Last Updated on August 28, 2025 by Laverne Rhimes
Just like you, millions of parents are concerned about choosing the right hairstyles for their cute little angels. But have you ever tried box braids for your kids? Yes, they’re one of the coolest solutions to hairstyle-related problems for kids.
Box braids are square-shaped braided hairstyles that are protective of your natural hair. For that, adult women tend to wear these lovely braids most of the time.
But did you know that this protective style is similarly attractive and eye-catching for kids? Moreover, there are hundreds of ways to customize these braids with different accessories and add-ons. Today, we are going to recommend some super-cool braided hairstyles for African American kids.
What are Kids’ Box Braids?
Box braids are the go-to-fun, and adorable hairstyle for making any kid feel like a little superstar! Imagine small squares on your child’s head. Each square represents the beginning of a fun and playful braid, which can either fall or twist.
Not only do they look charming, but they’re also a superhero hairstyle. They protect your little one’s hair from tangles and troubles during playtime and adventures.
Parents often dream of a hairstyle that is low on maintenance but high on durability. Box braids for kids are the absolute solution to this long-cherished dream.
And the best part? You can jazz up box braids with beads, bows, and colorful extensions to match your kid’s bubbly personality. They’re more than just a hairstyle; box braids are a perfect blend of cuteness, protection, and expression!
Necessary Preparation for Kids’ Box Braids
Most of the time, parents get help from their stylists to make hairstyles for their kids. But you are good to go if you are an expert at doing your kids’ hairstyles. But before you start styling your kids’ hair, you must complete some steps as preparation. Here are the steps we have sorted out for you.
- First, take a detangling brush and carefully detangle the kid’s natural hair. But remember, do it carefully; otherwise, you will damage the roots and scalp.
- Use a kid-friendly shampoo and wash her hair with water. This will remove dead skin cells, sweat, and other products.
- Now, apply a kid-friendly conditioner to your child’s hair. Softening the hair will make it flexible and manageable.
- Stretch out your kid’s hair with a blow dryer.
- And finally, use an anti-itch spray on your kid’s scalp.
Now, choose some braiding hair. If you are going to do these braids with the help of a stylist, they may provide you with that. Otherwise, you need to buy the braiding hair by yourself. If you are braiding yourself, section the natural hair, attach hair extensions, and start braiding.
After you finish braiding, think about retouching, trimming flyaways, and dipping the edges into hot water. But if you are not expert enough to do braiding, we strongly suggest you get the box braids done by a professional stylist.
How to Style Your Kids’ Box Braids?
Box braids are a versatile, protective, and flexible braid style with a myriad of styling options. Like the ladies, kids can also wear these wonderful styles with great comfort.
So, let’s get introduced to the exciting world of kids’ box braid styles. From braids with beads to braided buns, jumbo braids, and more. And there is always a style to suit every child’s personality and preferences.
With box braids, you’re not just limited to the braid itself. You can add ribbons, hair bows, and rubber bands to personalize and accessorize the braids.
In addition, a wide range of lengths and colors is available for your kids’ braids. You can go from hip-length to shoulder-length, or red to purple, while styling the kiddies’ box braids. And as a whole, you can truly create a unique and stylish braided hairstyle for your kids.
Heart Braids
You must have noticed the heart shape in different braided hairstyles. Especially the women wear this type of braided hairstyle with cornrow, Fulani, or tribal style. But don’t worry, your kid can also wear the heart braids just like the adults.
You can make the heart braids in two ways:
- Create a heart shape instead of a square or a triangle, and braid that portion.
- Create a heart shape with cornrow braiding and braid the rest with box braids.
Here are the two ways you can do this cute style for your adorable girl:
Box Braids with Transparent/Colorful Beads for Kids
Beads are not just hair accessories; they are a touch of beauty. And when it comes to kids’ braids, they add a stunning and cute element that’s hard to resist.
Generally, you will have a thousand options while choosing beads for kids’ hairstyles. Many of them are truly gorgeous, too. But here, we recommend these angelic glass beads for your cute little angel. They are shiny, glittering, and colorful.
