24 Updo Hairstyles for Black Women for Every Occasion

Updos are where Black hair really gets to show off, blending the artistry of braids, twists, and locs with the practicality of keeping your hair up and protected. The best ones come down to two things: height and good braiding or coiling. Whether you want to celebrate your natural coils in a twist-out updo, protect your hair for weeks in a braided bun, or dress up your locs for an event, there is a style here for you. Most of them keep your hair safe while looking striking. Here are the styles below, from everyday to occasion-ready.

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High Puff

The natural-hair go-to, with the coils gathered up and back into a full, rounded puff and the edges laid smooth. It celebrates Type 4 texture while keeping the hair off your face.

Pushing the volume up and forward is what gives the puff its full, statement shape, and laid edges finish it off cleanly.

Smooth the edges with gel and an edge brush, and tie a scarf around the base for a few minutes to set it. Keep the tension light to protect your hairline.

Twist-Out Updo

A twist-out gathered and pinned up, so you get all the definition of the curls in an elegant shape. It is soft, full, and protective at once.

Pinning a twist-out up is what shows off the defined coils while keeping the length tucked away and safe.

Set your twist-out the night before, then gather and pin it into a loose updo shape at the back. Leave a few coils loose at the front to frame the face and soften it.

Flat Twist Updo

Big, chunky flat twists brought to the back of the head and gathered into a thick natural bun. It shows off dense 4c texture beautifully.

Flat twisting the sides and gathering them into a bun is what gives this its sculpted, protective shape, and it undoes into cute curls later.

Flat twist from the front toward the back, then coil the ends into a chunky bun and pin. Oil the scalp along the parts to keep it comfortable and healthy.

Flat Twist Crown Into a Bun

Flat twists arranged in a crown around the head that gather into a bun at the back. The twists on top add pattern while the bun holds the length.

Combining the crown of flat twists with a gathered bun is what makes this both intricate and practical for a full day.

Twist a crown pattern toward the back of the head and coil the ends into a low bun. A little edge control keeps the parts clean and the edges neat.

Braided Bun

Braids gathered and coiled into a bun, low for date nights or high and shifted to one side for something fancier. It is simple, popular, and holds all night.

Working up to three strands of braids into the bun is what makes it fuller and more intricate, so it stays put and stands out.

Braid the hair, wrap it into a bun, and pin it securely. A low bun looks relaxed while a high or side bun feels dressier.

Cornrow Crown Into a Low Bun

Cornrows braided back into a crown that flows into a low bun at the nape, for a goddess-like finish. The scalp braids are the artwork here.

Pairing the cornrow crown with a low bun is what gives this its regal, sculpted, goddess-like look while protecting the hair completely underneath.

Have the cornrows braided toward the back and gathered smoothly into the low bun. Add metallic thread or a few beads through the braids for a playful, personal twist.

Ghana Braids Updo

Thick Ghana braids gathered up and pinned into a sleek high knot. The raised, graduated braids give the updo real structure and drama.

Pinning the Ghana braids up into a high knot is what turns the everyday protective style into a striking, lifted updo suited to an event.

Have the braids done building in size along their length, then gather and pin them high up on the head. A little gel smooths the edges to finish the whole thing off cleanly.

Halo Braid

A single braid wrapped around the head like a halo, keeping everything up and off your face. It suits casual and dressy looks alike.

Wrapping the braid around the crown of the head is what gives this its pretty halo shape, and a streak of caramel colour adds subtle vividness to it.

Braid the hair and wrap it right around the head, pinning as you go along. Tuck the ends under where the braid meets to finish it off neatly and cleanly.

Feed-In Braids Into a Low Twisted Bun

Feed-in braids on the scalp that gather into a low twisted bun at the nape. The braids give a neat, intricate design leading into the bun.

The feed-in braids are what create the clean, intricate scalp pattern, while the low twisted bun holds all the length in an elegant, neat shape.

Have the feed-in braids done toward the back, then twist and coil them into a low bun at the nape. Moisturize the scalp with oil or grease to avoid dryness.

Fulani Braids Half-Updo

Fulani braids, with their center cornrow and beaded side braids, gathered into a half-updo. The top goes up while the beaded lengths stay down.

Gathering the top of the Fulani braids into a soft bundle is what shows off the center cornrow and pattern while keeping some beaded length on display.

Gather the top section up into a soft bun and leave the rest down. Add beads to the front braids and center cornrow for the traditional Fulani finish.

Loc Bun

Locs gathered and coiled into a polished bun, finished with gold cuffs for a bit of shine. It is clean, elegant, and easy to wear.

Gathering the locs into a smooth bun is what keeps them neat and off the neck, while their full length shows off whenever you let them down.

Coil the locs into a bun and pin them, then slide a few gold cuffs on for detail. Leave a few locs loose to soften it.

Loc Side-Swept Updo

Locs swept to one side and pinned up with soft tendrils left loose, for a softer, romantic vibe. Backcombing the crown adds volume.

