Fishtail Braid

Blake Lively has a way with making any hairstyle all the more interesting. Take this thick, tousled fishtail braid, which she wore at the Savages premiere in New York. Instead of your average, off-to-the-side fishtail, Blake opted to break up the braid for an edgier, less-than-polished finish. She also played around with contrast, wearing a dressed-up, shimmery ponytail holder at its base, tying the bottom together by wrapping her matte-textured hair around the elastic.

To copy the coiffure, use a thickening spray before braiding (or you can even add extensions to increase bulk). Next, create a fishtail braid, and complete with a metallic ponytail topper, such as Free People's Stingray cuff ($18), or Elle's metallic square beads holder ($10), near the crown. Wear this braid during the day for a cool-girl look, or in the evening for a dressy, not-too-serious feel.

At DKNY's Sun Soiree in New York City last night, Jessica Szohr showed off a pretty impressive side-swiped fishtail braid. Not only did it look great on the red carpet, but it would also work well for a day at the beach. What makes Jessica's version unique is that she kept the top of her hair straight and smooth and kept a few long pieces out to frame her face. She also left some unbraided hair out at the ends, making for a cool, tousled, undone-looking style. You can copy her cute look by checking out our step-by-step fishtail braid tutorial, as well as the accompanying how-to video.

Alicia's having a big day: she just announced that she's pregnant and engaged to her boyfriend, Swizz Beatz. Last night at the Black Ball, she decided to match her good news with some equally great hair by rocking this gorgeous fishtail-braided updo. Pompadour hairstyles are definitely trending on the red carpet right now, and Alicia's retro take on the look is one of my favorites so far. So to find out how she got the style, just keep reading.

You might know that Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP newsletters, while sometimes mocked by bloggers, actually do contain lots of great content straight from industry insiders. And whether you're a fan or not, you have to give the longtime actress credit for her efforts in trying to bring insider tidbits to the masses. Today's edition is one after my own heart, offering up some pretty cool hairstyle tips and tricks from her pals in the hair biz. See five of my favorites when you read more.