Lemonade Braids Styles Unveiled!

Lemonade braids have been the talk of the town for the longest time. If you’re on the hunt for a fabulous, fresh, and stylish hairstyle this summer, you’ve landed on the right article. Lemonade braids are stylish and sleek yet chic. In this article, I’ll dive into what lemonade braids are, why they gained popularity, supplies needed to achieve this look, and some creative lemonade braids styles you can try.

Background of Lemonade braids

Lemonade braids have a long history, but they became more popular after Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade. Beyoncé rocked the hairstyle, with one side of her hair braided in cornrows and the other side having braids flowing freely over her shoulder. Over the years, braiders have come up with creative ways of styling lemonade braids. Lemonade braids are more than just a hairstyle; they are a symbol of black women’s versatility, strength, and sass. Some of the common characteristics of lemonade braids include Side-Swept Style, Cornrow Technique, and versatility.

Supplies Needed for Lemonade Braids Styles

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  1. Synthetic Braid Extensions: Depending on your desired length and thickness, opt for high-quality hair extensions in a color that complements your natural hair or adds a pop of contrast.
  2. Curl extentions (optional): If you want to achieve lemonade braids with curls, then you can use Deep wave hair (synthetic curl extensions) OR deep wave human hair (human hair curl extensions).
  3. Edge Control or Gel: Keep those edges sleek and laid with a good edge control or styling gel. This helps to maintain a clean and polished look throughout the day.
  4. Rat-Tail Comb: A rat-tail comb is your best friend when it comes to parting your hair with precision. Choose one with a fine-toothed end to create neat sections for braiding.
  5. Hair Clips or Bobby Pins: Keep your sections in place and out of the way while you work by securing them with hair clips or bobby pins. This makes the braiding process much smoother and more manageable.
  6. Moisturizing Hair Oil: Keep your scalp and braids hydrated and nourished with a moisturizing hair oil. This helps to prevent dryness and frizz, ensuring your Lemonade Braids stay looking fresh and fabulous.
  7. Beads, Charms, or Accessories: Add a personal touch to your braids with beads, charms, or other hair accessories. Whether you’re going for a boho vibe or a touch of glamour, accessories can take your Lemonade Braids to the next level.

Unique/Commonly requested variations of Lemonade braids

A combination of 4/27: Human hair curl extentions + Pre-streteched braiding hair extentions (in some cases, individuals use a combination of colors 4/27, 30, and 613 to achieve a unique color.
Deep brown: Human hair curl extentions
Ginger: Human hair curl extentions + Pre-streteched braiding hair extentions
Burgundy: Human hair curl extentions + pre-stretched braiding hair

How to Achieve Lemonade Braids  

Step 1: Preparation

Prep your hair by cleaning and conditioning it. Ensure that it is well-detangled, manageable, and moisturized. After it is clean, blow dry it on a low heat setting.

Step 2: Sectioning

With the help of a rat tail comb, section your hair by creating a side part. This is because one side of the hair will incorporate cornrows while the other side incorporates regular braids. After you have parted the hair, divide it into sections and use a clip-on to secure the hair.

Step 3: Applying Edge Control

Edge control is particularly important in achieving a sleek look, ensuring defined sections, and taming flyways. In order to achieve a seamless look, you should not skip this step.

Step 4: Braiding

Begin by doing cornrows on one side part. Start from one side of the head and sweep across to the other side. After you are done doing the cornrows, proceed to braiding the hair. You can use a knotless method, as it provides a seamless finish. An optional step is incorporating extensions such as curls or additional braiding extensions to achieve your desired length. Continue braiding following the side-swept pattern.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

To finish off the look, dip the braiding ends in hot water to seal them in. Apply mousse to the entire hair, and finally, style your edges using edge control.

Step 6: Maintenance

To ensure that your hairstyle lasts a long time, always use coconut oil to moisturize your scalp and protect your hair at night by wearing a silk bonnet or scarf.

Lemonade Braids Styles

Lemonade braids with curls

If you want to add a little sass to your regular lemonade braids, then lemonade braids with curls are the way to go. Some refer to this hairstyle as “lemonade Fulani braids.” This hairstyle incorporates curls to add more and more feminine and playful touches to the look. You can also consider other hairstyles, such as BoHo braids, and incorporate various accessories such as beads.

 To achieve lemonade braids with curls, you will need to braid traditional lemonade-style braids, as usual. While plating the hair, you can incorporate curls throughout. The end of the braids can be curled using palm rods or a curling rod. Finally, apply hair mousse and Style your braids as desired.

Photo by @_thenaomieffect (via Instagram)
Photo by @neyhairs_ (via Instagram)

Lemonade Braids with Heart Designs

If you’re feeling extra creative, then incorporating heart designs into your lemonade braids can help you play around with your creativity. This is quite a trendy and romantic hairstyle, perfect for showing your creative side and unique personality. To achieve this hairstyle, on one side of the head, you will part and braid the hair into heart designs. The rest of the head will be pleated in traditional lemonade style.

Photo by @hairbyniamacc (via Instagram)

Cornrow Lemonade Braids

You can also choose to do regular cornrows with your lemonade braids. Some of the cornrows incorporate various designs. This hairstyle is quite versatile and protects your hair from environmental damage.

Photo by @hair_by_zola (via Instagram)
Photo by @ghanaianhairstyles (via Instagram)
Photo by @_thenaomieffect (via Instagram)
Photo by @gladzbraidhouse (via Instagram)
Photo by @ferrawristylez (via Instagram)

Conclusion

Well, there goes a comprehensive guide on how to achieve lemonade braids and the various designs you can incorporate. Make sure you maintain your scalp and hair so that this hairstyle can last longer. This is a must-try hairstyle for this summer, so go ahead and turn heads with this fabulous hairstyle.

2 thoughts on “Lemonade Braids Styles Unveiled!”

  1. Pingback: 8 Braided hairtyles Every Black Woman Should Try in their Lifetime! - Afrochic

  2. Pingback: Top Trending Cornrows in Summer 2024 - Afrochic

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