The Biggest Braided Hairstyle Trends to Come Out of London, According to a Pro
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Braids are our favorite protective hairstyle for natural Afro-textured hair because of the endless variety of beautiful, low-maintenance options to choose from. Every year, we look forward to seeing creative new braiding trends pop up that are inspired by our favorite celebrities and sometimes created by talented young stylists in the comfort of their homes. If you're wondering which braiding styles are the most sought after this year, say no more. We got in touch with one of London's leading braiders — Felicia Annang, who goes by the name BraidByFels — who has the plug for the most popping braiding trends of 2020.
Annang is self-taught with more than 12 years of experience and is constantly booked due to her exceptional attention to detail. She says her clients are always asking for medium and jumbo knotless braids, soft locs, Pop Smoke braids, Lemonade braids, passion twists, and feed-in braids. Ahead, Annang breaks down why her clients love some of these looks, the inspiration behind their popularity, and how each is achieved.
Lemonade Braids
"Lemonade braids are small feed-in braids cornrowed to the side. These braids became increasingly popular after Beyoncé dropped her visual album Lemonade, where she debuted the hairstyle. People love Lemonade braids simply because Beyoncé is an icon."
Pop Smoke Braids
"Pop Smoke braids are eight to 12 feed-in braids, which were inspired by the late Pop Smoke. This style became popular in 2020 after his passing, more so as a tribute to the talented artist. The great thing about this hairstyle is the versatility; it can be worn by men, women, and children."
Passion Twists
"Passion twists were created by The Boho Babe from the US. This hairstyle is not just regular twists; curly hair is used to form a less-uniform twist, which gives a boho (bohemian) effect. Passion twists are loved by so many people because [they're] different and unique."
Feed-In Braids
"Feed-in braids [are] the sister of Ghana braids. Feed-in braids differ as the extensions are fed into the hair underneath the cornrow, which gives a seamless look, which makes the extensions near enough impossible to detect."