Pop smoke braids have long been considered one of the best protective hairstyles. But their popularity is rising day after day. So, if you have decided to hop on trend but were waiting for a sign, this is it. It is time to nail the awesome braided hairstyle that Pop Smoke introduced to us. Not sure where to begin? We will tell you everything you need to know, from how to create popsmoke braids to the best variations of the look.

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What Are Pop Smoke Braids?

But first, let’s define what are pop smoke braids for men. This is a protective hairstyle that features four feed in cornrows braided on each side of the head so that they have a distinct parting in the middle. It was popularized by Pop Smoke, a rapper, songwriter and singer from the USA who passed away at the age of 21. One of the coolest things about the style is that it is suitable for everyone no matter your gender, age or even type of hair. Yet, it is a more preferable option for natural kinky locks, as it helps not only to tame them but also to keep them protected from frizziness, brittleness and breakage. Besides, you can wear popsmoke braids for 4-6 weeks and with proper maintenance, even longer. To create the style, the braider will use the stitch in knot hair technique. Yet, the number of ways to pull it off is endless, so it is easy to find a style to your liking.

Source: @braidedroots via Instagram

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How Do You Do Smoke Pop Braids?

Every braider has their own tips and tricks to do flawless braids. But here is a step by step tutorial on one of the easiest ways how to get a pop smoke braid hairstyle:

1. Brush the hair to remove any knots and tangles.
2. Divide it in half with a parting in the center of the head.
3. Divide each part into four equal sections and secure them with hair clips.
4. Apply a sparing amount of a braiding gel to the first section that you are going to braid and distribute the product evenly.
5. Take a small piece of hair on the top of the section, divide it into three equal strands and start braiding an inverted braid.
6. Add a thin piece of hair from the left side of the section to the left strand and do the same to the right strand.
7. Keep braiding until you reach the hairline. Braid a three strand braid with the remaining hair and secure it with a rubber band on the end.
8. Continue doing so for the rest of the sections. Make sure the hairstyle is symmetrical.

Pop Smoke Braid Hairstyles

As pop smoke braids are one of the most popular Black men hairstyles, they have plenty of variations. Below, we have picked out the best ones for your inspo.