When it comes to braiding hair, we are big fans! Protective hairstyles such as box braids and cornrows can be done in versatile ways, and that is the fun in doing those. However, you have to keep in mind that the more complex braiding styles you choose, the more skills you need to have to perfect them. Other than that, visiting the salon is always a great option!
Speaking about braids, have you heard about the fishbone? Well, if you are wondering why we are talking about fish and their bones in an article dedicated to braids, then we are here to tell you that fishbone braids are an amazing form of braids. You may mistake it for the regular fishtail braids, but the African fishbone braids are actually quite different.
Fishbone braids are all about cornrows, but they are not your regular cornrows. You need to weave your cornrows in different stunning designs to achieve your fishbone braids. The outcome is visually appealing and you will love to have this new hairstyle for an upgrade.
Now, it is easy to assume that doing these braids will not be an easy task for beginners, especially those who are just starting their braiding journey. You can always ask your hairdresser to do the job for you, but if you are someone who enjoys DIY braiding sessions, then you are in the right place! Here we have compiled a list of the best styles you can try on your hair for the perfect fishbone braids. But before that, let’s take a look at our small guide to fishbone braids.
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How to Do Fishbone Braids at Home?
Let’s talk about how you can do the perfect fishbone braids right at your home. First of all, divide your entire hair into five different sections from front to back. You can do the partings in a straight or a zigzag pattern according to your desire. Secure each section of hair properly, and take the very first section into account.
Divide your first section into two. Now start doing cornrows on one side to meet the other side. Repeat the same process with the other side of the hair as well. Left to right and right to left will be the pattern. When it’s done, detangle your hair properly, and now is the time to make a big cornrow out of the small braids you just made. That’s it, your first section of fishbone braids is done.
For the second section, you can make complex patterns if you want to give your hair a bit of a complex and intricate style. For that, you can do the parting in this section in a different way. Now repeat the previous process of making cornrow on each side again, leading to the big cornrow at the end.
For the other sections, repeat the same process and try to do the parting in different ways to make your braids look more interesting. You can repeat the same style on both sides to make them look identical. Once everything is done, you will be left with beautiful fishbone braids that are going to make the crowd go aww for sure!
Trendiest Hairstyles with Fishbone Braids to Amaze the Crowd!
Now that you know the basics of fishbone braids, it’s time to try out this amazing hairstyle at once! Fishbone braids have earned the love of many women out there, so you simply cannot skip this lovely hairstyle. We have talked about a basic fishbone braids hairstyle, but you can also go for feed-in styles using braiding hair to do your big cornrows. The choice is yours! So let’s skip the talking and jump into our list of the best fishbone braid hairstyles to take your hair game to the next level.
Long Black
Let’s start our list with the classic length of braided hairstyles-it’s the long braids with the perfect black braiding hair. This length is popular for all the braiding styles out there, and women who love long hairstyles are fond of the long black braids whenever it comes to protective hairstyles.
In this picture, the lady has a beautifully done fishbone braids hairstyle with interesting styles of partings. The braids are done neatly and beautifully and the two big cornrows are stealing the show. We love the pattern that has been created with the baby hairs to match the rest of the style, and this style is totally approved from our side!
Single Swirl
The more complex hair parting you choose for your fishbone braids, the more amazing they will look on your head. So do not hesitate to experiment with different types of parting styles for achieving great outcomes. Apart from the regular straight partings, you can do creative ones like a single swirl to make your hair look interesting.
The lady in the picture has two beautiful fishbone braids with two fuller-looking cornrows. The parting of the hair looks amazing because of the pattern that has been created, and we totally appreciate how shiny and tidy the style looks. This one is a must for teenagers and young ladies to try out.
Big Ponytail
Some people love to keep their hair all flowing, whereas others just prefer to keep them tied up. No matter what your preference is, we have always got you covered. You can keep your fishbone braids tied up in many ways, and putting them up into a ponytail is a great way to start.
Although we have mainly seen fishbone braids in braided styles exclusively, it’s very much possible to try out other styles such as ponytails with your fishbone braids. Ponytails are so versatile that you can make them even out of complex braiding styles, so why not give them a try?
The picture here shows how a ponytail can be made out of fishbone braids. As you can see, regular fishbone braids in tidy patterns have been created at first, and then the big cornrows have been tied up together to give the braids a ponytail style. You can do the twist braids hairstyle at the ends of your big cornrows to combine both twist and fishbone braids in the same hairstyle.
