Bye Man Bun, Hello Man Braid
If you loved the man bun trend of 2015 — you’re in luck! There’s a new hair look happening. With almost 8,000 images on Instagram, the #manbraid trend is making a splash, from faux-hawk French braids to tiny plaits. At the Golden Globes last year, we spotted presenter and hair bun legend Jared Leto sporting a formidable three-strand braid with his white tux. The braid became so infamous that, like all internet personalities, it got its own Twitter account. Its Twitter bio reads: “move over man bun its 2016.” Later in the year, Dancing with the Stars performer Derek Hough debuted braids of his own. Braiding is not new to men’s hairstyles, by the way — as noted by Vice, this is an Afro-Caribbean men’s hair technique that goes back generations. And in Qing Dynasty China and certain indigenous American groups, the long ponytail braid was a common — and sometimes even mandatory — hairstyle.
With the proliferation of daddy-daughter braid nights at local hair salons, it is possible that more men are finally learning how to braid, even if they don’t have the long hair yet. And as any seventh grade worth her friendship bracelets at sleepover camp knows, braiding is the fanciest way to hide a few days without showering. Here are some our favorite man braids of 2016 so far:
Related:
Science Has Bad News for Guys With Man Buns
Denver Salon Hosts ‘Beer and Braids’ Night for Fathers & Daughters