Not only do these beads make the hairstyles exquisite, but they also serve as a canvas for your kids’ personalities to shine. Their versatility allows them to be paired with braids, ribbons, hair bows, knots, and more. And thus, the beads add a unique touch to each style.
One of the most rewarding aspects of box braids with glass beads is the confidence it instills in the kids, as shown in the picture below. So, if you’re looking to boost your girl’s confidence with a stylish braided hairstyle, this is the perfect option to consider.
Goddess Box Braids for Kids
Goddess braids have two main parts: the braids and the curls. In the same way, you will need two types of hair to create goddess box braids for your girl.
One is for creating the braiding texture, and the other is for the curls. Experts suggest that Kanekalon hair is the best hair for creating stunning braids.
On the other hand, you can use wavy human hair or synthetic hair types to add curls to the braids.
Remember, regardless of your hair type, your focus should be on the safety and cuteness of the hairstyle.
And if you are getting goddess braids for your kid, you can select knotless braids, highlighted colors, half ponytails, golden beads, and more.
The following pictures are examples of the great Goddess box braids for kids. And like most parents, you will not dislike them.
Box Braids Bun Hairstyles for African-American Kids
Adult women have worn bun and updo hairstyles for special events like weddings and birthday parties for many years.
Today, women, men, and most importantly, kids are wearing buns. Moreover, people are wearing buns with braids, curls, locks, and many more accessories. So, the bun hairstyles with braids can be a great choice for your school-going kids, too.
Braided bun hairstyles protect hair and make kids look pretty. Below you will find some of the braided bun hairstyles for kids where the braiding pattern follows the rules of box braids. Moreover, you have the option to attach some beads, hair bows, ribbons, and other accessories.
Jumbo Box Braids for Kids
Among the finest African-rooted protective hairstyles, the jumbo box braids are the thicker and bigger variant. To be more specific, they are the thicker version of the box braids. As you can see in the pictures below, these protective hairstyles are highly flexible for different styles such as ponytails, buns, and half-up, half-down styles. They can be accessorized with beads, ribbons, or hair cuffs.
Another key point to consider is the cost and duration of jumbo box braids. These hairstyles, which work well with both square box braids and triangular / diamond box braids, are a great choice if your kids prefer long and large braids. They typically cost between $140 and $220 and can last for a substantial 4 to 8 weeks, which makes them a worthwhile investment.
However, it’s important to note that we recommend a maximum wearing time of five weeks for box braids, including the jumbo box braids. Prolonged use can lead to natural hair damage and scalp infections, so it’s crucial to consider these protective styles for your child.
Triangle Box Braids
When it comes to box braids, you have two options: box shapes and triangle shapes. The key difference between the two is their shape. However, it’s important to note that all other features of the triangular box braid hairstyles are exactly the same as the square box braids, providing you with a familiar and stylish option for your kids’ hairdos.
However, the triangle box braids are a great choice for your kids’ next hairdos. Like the other variant, these braids are adorable. You can stylize them in the same way and add the same type of accessories.
Imagine your kid’s joy when she sees the ponytails, half ponytails, and updos made with the triangle box braids. And the fun doesn’t stop there-adding lovely beads, colorful hair bows, and braid strings can take her hairdo to a whole new level of charm and creativity.
Double Knotted Braids for Kids
Knots are cute and easy. When your kids have lovely box braids, you can shape them into any design. And the knots are one of the most widely worn hairstyles with box braids.
Kids’ braided knots are a versatile canvas on which parents can unleash their creativity. These long kiddies’ braids can be adorned with accessories and styled with numerous options. As a result, the knotted braids can be a great relief for parents concerned about the perfect hairstyles for their girls.
Now, let’s talk about the fun part: the lovely side knots. You can colorize, accessorize, and stylize these cute styles with great sweetness. Believe me, your kid will look like a heavenly angel with these perfectly designed hairstyles. Moreover, they can be simply updos or half-updos with two giant knots.
Here is one more of the recent styles of double knots with box braids, a trend sure to excite and intrigue parents.
