Oh. My. Gosh. Y’all—can we talk about Storm Reid for a second?! Like, seriously, this girl has been KILLING it lately with her braided hairstyles, and let’s not even get started on her makeup game. I’m obsessed! I know you’ve probably already been stalking her looks all over Instagram and Twitter because, same. Her hair and makeup combos are always so on point, and she’s been serving all the inspo you didn’t even know you needed. So let’s get into it, because I’m about to break down some of her best red carpet appearances, looks she’s rocked in interviews, and those everyday slay-worthy styles you’re gonna want to instantly recreate!
Seriously, Storm is the queen of rocking the most amazing braided hairstyles, from structured cornrows to intricate box braids, mixed with soft glam makeup or even bold eye looks. And side note: if you haven’t been experimenting with your braided styles AND matching makeup yet, babes, what are you even doing?! Let me spill the tea on how to channel your inner Storm Reid and look fresh off the red carpet.
A Reason to Obsess: Storm Reid’s Braids + Bold Lip 🔥
Okay, let’s kick things off with one of my fave power moments from Storm: THAT fierce braided look she rocked at the “Missing” premiere. You know the one—she had her hair braided back into chunky knotless braids, and then paired it with a BOMB glossy dark plum lip that screamed “I’m here, and I’m winning awards.” Like, I can’t even handle how fierce it was.
What’s so cool about big, knotless box braids like Storm’s is that they’re super low-maintenance and can make anyone feel like a boss. But can we acknowledge the real star of this look? The lip! A dark lip shade paired with bold braids is a total power move.
The perfect braid + statement lip combo makes you look like you run this joint…because you *do*🔥
Wanna recreate? Here’s your makeup checklist: long-lasting foundation for smooth coverage, matte plum lipstick (Fenty Beauty’s “Stunna” Lip Paint in “Uncensored” is perf for this), and of course, a flawless highlight for those cheekbones. You’re basically red carpet ready, right?!
Braids + Natural Glam? STUNNING 💫
Storm Reid doesn’t always go over-the-top (but when she does, we live for it). She keeps things simple sometimes, and we STAN a versatile queen. I’m talking about that super soft and perfectly natural glam that she served with loose braid crowns + dewy skin at a promo event recently. It was giving fairy goddess vibes… but make it modern.
Her skin was glowing like she just spent the day at the beach or something. You know that fresh, healthy look I’m talking about? It looked like she’d just been drinking gallons of water while manifesting good vibes. Her foundation was light, her brows were natural and feathered, and her lips were overlined with just the tiniest dash of gloss.
Dewy skin + braids = the “I woke up looking like this” look we all need in our lives ASAP.
To recreate this look, amp up the hydration: prime your skin with a hydrating primer and mix a drop or two of liquid highlighter into your foundation for that dewy finish. And don’t forget glossy lips! Glossier’s “Lip Gloss” in Clear is a solid go-to. Now peep yourself in the mirror because you did that, babe!
Serving Sun-kissed Glow on Braids 😍
Can we PLEASE talk about how Storm Reid literally glows in box braids + gold tones?? Like, at the 2022 BET Awards—OH. MY. GOD. She showed up serving box braids again, but this time with FACE-FRAMING baby strands that had everyone gagging. Slick edges, gold-tone shadow on the lids, and bronzed goddess vibes? It was an instant look.
You can tell she was just vibing in the sun-kissed life (I mean, the glow was UNREAL). The soft gold on her eyes paired with the bronze meant that everything was just shimmering. And YES, I know we all want this.
Sunkissed glow + braids = literally looking like a goddess from a beach in Malibu. That’s the mood.
To get the ultimate bronzed glow for your next event (or like, Sunday brunch because why not?), grab a warm-toned bronzing palette, keep the eyeshadow gold, and focus on that highlighter to GLOW. Also, setting spray. You want that face glowing and locked in all day, girl.
Storm’s Go-To Look: Slick Braids + Winged Liner 💁🏽♀️
I swear Storm’s one of those people who could step out of the house with minimal effort and still slay 100x harder than the rest of us. Like, remember when she pulled out that SLEEK cornrow style with bold winged eyeliner at a Vanity Fair event? She makes it look criminally easy, seriously.
Her makeup was low-key, but with just enough drama. The braids were tightly slicked and perfectly symmetrical with a razor-sharp middle part, while her eyeliner was sharp enough to cut glass. It’s storm proof. See what I did there?! 😜
What does this look tell us? Never sleep on cornrows. And of course, a sharp cat eye will never go out of style.
A sleek braid + a sharp wing is basically the deadly combo you *need* in your glam arsenal ASAP. 👑
Next time you’re about to slick down those edges before a night out, heavily lean on that liquid liner! Top tip: The key to a smooth wing is a steady hand…and maybe a little tape trick you’ve probably seen all over TikTok by now. You can thank me later.
Extra Drama with Fulani Braids + Bold, Bright Lips 💄
One of my all-time fave Storm Reid looks ever is when she rocked those Fulani braids with beaded accents (YES, BEADS) at another glam night on the red carpet. If you’re not familiar, Fulani braids mix thin side cornrows with longer braids and are just so stunning. It’s a gorgeous African hairstyle that looks regal AF, obvi.
And leave it to Storm to elevate the look even more by pairing it with a neon-pink glossy lip that I’m still thinking about. Seriously. The bright lip POPPED against her skin and just took everything up a notch. She kept the rest of her makeup clean and simple—which OBVIOUSLY let those lips talk for her. 💋
Sometimes all you need is a bright lip and braided beauty to own the room. Go bold or go home! 💕
Want to go neon with your lip game? Storm’s look is proof that just one pop of color can make your entire glam stand out. My personal recommendation? “MAC Candy Yum-Yum”. It’s fun, it’s bold, and it literally smells delicious. Add in some beads to personalize your braids, and boom—you’re a summer night dream.
Boxer Braids + Bold Brows 👊🏼
Speaking of versatility, let’s not forget the classic boxer braids (sometimes called Dutch braids) that Storm took NEXT LEVEL with her signature makeup twist. Instead of just keeping things super neutral, she went IN on the brows and kept them defined, bold, and lifted to balance the sleekness of her hair. I know people be sleeping on good brow game, but Storm is proving it’s literally everything.
Her boxer braids (usually two thick braids that hug each side of your head) framed her face perfectly without being overwhelming. But the star of this look? It was def those brows and how FLAWLESS they looked.
Your brows can be the *entire* mood. Just ask Storm Reid, who’s already mastered the brow + braid combo!
Recreate Storm’s bold brow magic by going in with a brow pomade (I love Anastasia Beverly Hills’ DipBrow, personally) and carve out those arches! Finish with some strong brow gel to keep everything in place and lift those hairs just a liiiittle for that extra snatched look.
So, babes, if there’s one lesson Storm Reid has been teaching us all with her hair and makeup game, it’s that braids and bold, beautiful makeup looks are the ultimate match made in heaven. Whether you’re hanging out with your squad, heading to a festival, or just want to slay the ‘gram with your selfies, these pairing ideas from Storm are literally too good to pass up. 💖
Let’s make 2023 the year we all bless the world (okay, I said it was banned but whatever—we’re blessing it this time lol) with fierce braids, bomb makeup, and nonstop looks! Better go practice your braiding skills—I’m over here like, where’s my nearest gel and edge control at?
Remember: Storm did it first… now YOU get to show the world how you do it! 👑
