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It’s safe to say that everyone knows where they were when Formation, the surprise music video and lead single for Beyoncé’s album Lemonade dropped. The visual album features Beyoncé alongside a star-studded cast of cameos—Winnie Harlow, Serena Williams, and Zendaya, to name a few. Both Beyoncé and her co-stars are pictured with natural and protective hairstyles. But it's Bey's side-swept Fulani braids from the Formation portion on the video that instantly became known as Lemonade braids.
“The hairstyle that stands out the most [are] the iconic Lemonade braids themselves," says Stacey Ciceron, Oribe brand ambassador and professional hairstylist. "It was a phenomenon, and everyone started getting these really small, tailbone length cornrows.”
Meet the expert
- Anne Juliette is a professional hairstylist and owner of Texture Queens Hair Academy Stacey Ciceron – is a hairstylist and ambassador for hair-care brand Oribe and Textured Hair Educator
However, the visual album also featured many other braided hairstyles, giving fans plenty of variety if they’re going for a Lemonade-inspired braid style for their next look. “I love the fact that Beyoncé had this vision for so many braided styles and that the looks really drew from African culture and tradition,” says Ciceron, Below, we’ve rounded up 19 braid styles to channel your inner Lemonade-era Queen Bey.
Lemonade Braids
Lemonade braids are categorized as long, tight braids with a deep part swept to one side. Think Bey in the Formation video with her head out the window of the car. This creator captures the style perfectly, parting hers in the middle.
When Life Gives You Lemons
Another take on the classic Lemonade namesake style, Storm Reid wears hers in a more goddess-like style with a few loose curls interspersed through the braids.
Party in the Back
This business-in-the-front braid style is hairstylist Anne Juliette’s favorite to do on a client. “It’s braids in the front and curly hair in the back,” says Juliette. “It’s just seamless, whether it’s with your own natural hair or if you’re adding extensions. It’s a really nice style”
Hold Up
Beyoncé wears her hair loose and middle parted in the music video for Hold Up as she gracefully destroys a car with a baseball bat to the impossibly catchy tune. Recreate the look with a middle part defined by two chunky braids.
Side Swept
Swoops define this side-swept twist style. From the intricate loopy cornrows too the immaculate kiss-curl edges, it's a look complete with loads of movement and texture.
Bey-Hive
The black-and-white video for Sorry highlights a variety of architectural hairstyles on both Beyoncé and her co-stars. Ciceron created similar showstopping looks at a campaign shoot for Oribe’s 2024 Holiday Collection in collaboration with Kenyan artist Thandiwe Muriu. "We conceptualized these exceptional hairstyles with bold shapes and silhouettes inspired by crowns," says Ciceron. "It was important that we were authentic to African culture and that we conveyed the message of celebrating and uplifting the beauty of timeless traditions through these hair looks.”
Sorry
In thvideo for Sorry, the fourth tack on Lemonade, Beyoncé features a look with two long braids on either side of her head. Tinashe’s are similar, but hers include smaller braids twisted around each other for added dimension.
Braided Crown
This look is straight out of the Formation section of the Lemonade music video. Both Beyoncé and Storm Reid have their braids swept up in an updo with a twist in front that’s fit for a queen (or two!).
All Night
There’s a sequence in the All Night portion of the video where Beyoncé has a similar style to this—unbraided hair pulled up over itself and pinned into place.
Nefertiti
In the visuals for Sorry, Bey is seen with crown-like style, similar to Willow in this photo. The hairstylist behind Lemonade, Kim Kimble, has said herself that this was inspired by royalty—Queen Nefertiti specifically. The hairstylist behind this look, Vernon Francois, wrote that he pulled inspiration from Mangbetu tribe hairstyles.
Long Rows
Beyoncé is also featured in more than one Lemonade video wearing long, tight cornrows. This creator styles hers a little thicker, and accessorizes with a chunky gold hoop.
Length Queen
Thoroughout Lemonade, Beyoncé’s braids hang long, often past her waist. This creator's are beautiful, flowing into a loose wave detail towards the bottom.
Boho Knotless
If cornrows aren't your thing, boho knotless braids embrace the carefree nature of the quintessential Lemonade braids with a bit more volume at the top.
Bold Bang
Pulling your braids into a strong and tight side bang emulates the side-swept nature of Lemonade braids.
Power Pony
Continuing the theme of mixing braids and curls, creator Faith Ifeanyi pulls hers back into a gorgeous ponytail, with two pieces left out to frame her face.
Beaded and Beautiful
These beautiful Fulani braids are middle parted and tight to the scalp before cascading over her shoulders, with an eye-catching bead placed symmetrically on either side of her face.
Fulani Fringe
This beautiful and creative style shapes braids on the forehead where a fringe might sit, and clasps with a delicate cowrieshell detail.
Slicked Back
Tinashe's Fulani braids have a fun, geometric edge to them. Her hair is pulled into thick sections and braided back, while two cheeky pieces are braided forward.
Seeing Red
Storm Reid never fails to serve endless braid inspo. In this photo, she wears side-swept braids up front and leaves the back of her hair loose.