Try Hair Bows for Her Single Braids
You already know that ribbons and hair Bows create a super-cool effect on kids’ hairstyles and appearance. Moreover, this trend is not limited to a specific region or culture. Still, it is equally popular among kids worldwide. So, by choosing these accessories, you’re following a trend and becoming part of a global fashion movement.
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These accessories create a floral effect on the kids’ hairstyles, supporting their angelic appearance. These nostalgia-fueled hairstyles make the kids’ appearance more innocent and adorable. At the same time, the hair bows and ribbons enhance your kids’ overall look and make them stand out in a crowd.
And one thing is for sure: your kids can wear these accessories with highlighted braids, shorter plaits, updos, and buns. This versatility ensures that your kids can sport these accessories with various hairstyles, making them a practical and stylish choice.
The pictures below will give you some more ideas about the ribbon and hair bow hairstyles with box braids.
Put Some Color in Your Kiddo’s Box Braids
Let’s add a splash of color to our kids’ lives. We’re not just talking about the hues in their braided hairstyles, but the joy and confidence these vibrant styles can bring. The colorful braid styles can light up your child’s face and boost their self-assurance.
Like the adults, there are a myriad of coloring options for box braids for kids. Here are the most worn colorful braid styles by the black kids:
- Fully Colored Braids
- Highlighted Braids
- Peekaboo Briads
Although most parents love to see their kids’ hairstyles with color highlights and peekaboo color, you can also choose fully colored braided styles.
In the following pictures, you can see how the color effect creates a heavenly charm in the kids’ hairstyles and appearance.
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Kids’ Braids and Topknots
We have previously discussed the double-knotted braid styles for our kids. Now, in the same way, you can stylize your kids’ box braids into a lovely topknot. You can apply many methods to the braids to create a lovely knot style.
You can go for a single topknot or a half-updo to get the most stunning results here. On the other hand, there are many ways to adorn the styles too. For example, you can add cute beads, hair scarves, hair ribbons, hair bows, hair cuffs, or criss-cross threads to this braided hairstyle.
As her next hairdo, we suggest the following braided topknot styles for your adorable kids. These styles are cute, durable, and safe for your kids’ natural hair.
Ponytails are Always Awesome with Braids
Men, women, and children worldwide wear ponytails with natural hair, locks, curls, and braids. Ponytails are the cutest and easiest hairstyles humans have ever worn. Moreover, ponytails are a canvas for creativity that allows you to experiment with different accessories and styles.
That’s why our kids should get the opportunity to have a lovely box-braided ponytail hairstyle.
If you are planning to get your kid a box of braids, it’s best to wait until they are at least 6 years old. At this age, they can better understand the importance of hair care and can sit still for the braiding process.
When your kids get box braids, you can make these easy-to-do ponytail hairstyles with those lovely braids. The braided ponytails are perfect for occasions like outings, school, or parties.
They take less time to create, but create a heavenly impression on your kids’ hair and appearance. Moreover, glittering beads, glowing hair bows, cute hair bands, and colorful threads can add something special to her braided hairstyle, making her stand out in any setting.
Kids’ Box Braids with Criss Cross Braid String
Because box braids are flexible, you can add a wide number of accessories to your little girl’s braids. The most popular accessories for kids’ braids are beads, hair cuffs, hair bows, rubber bands, and scarves. But what most parents ignore is the braid strings. Yes, we are talking about the wrapped threads around the braids, which are also called braid strings.
This simple accessory can change her hair game and take the beauty of her braids to the next level. The braid strings are available in various colors, such as white, pink, green, etc. You can choose the color of the strings to match the other hair elements and clothing.
The fun part of the braid string is that you can use it with accessories like hair cuffs, beads, or bows. This is how the braid strings create a glowing effect in your kid’s braided hairstyle.
Do not believe me? Check out the box braids style with braids strings below.
Long Braids, Cute Angels
Long hairstyles are always eye-catching, whether they are natural hair, braids, waves, or straight hair extensions. In exactly the same way, long braided hairstyles look super cute on our black kiddos. If you haven’t tried the long box braids for your girl, we recommend doing it now.
For kids, the length of long braided hairstyles ranges from back to hip length. You should pay close attention to your child’s preference in terms of the length of the braids. You have to go with the length she is comfortable with. As long braids can be slightly heavy, you must not ignore her preference.
