Ghana braids are the name of a protective hairstyle that is sometimes referred to as banana braids cornrows or straight-backs.

It was initially popularized by women in the West African country, can you guess that? That’s right, man! Ghana! Ghana! Ghana!

They used to arrange their hair in this style to protect their curly hair from being damaged and entangled.

Nowadays Ghana braids don’t just refer to a single hairstyle, but it’s more of an umbrella term for dozens of different woven patterns that are popular not only because of their protective properties but also because they look really mesmerizing.

Today, Ghana braids are worn by women and men of all ages and ethnic groups around the globe, as well as West African women.

They can be long-medium or short, vary in the number or thickness of the actual braids, and can even be accessorized with beads of different colors and even incorporate hair extensions to achieve the desired length.

There are dozens of different patterns in which Ghana braids can be installed, so let’s look at the 45 most popular.