I’m getting better and better as I practice different styles on my boys hair. I like their hair braided, but I also like simple boy braids that are easy to duplicate because their hair gets frizzy, fast….and by day 2 it looks like it’s been braided for 2 weeks. I need easy styles because while I may be getting better at braiding, I am still a beginner and the styles need to be beginner friendly.
Finding EASY hairstyles for toddler BOYS has been somewhat of a struggle. I found a few and tried them out, so I’ll be sharing them here for inspiration.
Of course the most common styles are the straight back cornrows and the singles… which I have done quite a few times. This post will be updated as I try new styles.
• Almost all of the styles you’ll see were done by their aunt. If it has curves, crisscross braids, or anything fancy, it was all her, lol.
TIP: If you have toddlers, girls or boys, put them in a highchair, with the tray, while styling their hair. I would never get done if I didn’t do this. The tray helps by not letting them bend all the way over to their ankles trying to get down.
Black toddler boy braids | Mixed boy toddler braids
•UPDATED: Thursday, December 30, 2021•
How I preserve their hair
- When I say preserve, I mean the best that I can. They’re flipping and fighting all day, rubbing their heads on the couch, rubbing their heads on their car seat, putting on hats and taking them off, so it’s gonna get frizzy, but I can keep it as neat as possible by having them put a cap on at night. Without the caps, they wake up with braids facing every direction and it’s extra frizzy.
- I have them wear an XL dome cap used for wig making, flipped inside out. The XL really isn’t big at all. I have had them use the XL MESH dome cap, but it’s not smooth, so I prefer the regular one.
STYLE 1 – 3 LAYER BRAIDS
Zig zag middle part
Straight middle part
YouTube tutorial for the 3 layer braids
STYLE 2
With this style, I started off parting down the middle. I have done this style with a total of 10 braids, so 5 on each side, but I prefer to do 7 on each side for a total of 14 braids. More braids lasts longer.
To get the braids at a good size I use as close to 2 finger-widths as I can get and it works out great, every time!
Same style, but with 5 braids on each side- Doesn’t last as long when you don’t have a lot of braids.
STYLE 3
STYLE 4
STYLE 5
STYLE 6
STYLE 7
STYLE 8
Straight backs with a twist
STYLE 9
YouTube Tutorial for this style
I got this style and how to do it from the video below. I figured you had to do a zig zag part down the middle and work from there, but I’m so glad this mom decided to share the entire process for this style.
STYLE 10
4 braids in the front, 6 braids in the back. You can do however many you want. I got this style from MamiDoesItAll.
YouTube video for this style
STYLE 11
I parted from ear to ear, then braided the front 1/2 followed by the back 1/2. I followed the parts from the top, for the back. Parting this way seems like it’d make it easier for straight back cornrows and not 2 layers if that’s what you prefer.
STYLE 12
STYLE 13
For this style, I use the shiny rubber bands… they’re more gently and they usually just pop on their own within a few days. Sometimes I only use rubber bands on the back two braids, and sometimes I don’t use any.
STYLE 14
STYLE 15
STYLE 16
STYLE 17
STYLE 18
STYLE 19 – Individuals
Individuals with a twist.
I’ll let you know how many braids, starting at the nape of his neck and working upwards. 3, 5, then I started the “u” shape from temple to temple with 8 braids, the next “u” had 9 braids to avoid a straight part all the way to the back of his head, and then the top section that’s left has 8 cornrows.
I actually ended up with the cornrows because the very last section would have had plaits that were too big and if I split that section, they would have been too thin. So, in order to avoid having sections that were either too big or too small, I decided to cornrow them and it came out so good…I love the result.
Traditional box braids
I use 3-4 finger widths to measure each row.
- Adjust the amount of fingers widths you use to get the size braids you want.
Here is what I mean by 4 finger widths. My pointer finger is lined up with a part, and my pinky is where I want to make the next part.
Thanks so much for checking out this blog post! Follow me over on Instagram @HeyChrishinda.
Until my next post…
14 comments
Thanks for posting this! I have so far done 5 of them, I appreciate this post so much because there isn’t much out there for little boys.
I’m so glad that you were able to recreate a few of the styles and that this was helpful for you. I agree about there not being much and that was my reason for this blog post. Thank you for your comment.
Hi, can you tell me what type of hair products you use?
Hi!
Currently I do the first wash with something like Creme of Nature Argan Oil sulfate free shampoo or Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures shampoo to get rid of the build up and dirt and do my SECOND wash with KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo (the matching KeraCare conditioner is trash 🗑).
For conditioner I use Texture ID Coils detangling conditioner (yellow bottle) or Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures conditioner.
I switch things up, but I like the KeraCare Shampoo. It feels like a light film is left, but feels super moisturizing and REALLY, REALLY makes their curls pop. The first time I used it I was like, “I ain’t never seen their curls THIS defined!”
Moisturizer- I’m still trying to find something I really like, but I just pick something like the creme of nature coconut Milk hydrating curling cream or the creme of nature pure honey twisting cream or African Pride moisture miracle leave in.
Jam- I use the RED braiders JAM.
These things may change, but this is what I currently use. March 2022
Hi
can you confirm if you still use these products
Hi!
I still use the Creme of Nature Argan Oil sulfate free shampoo.
Keracare doesn’t make the same one I was using anymore.
Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures conditioner – I use this to detangle their hair with water BEFORE washing.
Texture ID – Ran out, but a good option
Moisturizer – I use Just For Me Moisture-rich styling smoothie or the other one with the same label, just a different “product”
Red braiders Jam – NO . Their hair doesn’t last with this.
To braid, I blow-dry their hair and use the Just For Me Curl Peace – Braiding and Twisting grip glaze. Blue and green jar. Trying different products as well.
Can you give us any tips for oil you use or any thing you recommend to thicken hair ?
Hi! I don’t use oil on my hair. I also don’t have any suggestions for a product that may thicken hair.
Any tutorial for #3 or #8 (criss cross)
Hi Deirdre! I move the numbers for the styles around as I update the post, but the styles that have a tutorial linked are the only tutorials available. Thank you for checking out my post!
Hey Chrishinda
thanks so much for this page, there really aren’t much cornrow hairstyles on the internet (probably I’ve not been looking in the right place) especially for boys with mixed hair. will definitely be trying out some on my son’s hair. thanks again.
Hi Keisha! I’m glad I could help with some styles! There weren’t many that I found for toddlers either, so I wanted to share! Thank you for checking out my post!
I am literally so happy to have come across this. You should post a video recording of this on TikTok so many moms refer to that for toddler boy hairstyles. This page will definitely be my go to! & Your boys are so handsome! Thanks🤍
That’s a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion and for checking out my blog post. I hope you’ll be able to try some of the styles! Thank you!