With Rubber Bands
You can tie up your fishbone braids with rubber bands, and no one’s going to complain. Seriously, it’s as easy as it sounds. If you plan on turning all of your braided ends into a simple ponytail, then using rubber bands to secure your braids is the best option.
Here is a hairstyle to prove our point. As you can see, the girl has beautifully done fishbone braids along with cornrows in the middle and at the sides. All of the braids have been done up until her crown, and then they have been tied up by rubber bands that match her hair color.
The ends of the cornrows in the middle and at the sides have been gathered together for tying them up. Then the rest of the hair at the back has been turned into a beautiful ponytail and then tied up with a simple hair tie. This hairstyle is especially suitable for little girls as it looks quite cute and chic.
Purple Braids
Purple braids are always in style. To achieve them, you need to choose your braiding hair in purple colors and your purple hair dream will come true. As for fishbone braids, the scenario is also the same, so the style will look just as stunning as your regular box braids or cornrows.
For instance, the lady in this picture has beautiful fishbone braids with the big cornrows made by using purple braiding hair. The color of the hair is glossy and nice, so it complements her braids quite well. Plus, we just can’t get enough of the side-shaved look that she has gone for to make this style perfect.
Simple Updo
You can create updos with your fishbone braids if you are looking for a neat and sophisticated hairstyle. With updos, there is always the advantage of keeping your hair in one place without the mess. Plus, the style is elegant for any formal events, so it is always recommended to try out updos with your braided hairstyles.
You can take inspiration from this simple updo style if you want to try out an updo with your fishbone braids. The braids have been accompanied by stitch braids and all of the braided ends have been turned into a simple and beautiful updo. The style is clean and precise, and we totally love it!
Middle Cornrows
The fun with fishbone braids is you can place your big cornrows any way you like. There can be multiple big cornrows or just two of them on each side. You can also do two big cornrows right in the middle with small cornrows all over your head in beautiful patterns. This way, your hair is all full of small braids at the front, but when you take a look at the back, the big cornrows give you that fuller-looking effect.
This lady here has two big cornrows right in the middle which are quite long and has taken her hairstyle to the next level. The small cornrows have been done in different patterns to make the style more interesting, and we love the preciseness of this overall hairstyle.
Zigzag Pattern
Instead of going for a straight or swirl pattern, you can do zigzag patterns on your head if you are willing to do fishbone braids. Trust us, it looks amazing and you will fall in love with style once you properly accomplish it. You can do two big cornrows on each side, and the middle of your head will look amazing with the zigzag all over.
In this picture, the girl has two big and beautiful cornrows, and the fishbone braids look totally awesome. We love the intricacy of the entire style and the partings are so precise that it makes us want to try this hairstyle right now. We also appreciate the use of brown braiding hair at the ends of the braids to make everything fancier. If you have become a fan of this style, give this a try the next time you visit the salon.
Blonde Top Bun
Choosing two colors of braiding hair for your fishbone braids can be a great way to style your hair. You can do half of your big cornrows in your natural hair color, and the other half can be done using a different color of braiding hair to make it all extra. And to top it off, why not turn your lower half into a nice top bun?
Like the one in this picture-the lady has neatly done fishbone braids in different patterns and partings. While the upper portion of her braids is black, the lower portion which has been turned into a glamorous top bun has been braided using blonde braiding hair. This style is elegant enough for any occasion, so you should give it a try at least once!
Side Part
Most women out there try out middle part braids or simply opt for complex parting to make their braids look exclusive. But have you ever thought that a simple side-part braided style will be enough to make a statement? Well, it’s not a secret anymore because we are going to show this style to you and you will be able to understand what we are talking about.
The girl in this picture has two beautiful fishbone braids, but her hair has been parted at the side instead of in the middle to make the style simple but elegant. All of the braids have been done nicely and the parting is quite precise. The side part is also not straight, rather it is angular to make the parting look even more interesting. The braids look beautiful and the entire style is simply amazing.
Big ‘X’ Cornrows
We have talked about big cornrows that stay separate, but what about cornrows that overlap? Well, it’s always great to introduce a newer version of ourselves, so why should our braids be all old and outdated? So here we have a different type of hairstyle which you can easily do with your fishbone braids.
As you can see, the middle-parted hair has been given an ‘X’ formation right at the back. This actually relies on the way you are going to braid your big cornrows. Instead of doing straight cornrows, you just go sideways and the braids overlap each other. The ends of the big cornrows have been tied up together at the end, and the entire hair looks totally stylish.
