Jayda Wayda braids with curls are the moment—sleek, Fulani-style cornrows up top with soft curls doing the most in the back. (Not to be confused with these Jayda Wayda braids). It’s the glow-up of that Y2K half-cornrows, half-down vibe Beyoncé served in the “No, No, No” era—same DNA, fresher finish. This new iteration has been popularized by influencer Jayda Wayda, but you’ll also see the look referred to as Fulani with a quick weave, Fulani with curls, half braids half weave, half braids half crochet, or Fulani braids with crochet. Regardless of the name, the formula’s the same: a neat braided foundation in front with airy curls or waves for movement behind. It’s flirty, versatile, and way lighter than a full install. Below, we rounded up the prettiest ways to wear it—short and full, XL and glam, half-up moments, color pops, and more—so you can screenshot your fave and hand it to your stylist. (And if you’d like one of our mobile stylists to create this style for you, click here).
Table of contents
What are “Jayda Wayda braids” actually?
As mentioned, Jayday Wayda braids are a mash-up: feed-in/Fulani-style cornrows in the front, then curls added in the back and sides using either human-hair bundles or crochet hair. The combination gives you a snatched hairline with soft, romantic volume—braided where it counts, breezy where it moves.
What to consider when deciding how to rock this style:
- Cornrows in the front: about 4–20 feed-in cornrows, usually done in a Fulani pattern, but you can keep things simple with straight backs or get creative with an elaborate design.
- Curls in the back: use your natural hair, crochets, weave tracks or even a half wig. Choose the texture (water wave, deep wave, loose curls) that matches your vibe.
- Volume: How much volume do you want in the back? Are you going dramatic with bold curls or keeping it cute with light waves?
- Placement: How far back would you like the curls to sit? Are the cornrows an accent, are they the main event or are you looking to balance the two?
- Accessories: Beads, cuffs, and hair jewelry dial up the boho energy without fighting the curls.
How to achieve this look
There are a few different ways to create the Fulani with curls look, depending on your budget, the finish you want, and how hands-on you’d like to be.
- Most people initially created this style with a quick weave in the back. But we prefer to stay away form glue. A sew-in is also another weave option. It’s great for silkier textures and avoiding tangling and shedding.
- A crochet install is the most common method. It’s lightweight, quick, and budget-friendly. It’s perfect if you love big, airy volume without all the weight.
- Clip-ins are a great DIY option. They’re ideal if you want to blend your own hair with the added curls for a seamless, natural finish.
- For the fastest install, a half wig gets the job done. It’s super DIY-friendly and lets you switch up your look with minimal effort.
- And of course one final option is to use your natural hair. It’s the cheapest route since you don’t have to buy any added hair, and it comes with the bonus of zero tension at the back.
Below are a few examples of the different methods.
Crochets
Natural Hair
Clip-ins
Half Wig
How Jayda wears it IRL
We’ve seen Ms Jayda rock the style named after her in the way most people rock it–springy short curls in the back framing her cornrows in the front. But we also love these sleeker variations: done with wavy or even straight hair, with just a touch of cornrows.
Half up half down curls, but make it wavy
If you want an airy and romantic version of this look, go for long water-wave or deep-wave curls that bounce when you move. Smaller cornrows give more of a sleek look while larger ones announce your presence.
Short and full (shoulder-grazing cloud)
You can go curly but stop at the shoulders for a dense, playful shape that frames the face. It’s lower-maintenance, resists tangling, and gives that everyday-cute energy. Go Fulani braids with crochet if you want soft volume without the weight.
Mermaid long (max glam)
Let the curls or waves drip—past-shoulder, layered, and camera-ready. Keep the cornrows slim so the top sits flat, then ask your stylist to layer the ends for movement. Bundles give a silkier, “red-carpet” finish to your half braids half weave moment.
Pattern-forward (let the braids hang)
Here the braids are front and center and with ends that hang: slightly bigger cornrows, a clean part, and curls starting a bit farther back so the design shines. If you love hair jewelry, this is your moment—wooden cuffs, gold accents, or beads at the ends of a few braids add texture without fighting the curls. It’s still half braids half weave, just styled so the braids do the talking.
Color play (caramel, honey, or burgundy)
Color changes everything. Caramel/honey blends warm up the curls while keeping the braided base sleek (try 1B roots with 27/30 highlights). Burgundy/99J brings bold, editorial energy—so pretty against a clean braid pattern and glossy edges. Whether you choose crochet shades or colored bundles, the contrast makes your Jayda Wayda braids look custom and camera-ready.
Quick care tips (to keep it cute)
- Sleep in a large bonnet or pineapple the curls to preserve shape.
- Refresh curls with a light mousse and finger-coiling; avoid heavy oils on the lengths.
- Lay edges sparingly: less product = longer-lasting braids.
- If you went the crochet route, trim any frizzing ends at week two for a tidy finish.
When you strip it down, Jayda Wayda braids are all about balance: sleek braid work up front, soft curls in motion behind. The look gives snatched meets romantic, everyday-cute meets outside-ready.
Save your favorite photos, decide if the cornrows or curls are the main event, then bring the receipts to your stylist. If you’re in NYC, DC, or LA, book an at-home appointment with Unruly and let us handle the details (you pick the part, length, and curl pattern; we bring the glam). And when you step out? Tag @wetheunruly so we can hype your look.
One last tip: keep a light mousse on deck, sleep in a big bonnet, and give the curls a quick finger-coil refresh when needed. That’s how you keep your Jayda Wayda braids looking luxe from day one to last selfie.