However, long braids have some awesome benefits in terms of style and look. The longer the braids, the more opportunities you will have while styling. You can go with simple black long braids or multicolored braids with accessories.
Nowadays, kiddos are wearing colorful long box braids, such as red, burgundy, peekaboo, highlighted, and pink box braids. But you can choose more color options for your kids’ braids.
On the other hand, kids’ box braids are never complete without beads, hair cuffs, hair bows, braid string, and scarves. So, if you add some accessories with long, beautiful braids, your kid will instantly get an angelic look. You can check out the pictures below to assess the beauty and cuteness of kids’ long braid styles.
Shoulder Length Box Braids (Braided Bob Styles for Kids)
Wearing box braids of various lengths and accessories is quite common for black kids. But what about shoulder-length box braids? Yes, these shorter-length box braids are rarely worn by kids. This is why you can choose this style to make her stand out.
Shoulder-length braids are no different in terms of braiding pattern, protectiveness, and styling from conventional box braids for kids. But these short braids add heavenly charm and unbelievable cuteness to your child’s hairstyle and appearance.
Like the other box braid styles, you can add curls at the edges to make them goddess braids, add some cute accessories to create a dazzling effect, or make bantu knots at the edges. Whatever style you choose, shoulder-length braids will help her stand out and make her confident.
Crochet Box Braids
Unlike traditional box braids styles, crochet box braids are super easy to do and easy to maintain. The main benefits of crochet braids are:
- Takes less time than the traditional box braids method.
- Reduce the tension of the scalp.
- Accelerate healthy hair growth.
And you have to go through three simple steps to get the crochet braids for your kids:
- Cornrow the natural hair.
- Attach the pre-braided or pre-twisted braids with the help of a crochet needle
- Add some accessories like beads, bows, scarves, rubber bands, and braid strings.
With just these steps, your child will look smarter, cuter, and more confident. Check below for some cute crochet box braid ideas for black kids.
Fulani Braids for Kids
When you want your kid to wear cornrows and box braids simultaneously, the Fulani braids styles are the perfect choice for you. You already know that the Fulani braids consist of cornrows at the front and box braids at the back of the scalp.
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Moreover, you can use lovely beads, hair bows, ribbons, and rubber bands with these braids to extend the effect of her hairstyle. On the other hand, a ponytail or a half ponytail looks great with the Fulani braids. Here are some of the finest Fulani braid style ideas you can try for your kids.
Kids’ Red Box Braids
While red box braids are a common and stunning style for African American women, have you ever considered these vibrant braids for your kids? This unique and charming style could be the perfect way to enhance your child’s cuteness and confidence.
There are some common color variants for red box braids:
- Spicy red.
- Burgundy.
- Fiery red.
- Dark red, etc.
Although red box braids are not so common among kids, that does not mean that they should be ignored. In fact, almost all of the variants of red box braids are available for our kids’ braids, too.
Consider these beautiful braid styles if you’re ready to take your child’s hairstyle to the next level. Be adventurous and open-minded, and let these pictures of black kids wearing red box braids inspire you to try something new.
Knotless Box Braids
Knotless braids are a safer alternative to traditional box braids. These braid styles offer a world of versatility and protectiveness. Traditional box braid styles start with a knot at the beginning, which can potentially cause tension and damage to tender natural hair.
Knotless braids, on the other hand, eliminate the risk of excessive pulling or tension, damage to natural hair, and damage to the scalp. This makes them ideal protective hairstyles for both adults and children.
The best part? Knotless braids offer the same allure, stun, and cuteness as box braids. Moreover, you can adorn these sleek braids in just as many ways.
So, if you are worried about your cute little angel’s hair tension and damage, you can go for knotless braids and gift her a charming protective hairstyle.
Here are some cute samples of knotless box braids you can try on your kids’ hair.
Purple Braids
Here’s another way to add a splash of color to her braids: purple braids. Like the red box braids, purple braids are a rare choice among kids. However, remember that popularity isn’t always about availability.
That’s why we’ve handpicked some box braid styles with a hint of purple. We’re sure you’ll love them, and your kids will too.