Fishbone Pigtails
Just talking about a braided ponytail wasn’t enough for us, so we are here to talk about the pigtails. Well, obviously it’s not your regular pigtails, rather there is a twist. Yes, you guessed it right-it’s the fishbone pigtails that have become one of our favorites in recent times.
Making pigtails out of your fishbone braids is quite easy. First of all, you need to part your hair in the middle and then do fishbone braids on each side. When the braids reach your nape, turn them into two beautiful pigtails that flow freely. You can choose curly hair to achieve similar results as shown in the picture. Trust us, you are going to love this style!
Black and Brown
Back to one of our classic combinations, it’s the black and brown hairs in the same hairstyle. We know that our regular black braids may sometimes seem too obvious, so to spice things up, you can simply choose a vibrant brown braiding hair the next time you go shopping, and add it to your style to make your hair look cooler.
We recommend this hairstyle if you want to use black and brown braiding hair in one single style. The braids have been done in an interesting pattern throughout the scalp, and the big cornrows look totally appealing.
The length of the big cornrows on both sides is totally remarkable, and we love the color of the braids for sure. The root hair is totally black whereas the braids have a combination of black and brown, which is stunning to look at. The style is quite simple but it is sure to win hearts when you try it out!
Milkmaid Braid Style
We know that this might seem a little bit out of the box, but you can actually do a milkmaid braid style with your fishbone braids. Generally, these types of styles are created on Caucasian hair. But it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your naturally coarse black hair.
A milkmaid style is created in a different way where the braids sit like a crown around your head. When it comes to your black hair, you can try out this particular hairstyle to achieve that beauty. It’s just the big cornrows that have been given the crown-like shape through braiding, and we totally love the outcome.
This style is particularly a neat one as the braids are set properly without any messiness. It is a perfect style for formal occasions, and kids can try out this style as well!
Twisted Low Bun
Creating a low bun is just as easy as creating a high bun when it comes to braided hair. It’s an effortless hairstyle that doesn’t require much but will make you look chic and stylish for sure. So for your next hairstyle appointment, we ask you to give this style a try.
Doing this style is quite easy. First of all, make fishbone braids on both sides of your hair properly. But when it comes to doing the big cornrows, go for the twist braided style instead of the regular style. This will make your hair look different than regular times.
After that, all there’s left to do is to turn your twisted braids into a low side bun. Just gather the braids together and make a bun out of them, and there you go-your elegant and effortless twisted low bun is ready to be flaunted.
Red Hair
One of our favorite colors for any hairstyle is the classic vibrant red. And if you didn’t know this already, many women out there are trying out the red hair look quite frequently nowadays, because of the fierce look and boldness a hairstyle with red hair provides.
When it comes to red hair, we totally love the vibrant ones because they look so classy for showcasing your inner spirit. And for those willing to try out braided hairstyles, opting for a red hair look at least once is a must. Fishbone braids are not any different so we suggest you try out this look with red hair.
As you can see, these beautiful fishbone braids have been done using perfectly red braiding hair. The pattern made with the small cornrows looks wonderful, and we love how clean the entire style is. This one is a must-try if you are a fan of baddie hairstyles and love to portray your boldness through your hair.
Single Fishbone
Instead of going for two or more braids, you can always choose to do a single braided hairstyle with your fishbone braid. It’s rather an easy one and will require less time as you don’t have to focus on more than one braid, and the outcome will totally stun you.
Single fishbone is exactly what it sounds like. In this style, you have a single big cornrow along with your smaller cornrows all over your head. The big cornrow is the center of attention, so making it all neat and proper is the main goal here. The styling is pretty much easier, so you don’t have to worry about anything else.
The little girl in this picture has what we call a perfect single fishbone braid. The big cornrow has been done on one side and it gradually reaches the back with a fuller appearance. We totally love the slayed edges at the front, and this style is a total rocker!
Exclusive Fishbone Braids Hairstyles for Men
We have talked about hairstyles with fishbone braids that women can try out anytime they want. But did you know that fishbone braids are just as popular for men as they are for women? Here we have some of the trendiest hairstyles with fishbone braids that men can give a try without having second thoughts.
Stitches and Fishbones
It’s all about how innovative your partings can be when it comes to fishbone braids. So instead of sticking to your regular middle part or side part hairstyles, you can try out multiple partings in a single style and create fishbone braids in different styles on each parting. You can also combine stitch braids and fishbone braids in a single hairstyle to upgrade your look.
