17 of Alicia Keys' Best Braided Hair Looks

Alicia Keys with her hair braided and bejeweled — @aliciakeys / Instagram

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.

01 of 17

Braids and Buns

Alicia Keys with her hair braided into two buns and jumbo braids — @aliciakeys / Instagram

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.)

02 of 17

Beaded Braids

Alicia Keys in a blue jumpsuit, with beads added to her braids — @aliciakeys/Instagram

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.

03 of 17

Fulani Braids

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.

04 of 17

Jeweled Stitch Braids

Alicia Keys with stitch braids with jewels, viewed from the back — @aliciakeys / Instagram

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.

05 of 17

Embellished Braided Ponytail

Alicia Keus with an embellished long braided ponytail — @aliciakeys / Instagram

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.

06 of 17

Zig-Zag Braids

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.

07 of 17

Braided High Ponytail

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.

08 of 17

Cornrows With a Side Bun

Alicia Keys with a cornrowed side bun — Jean-Paul Aussenard / WireImage

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.

09 of 17

Large Cornrows With a Low Bun

Steve Granitz / WireImage

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.

10 of 17

Afro Puff and Cornrows

Alicia Keys with afro puffs and her hair cornrowed in the front — Evan Agostini / ImageDirect

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.

11 of 17

Zig-Zag Braids With a Curly Ponytail

Alicia Keys with zig-zag braids and a curly ponytail — Gregory Pace / FilmMagic

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.

12 of 17

Fulani Braids With Center Parting

Alicia Keys with Fulani braids with beads — Steve Granitz Archive 1 / WireImage

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.

13 of 17

Braided Updo Ponytail

Karwai Tang / WireImage

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.

14 of 17

Jumbo Twists

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.

15 of 17

Cornrows and Curls

Alicia Keys with hair hair in poufed cornrows with natural hair emerging from the back — @aliciakeys / Instagram

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.

16 of 17

Fulani Braids With a Curly High Pony

Alicia Keys with Fulani braids and a loosely waved high ponytail — @aliciakeys / Instagram

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.

17 of 17

Low Twisted Ponyail

Alicia Keys with a low twisted ponytail — @aliciakeys / Instagram

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.

15 of Halle Bailey's Best Hair Looks—From Loc Ponytails to Bouncy Bobs