Before you choose
Choose the braid shape and color together
A color reference does not tell you how that shade will look when gathered. These photographs show purple running through crossings, rounded loops and twists, so you can compare the finished arrangement.
If you are still choosing the shade, start with our purple hair color ideas. Here the focus is the visible braid or twist rather than the dye formula.
The hairstyle gallery
15 ways to show purple through a style
Follow the color through the crossings. Some braids reveal a hidden light section, while others keep purple on the entire surface. Twisted looks are identified separately from woven braids.
Idea 01
Twin Violet Loop Braids
Two parallel tails display the violet transition more strongly than one narrow braid would.
- Style
- Twin tails
- Length
- Very long
- Color
- Dark to violet
The hair is divided through the crown, with dark rounded sections nearest the head. The loops become brighter purple lower down and continue almost to the hips, ending in small loose tassels. Their wide, symmetrical shape remains distinct against the pale clothing.
Wearability note: Save this for the scale and color transition, not as proof of a particular braiding technique. Ask whether added hair is needed for the length and fullness, and prioritize a comfortable arrangement rather than copying the apparent size at any cost.
Idea 02
Wide Lilac Pull-Through Shape
Oversized lilac loops create one central line with a much softer edge than a tightly woven tail.
- Style
- Pull-through shape
- Placement
- Center back
- Color
- Lilac
The gathered sections start high and overlap down the center back. Individual rounded loops are spread wide, exposing pale lilac and pinkish strands across their surfaces. Fine flyaways soften the sides, and a short loose tail continues below the final gathered section.
Wearability note: Choose this if the fullness of the loops is your main attraction. Show how wide the style should be at the crown and lower tail, and ask whether your available length can support that shape without excessive pulling.
Idea 03
Pastel Braid Over Straight Lengths
The curved braid mixes the pastel colors while the straight lengths keep them in long vertical lines.
- Length
- Long
- Style
- Side accent braid
- Color
- Pastel mix
A braid begins near the upper side and arcs toward the center lower back. Pale pink, lilac and blue strands appear at different crossings. Most of the hair stays smooth and loose, making the diagonal braid stand apart from the otherwise straight color pattern.
Wearability note: Use this if you want an accent braid without gathering all the colored hair. Bring the side path to explain where the braid should travel, since moving it to the center would create a much more symmetrical arrangement.
Choose your direction
Bold tail
Broad purple loops gathered down the back.
Half up
A small braid or twist with loose colored lengths.
Pastel
Lilac crossings beside pink and blue strands.
Idea 04
Purple Crossings Over Twin Tails
The open crossings show dark depth between the purple sections before the hair divides into two tails.
- Pattern
- Crisscrossed
- Tail
- Twin braids
- Color
- Purple
Several narrow sections travel from one side to the other across the crown and upper back. Beneath them, two conventional woven tails descend separately, with deeper violet visible along the inner edges. The result combines an open upper pattern with more compact lower braids.
Wearability note: Choose this for a detailed back view rather than a simple pair of braids. Show the amount of open space you like between the upper sections, and keep comfort in mind when discussing an arrangement attached across multiple areas of the scalp.
Idea 05
Tiny Crown Braid on Purple Waves
A narrow braid marks the side while most of the purple and pink remains loose.
- Length
- Past shoulders
- Braid
- Small side accent
- Color
- Violet to pink
The upper hair is a saturated violet shade. A small woven line curves above the ear and toward the back, with smooth hair falling around it. The lower lengths bend into broad pink-red waves, so the braid stays a quiet detail within a strong color transition.
Wearability note: Save this for a small styling accent rather than a full gathered braid. Choose which side you want clearer and how much hair should be swept back, since a wider braided section would expose more of the ear than this narrow line.
Idea 06
Loose Purple Side Braid
A low side braid keeps the plum surface smooth above a softly opened tail.
- Style
- Side braid
- Placement
- Low
- Color
- Plum
The hair sweeps across the back into a broad gathering near one shoulder. The woven lower section has rounded crossings that narrow toward the ends, with loose wisps beside the neck. The purple varies subtly across the surface instead of forming a sharp multicolored stripe.
Wearability note: Choose this for a quieter braid on vivid hair. Bring the placement beside the neck as well as the braid width, and decide whether you want the loose front pieces retained or a more contained outline around the face.
Idea 07
Three Small Braids With Loose Waves
Three small upper braids add structure without covering the long waves underneath.
- Style
- Three crown braids
- Finish
- Loose waves
- Color
- Violet and lilac
The crown is divided into narrow braided sections, each ending above the fuller lower hair. Dark blue-purple sits near the scalp, while lilac and pink pieces become more visible through the curved lengths. The separate braid ends leave the lower silhouette soft and open.
Wearability note: Use this for a half-up arrangement with several small focal lines. Specify where the braids should stop, because carrying all three to the ends would remove the loose-wave effect that is the main lower feature of this photo.
Idea 08
Lilac Braid With Mint Accents
Mint strands punctuate the lilac crossings instead of remaining hidden underneath the gathered hair.
- Style
- Loose braid
- Placement
- Center back
- Accent
- Pale mint
A broad upper section curves around the crown and joins a loose central tail. The braid opens out unevenly through the back, showing large pale purple surfaces and smaller greenish accents. A slim unbraided end hangs below the last crossing at the upper back.