Sweeping the locs over to one side is what gives this its soft, elegant movement, which makes it ideal for a festival or a date night out.

Sweep the locs across to one side, pin them up, and leave a few tendrils loose at the front. Backcomb the crown gently for a bit of extra height on top.

Twist Updo

Two-strand twists gathered and pinned up into a soft updo, a gentler alternative to braids. It protects the hair while looking put-together.

Pinning the twists up is what keeps them off your neck while showing off the texture, and the whole thing undoes into a soft twist-out later on.

Gather the twists up, pin them into a loose, soft shape, and secure them well. Leave a few twists loose at the front to frame and soften the face.

Pinned Twist Updo

A carefree updo with the twists pinned up and intentional flyaways left out, for an undone but done look. It is relaxed and pretty.

Leaving a few pieces loose on purpose is what gives this its easy, lived-in feel, while the pinned twists underneath keep the whole thing secure.

Pin the twists into a loose shape and pull a few pieces out around the face on purpose. A light oil keeps the loose pieces soft and defined through the day.

Jumbo Twisted Mohawk

Jumbo twists with the sides flat and the twists gathered down the center into a mohawk shape. It is bold, versatile, and suits any occasion.

Keeping the sides flat while the center twists stand tall is what creates the bold mohawk shape without any shaving at all, so nothing is cut.

Flat twist or pin the sides down flat and gather the center twists up tall. A styling gel smooths the edges to keep the whole thing looking polished.

Braided Faux Hawk

Cornrows braided toward the center with the length gathered up into a faux hawk of curls or braids. It gives a short, edgy look without a cut.

Braiding the sides in toward the center is what builds the faux hawk shape while keeping all of your natural length safely intact.

Cornrow the sides in toward the middle and gather the top up and forward. Pick out the curls or pin the braids up for maximum height in the center.

High Bun With Braids

A high bun paired with braids no one has seen before, mixing French braids with Dutch cornrows for real height and drama.

Combining creative braids with a high bun is what makes this a real statement, since height and good braiding are the two keys to a standout Black updo.

Braid a creative pattern up toward the crown and gather it all into a high bun. Pin it generously so the whole thing holds securely through the night.

Sleek Silky Top Bun

A smooth, sleek high bun on straight silky hair or a weave, for a polished evening look. It is clean and refined for a date or event.

The smooth, glossy finish is what makes this feel dressed-up and refined, a sleek contrast to the more textured natural updos on this list.

Smooth the hair up into a high bun and pin it, then finish with a shine spray. Lay the edges with a little gel for a clean front.

Packing Gel High Bun

A high, poofy bun created by slicking the hair up with packing gel and adding volume or curly extensions on top. It keeps your natural texture up top.

Slicking the base with packing gel is what gives the sleek, pulled-up foundation, while the poofy top adds all the drama and the volume.

Slick the hair up with packing gel, secure it high, and add a curly piece for volume. A warm ombre tone looks striking on melanated skin.

Two Boxer Braids Into a Bun

Two boxer braids joined and pinned at the nape into a low bun. It is quick, protective, and fights frizz until your next wash day.

Braiding two boxer braids and joining them at the nape is what gives a neat scalp pattern that gathers cleanly into the low bun.

Part the hair down the middle, braid two boxer braids back, then join and pin them at the nape. It lasts for days with a satin scarf on at night.

Whirlpool Braid Updo

Hair parted diagonally and braided from one ear all the way around the head in a whirlpool pattern, gathered up. It is a striking protective updo.

The braid wrapping around the whole head in a spiral is what gives this its eye-catching, unique shape that stands out from a plain updo.

Part the hair diagonally and braid around the head, pinning the ends up and out of sight. Keep the edges smooth with a little gel for a clean finish.

Headband Updo

Hair wrapped around a headband and pinned in place for a soft, rolled updo. You can hide the headband or make it a feature.

Wrapping the hair around the band is what creates the neat, rolled shape without much braiding skill needed at all, so it is quick to do.

Wrap sections of hair around the headband and pin them in place all around. Pick a flashy band to feature, or a dark one hidden with an accent braid over it.

Chunky Natural Bun

Dense 4b or 4c coils folded and gathered into a massive, high-impact bun. It makes the most of natural volume for real visual impact.

Folding the unlocked coils together into a halo shape at the front and joining them low at the back is what gives this its elegant, punchy effect.

Gather the coils up, fold them into a big full bun, and pin it well. Keep it sweet and romantic, or vamp it up depending on the occasion.

Upswept Kinky Twists

Kinky twists styled upswept with a side part and flat twists on the sides, giving a shaved-look effect. It is simple but very attractive.

Flat twisting the sides while the rest goes up is what gives the neat, upswept shape with a bit of edge and a shaved-look effect.

Flat twist the sides with a clean side part and gather the rest of the hair up. Pin the upswept section securely and smooth the edges down with gel.