Protective styles like box braids, Senegalese twists, Ghana braids, and faux locs have gained popularity for their versatility and low maintenance.

Cornrows (sometimes called canerows) are a style of traditionally three-strand braids, originating in Africa, in which the hair is braided very close to the scalp, using an underhand, upward motion to make a continuous, raised row.

Cornrows helped enslaved Africans put up small acts of rebellion and resistance by not only allowing them to keep their heritage close, but also providing a discreet way to transfer information. Cornrows soon became used as a way for slaves to secretly communicate with one another.