Over the past six years, knotless braids have become my go-to protective style for many reasons: A speedy braider can have you in and out of the salon in under five hours, upkeep is easy with the right frizz-fighting products, and they can be styled in endless ways (especially if there's enough length for the braids to be worn up or down with ease). In other words, for someone like me who's always on the go, they're thee perfect braided style.
But here's the thing—knotless braids look so stunning on their own I sometimes forget how much fun I can have sprinkling them with accessories. Like so many young beauty lovers with textured hair, wearing beads, bows, and barrettes offered some of the easiest ways to express my personal style. At some point, however, I think I began passing up my hair bits and bobs to instead adorn myself with my favorite jewelry pieces. But who says I can't do both?
Below, I've pulled together an edit of my favorite elegant hair accessories that will perfectly complement your knotless braids, from bright peony-inspired claw clips to delicate crystal-embellished barrettes inspired by the night sky. But first, a fair warning: Once you begin adding these to your hairstyle rotation, you'll have a hard time stepping out of the house without wearing at least one of these eye-catching accessories.
The Best Accessories for Knotless Braids
While I've bounced back and forth between peonies and daisies as my favorite flower for years, right now, peonies are the front-runner. Come spring and summer, I'll be wearing this dusty rose–colored Peony Flower Claw Clip in my braided updos and ponytails. If you have medium to large knotless braids and have had difficulty fitting claw clips over them in the past, try sliding this onto a hair tie first.
Sometimes, throwing your knotless braids into a scrunchie is the easiest way to go. Take this as your sign to add a sweet touch to the simple style by opting for a scrunchie that features a timeless flower detail as part of its design. This one, by Emi Jay, has a camelia flower that I can't wait to style. It's offered in three colors: black, oyster, and primrose.
Let's face it—finding a claw clip that's big enough to fit over medium and large knotless braids without slipping or breaking is nothing short of a miracle. That's why when I came across Jennifer Behr's Amira Jaw Clip, I knew it would do the trick. Its ergonomic design makes sliding your braids into a half-up, half-down style easy, while nonslip, durable teeth will help your hair stay in place.
Lately, starburst designs are making more frequent appearances across the beauty-and-fashion space. If you're feeling ready to tap into the galaxy-inspired trend, start with this elegant crystal-embellished barrette by Gaois. While the starburst design does definitely catch my eye, I'm also in love with its unique, almost crushed-metal texture.
Another trend I've been noticing make the rounds thanks to the likes of Nara Smith and Scandi style icons has been ponytail cuffs. The accessory itself is nothing new, but I'm seeing endless modern ways of how to wear it with protective styles. Above, take a look at how Nara wears hers with her knotless braids pulled into a messy bun. BRB, I'm re-creating the look immediately (and stocking up on ponytail cuffs).
If you're not a fan of wearing thick scrunchies in your knotless braids, consider using a skinny ponytail holder instead. The Bellflower Ponytail Holder by France Luxe is a favorite of mine because while its elastic band is barely noticeable, it's strong enough to keep braids of any size secure. If that weren't enough, the small cellulose acetate flower adds a touch of elegance to any look.
For the past couple of months, modern minimalist accessories have been taking over my Pinterest board. While I've already them as bracelets, rings, and more, I've yet to try wearing chic hair ties like this to highlight the braided back ponytails I love to wear. Ettika's Noble Nugget Hair Tie stands out to me because its silver-plated metal hardware design is simple and clean.
This Marble Arch Ponytail Holder by Lelet NY was on my shopping list for a while because 1) it happens to be in my favorite shade of jade green, and 2) the shape of the marble arch itself fits perfectly over my knotless braids when they've been pulled into a high ponytail. Plus, its elastic piece is durable enough to be stretched every which way without breaking as I'm coaxing my braids into a style.
I love styling my hair with scarves so much I recently dedicated an entire story to them. Not only do I love how helpful it is to keep any rogue braids out of my face throughout the day, but this scarf by 8 Other Reasons features a playful abstract pattern that's half checkerboard and half Picasso-like illustrations. If you don't have a hair scarf, you're missing out on one of the most versatile accessories for your protective styles.
Also by 8 Other Reasons, this polka-dot scarf is as classy as you can get. Not only does this scarf feature a classic design, but it's also made of satin (what you should always be wrapping your knotless braids in to sleep at night to keep them looking smooth and frizz-free). It's both functional and fashionable!
How fun are these Emi Jay clips? I've collected quite a few of these small and stylish hair accessories since kicking off my career as a beauty editor, but I keep coming back to the Popstar Clips because they're an elevated version of the clips I used to wear all the time growing up. Yes, they're designed to keep strands out of your face while applying makeup, but they also work brilliantly for knotless braids.
Lastly, I wanted to include another hair clip that's the perfect size for your knotless braids. The medium hair claw offers secure hold for fine to thick hair and all braid sizes using high-quality acetate (a more durable, plant-based bioplastic) and metal hardware. I'm also obsessed with the playful checkered pattern for bold styling.