Wearability note: Save this when you want a second color revealed by the braid itself. Bring both the placement and the looseness of the crossings, since a much tighter tail could hide the pale mint sections beneath the lilac.
Idea 09
Lilac Half-Up Braid on a Bob
A wide upper braid provides detail without pretending the bob has the length of a full braided tail.
- Length
- Bob
- Style
- Half-up braid
- Color
- Lilac
Large light-purple crossings begin near the crown and descend only partway down the back. The remaining hair stays smooth, forming a short rounded edge around the neck. Brighter silver-lilac pieces sit on the braid surface, while deeper purple appears between them.
Wearability note: Choose this for a short or bob-length half-up reference. Ask how much upper hair can be gathered comfortably while preserving the lower outline, and expect a smaller braid if your front layers are shorter than those visible here.
Idea 10
Twin Dark-Purple Braids
The paired tails keep the dark-to-purple change visible on both sides of the back.
- Style
- Twin braids
- Length
- Long
- Color
- Dark purple
Each braid starts at the crown and continues through broad rounded crossings. The color looks almost black near the top, then becomes plum and violet toward the lower lengths. Both tails taper gradually into narrow ends, with a central opening separating them clearly.
Wearability note: Use this to compare a deeper purple version of a twin-tail style. Show how much dark upper hair you want retained and ask about the length needed for those broad crossings, rather than assuming the fullness comes entirely from the photographed haircut.
Idea 11
Twisted Half-Up With Colored Ends
The upper twist is modest, allowing the multicolored lower waves to remain the strongest feature.
- Style
- Twisted half-up
- Finish
- Loose waves
- Accent
- Multicolored ends
Two narrow side sections meet near the back of the head and form a small twisted gathering. Purple dominates the upper surface, while blue, mint and pink ribbons appear lower down through the loose bends. The rest of the hair is not woven into a full braid.
Wearability note: Choose this when you want a simple half-up shape on elaborate color. Identify it as a twist reference rather than a braided tail, and discuss how much side hair to gather so the bright lower sections remain free and visible.
Idea 12
Wide Braided Band Over Purple Waves
The wide horizontal band collects upper color while the lower purple waves stay loose.
- Style
- Braided half-up
- Placement
- Back band
- Color
- Purple and teal
Several large crossings extend across the back below the crown, joining side sections into a rounded band. Teal strands pass through darker purple in the weave. Beneath it, longer waves carry brighter violet and pink, making the upper braid a distinct frame rather than a full-length tail.
Wearability note: Save this for a substantial half-up braid with plenty of loose hair underneath. Show the width and height of the band, since placing it much lower could cover more of the bright waves and reduce the separation between the two parts.
Idea 13
Pastel Fishtail Braids With a Moth Clip
Two fine fishtail braids define the half-up join while most of the pastel waves remain loose.
- Style
- Braided half-up
- Color
- Lavender and pink
- Accessory
- Moth-shaped clip
The upper hair is deeper purple near the parting, becoming pale lavender and pink through the lengths. Narrow braided sections travel inward from both sides, with small repeated crossings visible along each one. A gold-toned moth-shaped clip marks their meeting point above the loose curls.
Wearability note: Save this for a delicate braided accent rather than a broad gathered crown. Show the width of the small braids and the clip separately, and discuss an attachment that does not catch the loose surrounding waves.
Idea 14
Wide Purple Braid With Pink Edges
Pink edges make the broad purple crossings easier to distinguish from the smooth hair behind them.
- Style
- Wide braid
- Placement
- Diagonal
- Color
- Purple and pink
A raised braid travels diagonally from the upper crown toward the lower back. Its loops are opened wide, exposing alternating magenta and deeper purple. Some longer hair remains loose alongside the tail, so the finished outline is fuller than the braid alone.
Wearability note: Choose this for color contrast within a large braid. Bring the side angle to show how much hair remains free, and decide whether the pink should sit mainly on the outside loops or appear more evenly throughout the tail.
Idea 15
Purple-Pink Braid Across a Wavy Bob
A broad upper braid leaves enough loose length for the bob to keep its wavy shape.
- Length
- Wavy bob
- Style
- Half-up braid
- Color
- Purple-pink
Large pink-purple crossings form a horizontal band below the crown. The lower hair falls in soft bends toward the shoulders, with dark violet visible between the brighter pieces. The braid occupies the upper half only and does not continue as a long tail down the back.
Wearability note: Save this for a short half-up style with a noticeable woven feature. Compare your front-layer length before choosing the braid width, and ask how much hair should stay loose to preserve the fuller bob outline pictured here.
One large braid or several small ones?
A broad tail gives the color a large continuous area. Several small braids create repeated lines and leave room for loose waves between them. Decide whether the braid should be the main silhouette or only an accent within the colored hair.
Use the back view to explain width and length, but bring a front reference if face coverage matters.
Keep the color claim realistic
A photograph cannot establish whether the shade comes from the natural hair, added strands or a combination. Very long, full tails may involve extra hair, so ask about the requirements instead of assuming your own lengths will produce the same size.
Choose comfortable styling and avoid a result that feels tight or heavy. The photo is a visual reference, not proof that a particular arrangement will suit every wearer.
About the author
Bella Ross
Bella Ross is the hairstyle editor behind Latest Easy Hairstyles. She curates practical haircut, braid, color, and styling ideas with a focus on looks that are easy to browse, realistic to recreate, and useful for everyday hair decisions.