Fashion

These Celebrities Know How to Rock Braids

by Rikki Byrd

The jury is still out on whether or not Rihanna is biting in her recently released i-D cover, in which she rocks thick braids sprouting from her scalp. Some are reporting that her latest cover is very reminiscent of a FKA Twigs i-D cover. But, opposing sides aside, one can't ignore that the songstress is giving us 90s fever, joining the ranks with a slew of celebrities who have adopted braids into their shifting hairstyles.

Now, let's get one thing straight: braids are definitely not a new thing ( Marie Claire learned this lesson via Twitter last year). African American women, specifically, have been wearing them for years, and historically, cornrows have been deeply engrained in African culture for centuries. But this post is not to harp on the appropriation and microaggressions of hair (if you need proof that such things exist, just check this out, and this), but rather to celebrate the current focus on braids being worn by celebrities from Kendall Jenner to Solange Knowles, and a lot of others in between. With mom jeans and overalls becoming an official staple in our wardrobes, it only makes sense that the coveted box braids and cornrows donned by countless 90s babies in their yesteryears are also back. From Rihanna's new cover to Janet Jackson's memorable Poetic Justice braids, which undeniably set off a trend when the movie was released, here are some celebs whose braids are inspiring us all.

Rihanna

Lupita Nyong'o

Tia Mowry

Cara Delevingne

CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images

Kendall Jenner

Beyoncé

Keri Hilson

Solange

Tyra Banks

Janet Jackson

Image: @rihanna, @popsugarbeauty/Twitter; @tiadmowry, @kendalljenner, @beyonce, @kerihilson, @saintrecords, @tyrabanks/Instagram; Giphy (1); Getty Images (1)