Dubai is a city where fashion and self-expression take center stage. From the runways at Dubai Fashion Week to daily life in Jumeirah and Downtown, women here are known for embracing beauty trends with sophistication, cultural awareness, and bold confidence. This season, one hair trend is standing out across salons, events, and everyday routines: braided hairstyles.
But this isn’t just a passing style moment. Braided looks are making a strong comeback — not just for their aesthetics, but for practical, cultural, and wellness-driven reasons. At Elata Beauty Salon, we’ve seen a significant rise in women requesting braided styles over the past few months, and for good reason.
So, what’s fueling this braid revival in Dubai? And why are more women of all backgrounds adding them to their beauty routines? Here’s a comprehensive look into why braided hairstyles are the season’s top pick — and how you can find the perfect braided look for your lifestyle.
A Blend of Beauty and Practicality
In a city like Dubai where the climate can be hot, dry, and sometimes humid — especially in the summer — hairstyles that are both stylish and low-maintenance become highly appealing. Braids are the perfect solution.
They help keep the hair off the face and neck, making them ideal for women who are constantly on the go, managing work, family, and social commitments in a climate that can wreak havoc on unprotected hair. Unlike loose styles that may suffer from frizz or sweat, braids stay neat and manageable throughout the day.
Many Dubai women now see braided styles as the intersection between fashion and function: a way to look effortlessly put-together while staying cool and polished in the heat.
Versatility That Works for Any Occasion
One of the biggest reasons behind the growing popularity of braids in Dubai is their incredible versatility. There’s a braided look for every setting — whether you’re heading to work, attending a formal event, going for a weekend brunch in City Walk, or jetting off to a desert retreat.
Here are just a few popular braided styles currently in demand at salons like Elata:
- Box Braids: These long, classic braids offer a bold, stylish look with low maintenance — ideal for travel or long-lasting beauty.
- French Braids and Dutch Braids: Timeless and chic, these styles are great for daily wear, gym sessions, or even evening dinners.
- Crown Braids: Elegant and regal, perfect for weddings, Eid celebrations, or formal occasions.
- Side Braids or Fishtail Braids: Playful yet polished, suitable for casual days, beach outings, or a quick office-ready refresh.
- Cornrows and Feed-in Braids: Sleek, close-to-the-scalp designs that are both protective and expressive.
Each of these styles can be tailored in size, length, and direction — and enhanced with accessories like gold cuffs, beads, or colored extensions to make them uniquely yours.
Protective Styling for Healthier Hair
Beyond their visual appeal, braids also serve as protective hairstyles, which is particularly important in Dubai’s harsh environmental conditions. Constant exposure to sun, sand, and hard water can cause dryness, breakage, and frizz — especially for women with textured, curly, or chemically treated hair.
Braids shield the hair from overexposure and reduce the need for heat styling, which is often the root cause of long-term damage. Many women in Dubai have turned to braids as a proactive step in hair rehabilitation, giving their strands time to rest and regrow while still looking polished.
This health-conscious approach is why braiding is no longer seen as just a fashion trend — it’s become an essential part of many women’s haircare strategy.
Culturally Rooted, Globally Celebrated
Dubai is a melting pot of cultures, and braided hairstyles reflect that beautifully. From African-inspired cornrows to Middle Eastern side twists and South Asian braid buns, braiding has always had deep roots in global beauty traditions.
What’s different now is that these styles are being reimagined and modernized, with women proudly embracing their heritage while celebrating a shared love for elegant, practical styling.
This cultural confidence is particularly evident during occasions like:
- Ramadan and Eid, where women prefer neat, long-lasting styles.
- Destination weddings, where braids can be adorned with flowers or gold pins.
- Fashion events like Arab Fashion Week, where stylists push the limits with runway-ready braid creations.
Braids have transcended tradition and become a fashion-forward expression of global beauty — and in a cosmopolitan city like Dubai, they resonate across communities and generations.
Low Maintenance, High Style
For women balancing busy lives in Dubai — from school runs to office meetings to social commitments — the low-maintenance nature of braids is a huge draw.
With braids, there’s:
- No need to wash and style your hair daily
- Minimal product use, saving time and money
- Long-lasting results — with styles lasting up to 2–4 weeks, depending on the type
- Freedom from heat styling tools, which damage hair over time
This practicality has made braids a go-to for frequent travelers, entrepreneurs, new moms, and anyone simply looking to simplify their routine without compromising on style.
Customizable for Every Hair Type and Length
Another reason braids are trending this season is that they work for everyone. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, short, medium, or long — there’s a braided style that can enhance your look.
Even if your hair isn’t very long or thick, extensions can be seamlessly added to achieve volume or length, opening up even more possibilities. At Elata, our stylists consult with clients to understand their hair texture, scalp sensitivity, and lifestyle — so we can create braids that are both comfortable and flattering.
This personalization makes braids not just a trend — but a tailored beauty solution.
Braids + Add-ons: A New Level of Creativity
Braids today are more than just three-strand styles — they’re an art form. Dubai women are adding their own creative twist with:
- Color accents: bold streaks, ombré tones, or pastel braids woven into natural hair
- Accessories: rings, threads, shells, or crystals to match your outfit or event
- Layered textures: combining tight cornrows with loose, wavy extensions
- Braid + Bun hybrids: braided bases with top knots or elegant chignons
This surge in creativity is empowering women to use their hair as a canvas, telling stories, making statements, or simply enjoying the art of transformation.
Professional Styling Makes All the Difference
While braiding may seem simple in concept, it’s the quality of technique and care that sets a good braid apart from a great one. At Elata Beauty Salon, our team is trained in a wide range of global braid styles and uses professional tools, tension control, and scalp care to ensure your hair stays healthy throughout the process.
We use nourishing serums and light oils to prep your scalp and strands, and we guide our clients on aftercare — including how to sleep with braids, cleanse the scalp without frizz, and when to re-braid or remove.
When braiding is done professionally, it not only looks better and lasts longer, but also feels more comfortable — which matters when you’re wearing the style for multiple days or weeks.
Final Thoughts: The Season of Braids in Dubai
In a city where fashion, beauty, and self-expression come together with global culture and climate realities, it’s no surprise that braids have become the hairstyle of the moment. They’re practical, protective, elegant, and endlessly versatile — a beauty statement that truly works with your lifestyle, not against it.
At Elata Beauty Salon in Dubai, we’re proud to offer customized braided Hairstyles that suit your unique look, hair needs, and personal taste. Whether you’re trying braids for the first time or looking to elevate your usual style with something new and expressive, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Book your braid appointment at Elata today — and discover why this timeless style is Dubai’s most-loved trend of the season.