Here is an example of what we are talking about. The first section of hair at the front has a stitch braid style, whereas the second section has two neatly done fishbone braids. And for the last section, stitch braids have been created in an ‘X’ formation to make the style look even more elegant.
This is a hairstyle that men can try without any hesitation, and it will instantly provide the cool vibe that is missing from your hair. So if you are here to make a statement, try this hairstyle now!
Small Bun
The biggest difference between a female and a male braided hair bun is the size and appearance of the bun that is created. Generally, women go for the fuller-looking big buns that sit nicely on top of their heads, or it can be a lower bun that looks quite casual. But for men, the size of the bun is quite small, so focusing on the braids is important.
When we mean it’s important, this is what we are talking about. This middle part hairstyle with the perfectly done fishbone braids on both sides looks totally admirable. The small cornrows have been done so beautifully that we just cannot get enough of them.
As you can see, the ends of the big cornrows have been tied together at the back to give them a small bun look, which has been secured with a regular black hair tie. The entire style is precise and clean, and we have totally fallen in love with this style.
Blonde and Black
When it comes to braiding your hair, we always recommend combining blonde hair with your black hair to make the style more interesting. This works quite well because the blonde hair creates a highlight effect which is totally worth the try. So make sure to keep your base dark if you want the perfect outcome out of your style.
Look at this hairstyle if you want inspiration for your next hair styling session. We love the fishbone braids that have been done using blonde and black braiding hair, and the small cornrows also have an interesting pattern which is highly appreciated.
The main thing we like about this entire hairstyle is how different types of styles have been combined in one place. The upper portion of the hair consists of the braids, whereas the middle portion has a regular small haircut. And the lower portion is shorter than the middle one, so the transition is quite interesting.
Braided Big Cornrows
We have talked about our beloved big cornrows for a while now, but did you know that you actually braid your hair for the cornrows beforehand, and then actually do the big cornrows? Well, it is an intricate style that may take a longer amount of time, but when done properly, this hairstyle is sure to make a statement.
As you can see, this middle part hairstyle has two fishbone braids and the big cornrows in the middle are also braided. This style looks quite captivating and we love the skill that has gone into perfecting this one. Also, the side-shaved style just below the fishbone braids is totally worth the mention.
Star Shape
Another interesting way to do your fishbone braids is making a star shape right in the middle to create an amazing hairstyle. The star shape is a common one in braided hairstyles, and as the fishbone hairstyle is all about creative partings, giving this one a try is a must!
This style is totally appealing and it is quite popular among many people out there. The star shape in the middle is precise and neatly done so it captures our attention instantly. We love how the entire style is symmetrical and the neatness of the fishbone braids is totally approved. This is a hairstyle that you can wear to declare your coolness in front of the entire world.
FAQs
We are done with our favorite part of recommending styling options for your hair, but now it’s time to dig deeper. Fishbone braids are so beautiful and they provide you with the perfect style for any occasion because of their versatility. But there are still some questions that need to be answered before you start your journey with fishbone braids. Let’s check them out now!
Are fishbone and fishtail braids the same?
The African fishbone braids are quite different from the regular fishtail braids that we talk about. They are done neatly on the scalp and the creative partings actually give the style the fishbone-like appearance, this is why it is known as the fishbone braid hairstyle. For coarse black hair that needs a protective hairstyle, African fishbone braids are a great choice.
Can I do fishbone braids by myself?
Yes. It is very much possible to try doing your own fishbone braids. But if you are looking for something exclusive or a style that requires precision and combines two or more styles, then we suggest you visit the salon to get your style done properly.
Can I wear fishbone braids if I have short hair?
We have mentioned hairstyling options for men in this article, so it is clear that you don’t have to have really long hair to do fishbone braids. These braids are basically done on the scalp so the length is not a concerning matter. You can make them as long as you want, or just keep them compact with the natural hair you have.
Final Words
Here we have established why you need to try out a look with fishbone braids, so it’s just a matter of time now before you jump on the bandwagon. To be very honest, we love all types of protective hairstyles because they are different on their own. But looking for an upgrade is always appreciated, and for that, we recommend you try out fishbone braids at least once.
Braiding hair is a fun thing to do no matter if you are doing it by yourself or taking the help of your hairdresser. You need to pick a style that matches your vibe and go with it without any hesitation. Fishbone braids are versatile and they can be worn in many ways, so they are a must-try for all the cool people out there.
So we recommend you try out fishbone braids the next time you are looking for a change. Don’t forget to experiment with different colorful braiding hairs to find your favorite look, and also keep in mind to take care of your hair because, duh, it’s precious!
