When the name Zoë Kravitz flashes across my screen on the daily, the first words that come mind include the following: effortless, cool, and artistic. The actress and singer is featured prominently on my Pinterest board on which is seek to pinpoint the equilibrium between ’90s afro-modernism and eclectic boho fashion, and has certainly made frequent appearances in Instagram saves folder dedicated to glowy makeup looks, but it’s her eye-catching protective hairstyles that delivers nonstop inspiration for experimentation.
Despite my fascination with Kravitz’s signature braids, I have a tendency to play it safe. When it comes to getting small/medium knotless braids, I’m a sucker for 1B hair at mid-back lengths with soft curls added from top to bottom. Over the next few months, I’m setting out to discover more looks (protective and otherwise), that will accurately reflect my lifestyle changes and hairstyling preferences…starting with finally cracking the code behind the flowing, romantic braids that Kravitz has popularized in recent months on and off the red carpet.
My investigation into Kravitz’s TikTok-viral protective style began with Seattle-based braider Ange Katompa of Purity K Beauty (who I’ve been going to for my braids since the tail end of the pandemic monthly. Katompa, who recently opened a chic salon location in the city’s buzzy Capitol Hill neighborhood, revealed just how easy the hairstyle is to achieve using the right products, patience, and a steady hand. Below, I’m sharing all the insider intel given to me on these braids, plus everything I’ll be using to maintain mine the next time I’m sitting in a salon chair for this style.
What is the Zoë Kravitz braids trend?
Growing up, I remember spotting Kravitz wearing her sandy brown hair in pin straight, in bouncy, defined curls, and tucked away in faux locs. For the last year, however, I’ve become aware of a protective style that Kravitz has quickly become the main reference for: small or micro-braids blended with bundles of human hair or accented with soft curls for a full, romantic look. In some recent images of the actress wearing this style at red carpet events and on press tours, it’s challenging to know for sure where her hair begins and ends when blended with the braids, or the exact placement of the bundles.
Generally, however, Katompa notes that when people refer to Zoë Kravitz braids as a style, they’re not referring to a technical braid pattern such as the ones used to create Senegalese twists or distinct cornrows. “It’s more about a vibe inspired by Zoë’s hairstyle: soft, boho, and effortless braids that feel lived in and natural, rather than perfectly uniform,” Katompa explains. “It’s less about a set of rules, and more about a look that people recognize and connect with.” Other names have also been attributed to the style (i.e. pick and drop or tree braids, both involving braiding hair and delicate, loose strands sprinkled throughout.
What should I ask my braider for?
When trying any protective hairstyle for the first time, it’s always helpful to bring along images that your stylist can reference. Long before I sit in the salon chair or Katompa’s hands, I share high resolution shots that capture my desired look so she can help determine everything from the colors of my braiding hair bundles to the placements of her sections. If you would like to achieve the soft, boho-inspired micro braids as worn by Kravitz, she recommends describing the details rather than just using the term that has been popularized by social media.
“As a client, I would ask for very small knotless braids that are lightweight,” she says. To recreate the light, airy look of this style, Katompa would also encourage her stylist to minimize the use of extensions to promote a natural-looking finish. “The braids should be mid back to waist length, installed with human braiding hair and finished with soft, loose, and curly ends to create the boho vibe,” continues Katompa. Remember—any added human braiding hair carries weight! Lean into the feathery texture of the protective style by not weighing down your braids.