Moreover, with these colorful braid styles, you can experiment with traditional accessories, such as crisscross braid strings, dazzling beads, or lovely hair bows. These accessories give you the power to create a unique and stylish look for your beautiful angel.
Boho Braids for Kids
Bohemian braids/boho braids/ gypsy braids are combinations of traditional square-shaped box braids and wavy curls.
However, these voluminous braid styles can be a bit heavy for younger kids. Still, if your daughter is around 10 years old, you can get her this goddess hairstyle.
Like conventional box braids, you can adorn these hairstyles with accessories and stylize these braids with various forms.
Besides, these braids’ thickness, length, styles, color, and accessories can be customized. If you are trying to find a lovely protective style for your kid, these bohemian braids can be a great choice.
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Kiddies Braid Hairstyles (Bonus)
Just like the hairdos of adult women, kids’ hairstyles are enormous in number. And many of these styles cannot be categorized. So, here are some randomly designed box-braided hairstyles for your cute angels.
Here are some bonus protective hairstyles for your kids. These braids are adorned with accessories like beads, hair bows, braid strings, scarves, etc. On the other hand, you can stylize her box braids as jumbo braids, goddess braids, side-swept braids, updos, and half ponytails.
FAQs
Of course. Box braids are protective hairstyles. And the benefits of these braids are equal for all ages. These protective braids help the natural hair of your kid get moisturized, reduce hair breakage, and ensure healthy growth of her natural hair.
Well, the adult can wear box braids 6 to 8 weeks and not more than 2 months. But in the case of kids, this duration is shorter. Make sure that your kids wear box braids for 2 to 6 weeks and not more than 45 days. If your kids wear these braids for a longer period, their tender natural hair can be severely damaged, and the scalp may also be harmed.
Yes. Experts suggest this age should be at least 7-10 years. Some of them also opine that 10-12-year-old kids are perfectly suitable for wearing box braids. But with low tension to the scalp, the younger kids can also wear box braids.
The amount of hair depends on the bands you are using for box braids. For example, if you use Kanekalon hair, you will need 3-5 packs. And if you are using the X-pressions hair, 2-3 bags will be enough.
There are a huge number of styles you can do with box braids. Among them the Box Braids with Glass Beads, Goddess Box Braids, Braided Buns, Jumbo Braids, Braided Knots, Adorned with Ribbons and Hair Bows, Colorful Braids, Topknots, Ponytails, Accessorized with Rubber Bands, Hip-length Braids, Shoulder-Length (Bob) Braids, Crochet Braids, Red Box Braids, Purple Braids, Fulani Braids, and Knotless Braids are most popular styles.
Experts advise to install box braids at least at the age of 7-10 years. But many of the younger kids are seen to wear box braids.
As long as your kid's scalp is strong enough to carry the braids, you can do it. In that case, 3 years can be a little risky. But if you still want to do so, make sure that the braids are attached with a very low tension to the scalp.
Box Braids are absolutely safe and millions of women around the world are wearing these braids regularly. Moreover, these styles are called protective hairstyles, which protect your scalp, reduce hair breakage, and stimulate healthy hair growth. But box braids can be damaging if you wear them for more than 6 to 8 weeks.
According to experts, kids can start wearing box braids at the age of 7-10. But many of the younger kids are wearing these braids with hair extensions nowadays. Wearing box braids at an early age decidedly damages the kid's hair. If you keep the scalp enough tension-free, the younger kids can wear box braids. Are Box Braids good For Kids?
How Long Can Kids Keep Box Braids In?
Is There an Age Limit for Braids?
How much hair does it take for kids' box braids?
How to style box braids for kids?
How old should be a child to get box braids?
Can a 3-Year-Old Get Box Braids?
Are Box Braids Safe?
At What Age can Kids get Box Braids?
Conclusion
It’s time to choose the perfect Box braids for your kids. You know, it’s really a herculean task to find the right and perfect one for your kid. All we wanted to do was to shortlist the popular styles for you and help you choose the right one. We are hopeful that all this information, photos, styles, and designs will help you choose a suitable hairstyle for your angel kid.
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