

Long Double Braids with Natural Texture

At a glance, here, an open front connects cleanly to the braided, and the textured finish keeps the shape light.

Length Long
Style Braided
Finish Textured

Long Double Braids 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.

Narrow Side Braid With Loose Gray Hair.

Look 11

Narrow Side Braid with Loose Gray Hair

The photo is most useful for comparing the braided edge, an open front, and braided movement.

Style Braided
Color Silver

Narrow Side Braid With Loose Gray Hair; 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.

Photo showing full Silver French Braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 12

Full Silver French Braid

For shape comparison, the french braid remains readable through the braided texture, and the main front detail comes from an open front.

Style French braid
Finish Braided
Color Silver

Full Silver French Braid; this photograph shows the structure of the french 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 long Gray Double Braids, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 13

Long Gray Double Braids

At a glance, the clearest visual cues are the braided, braided texture, and an open front.

Length Long
Style Braided
Color Silver

Long Gray Double Braids; 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.

Photo showing casual Silver Side Braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 14

Casual Silver Side Braid

For shape comparison, visible braided separation gives the braided movement without obscuring an open front.

Style Braided
Color Silver

Casual Silver 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.

Photo showing sleek Textured Side Braid, with the hairstyle clearly visible.

Look 15

Sleek Textured Side Braid

At a glance, here, an open front connects cleanly to the braided, and the sleek finish keeps the shape light.

Style Braided
Finish Sleek

Sleek Textured Side Braid; the style is organized around the braided, with the sleek 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.

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.