Regina King Just Won the Cool Cornrows Crown
It’s a top contender for the chicest celebrity hairstyle of the year.
Seeing Regina King on my screen is always a treat, but when she sports a hairstyle like her current one, I have to take a moment to thank the glam gods. On August 14, the actress was seen in SoHo, presumably making her rounds as she promotes her new wine brand, MianU, which honors her late son, Ian Alexander Jr. For the occasion, she wore a colorful, form-fitting dress, white heels, and a matching Louis Vuitton bag. Still, her hair was exactly what I needed it to be and more, and I am considering getting real traditional cornrows for the first time in years.
King’s hair was nothing short of a work of art. It was braided down into a low ponytail, before being tucked into a bun—an elegant, low-maintenance version of the timeless style. Of course, she added her personal flair to the look by incorporating braided kiss curls and baby hairs. Finally, the deep side part she chose gave the hairstyle the appearance of side bangs. The star finished the look with a smokey eye, satin-matte complexion makeup, and a soft touch of color on the lips and cheeks.
Regina King is seen in soho on August 13, 2025 in New York City.
Elevated bun hairstyles have been popular lately, with celebrities like Aimee Lou Wood, Nicole Ari Parker, and even Selena Gomez recently spotted wearing them. King’s version of the look captures all the best parts of a chic yet practical hairstyle. The cornrows require little to no styling daily, the style itself is classic, and the small added touches make it feel eclectic and trendy—it’s the coolest hairstyle I’ve seen from a celebrity in a while. .
Regina King wearing the same low cornrow bun hairstyle for a visit to the SiriusXM Studios in New York City.
I’m not blessed with the ability to cornrow my own hair, but for the folks who are, and who would like to recreate King’s look at home, keep reading for a few products that will make the project much easier
The foundation of any good hairstyle is clean hair, but it's especially important when doing a protective style like King's.
When doing fresh cornrows, make sure to apply an oil like this one to help lock in any hydrating treatments before braiding.
The most important part of any cornrow hairstyle? Precise parts, which you can achieve using these rat-tail combs.
Braid gels help with gripping the hair before cornrowing, making the braiding process a little easier.
It feels like a crime that all braided hairstyles don't automatically come with a bonnet, but until then, grab this one from Amazon.
