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, Read more

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty. From splashes of color to funky twists, find out how to update (and upgrade!) your plaited style. More stories from RealBeauty.com: How to Wear Bright Makeup Read more

Updos and braids are a combination made in formal-hair heaven, but they usually only work one of a few ways: wound around in a chignon, pinned up in a milkmaid braid, or French braided back. At The Lorax premiere, though, Taylor Swift stunned the crowd with a messy, textured braid/low chignon combination that was unlike anything we'd ever seen before. In practice, it actually seems pretty easy to Read more

Everyone loves a pretty braid, but creating perfectly smooth plaits is difficult, verging on well-nigh impossible for those of us with layers. Which is why the disheveled braids coming down the runway are good news. They're pretty and fashion forward, but they allow for plenty of loose strands, not-quite-right crossovers, and stuck-out pieces, too. It's a braid new world, so don't be afraid to Read more