Braided hairstyles are a Summer essential for a handful of reasons; they keep your hair off your face, they transition flawlessly from the beach to the dinner table, and they're incredibly beautiful. But not every plait you pull off needs to be the typical braid we've seen a million times. Need some inspiration? Click through to see some gorgeous celebrity braid inspiration.
Whether you're a guest, bridesmaid, or even the bride, weddings are a perfect time to add a braid into your dressed-up style. They can add a touch of romance or bohemian coolness to your look, and there are a variety of ways to incorporate woven strands into your style. Click through to see how the following stars plaited their coifs to perfection.
Give your hairstyle a trendy boost this season with a braided topknot, much like the one Nina Dobrev was spotted wearing earlier this year. The style, which starts as a reverse French braid at the nape and flows up to the crown in a voluminous topknot, only looks difficult to re-create. In fact, this easy updo is best when you're not striving for total perfection. On Kirbie: Club Monaco top.
If you're tired of side plaits or even wraparound milkmaid braids, here's something you'll want to try instead: the cascading braid. It's part French braid, part regular braid, and part waterfall, but 100 percent impressive. And best of all, it's rather easy to do. Just start by spritzing the hair with a working spray to add texture and hold; Kristy White of Festoon Salon in San Francisco (the hairstylist responsible for creating this gorgeous plait) recommends Oribe Superfine ($29). To see close-up pictures, along with step-by-step instructions on getting the look, just keep reading for more.
As soon as the mercury begins to rise, so do the occurrences of cute, clever updos. If runway and street-style trends ring true, this year we'll be seeing plenty of braids and even more buns. Working with Kristy White of the Festoon Salon in San Francisco, we devised a way that combines the two: the braided bun. It's the type of style that will take you from office to night out and, better still, requires little effort on your part.
Spring is in the air, which means the beauties of Hollywood are busting out their braids. Both January Jones and Jennifer Morrison (upper right) were spotted wearing two totally different types of braids at the Coach Evening to Benefit Children's Defense Fund earlier this week, while Sarah Hyland opted for a tousled braid at the Skip and Donate gala. However you decide to style it, braids are big for Spring, but whose did you love best?
If there's any updo that's synonymous with the sun and sand of a beach, then it's the braid. Whether plaited across your head, fishtailed over your shoulder, or French-woven down your back, braids are the go-to for occasions when a casual style is needed. It's Spring break season, which means it's high time for these woven strands to take center stage. Click through to get some serious inspiration.
While the clothes had plenty elements of menswear inspiration at Viktor & Rolf's Fall 2013 showing, the hair and makeup definitely played off the feminine details of the collection. The look resulted in a delicate and sweet style that could be easily worn for Spring.
The look: Clean, fresh skin with an enchanting braided updo
Trends: Natural-looking makeup
Who would wear it: Any girl who wants an easy way to wear braids
Braids will always be bountiful in the world of beauty, but lately it seems that celebrities are taking to a new kind of plait: the conjoined braid. This twisted style starts as a french braid that frames your face before cascading into a long tail. Celebrities like Jennifer Hudson and Rita Ora have been spotted sporting the style, and Lucy Liu added a formal flair to her braid when she walked it down the red carpet at the Golden Globes. A new twist can add some life to an otherwise played-out style, but will you be taking the conjoined braid out for a spin?
Glee girl Lea Michele wowed on the red carpet in a bevy of braids. Her plaits circled her head, creating a style that was part hip-hop and part party girl. A fun and unexpected pop of purple around the eyes finished off the look. Braids have been a red-carpet go-to in recent seasons, but Lea took it up another notch at the People's Choice Awards. What do you think of her braided updo, though? Is this a trend you'd like to see retired?
