BellaSugar

How-To: The Rope Braid

BellaSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:01:34 -0700

If you've ever seen a fraying rope, I'm betting you can guess how to recreate this braid. Made of three strands twisted and twisted again, it's a fun summertime hairstyle. Learn how to copy it on your head in this slideshow. Although it works best on very long hair of all one length, see it on shorter hair when you get started.

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How-To: Learn a Fishtail Braid

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Sometimes called the herringbone, a fishtail braid is yet another twist on the traditional plait. I think this style is easier to learn on someone else's hair - and better to explain with pictures than tell with words alone - so get a friend and get started with this step-by-step slide show.

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How-To: Bohemian Double Braids (For Shorter, Layered Hair!)

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:00:17 -0800

Who else would have a bird feather in her hair but PetSugar? She was so inspired by Nicole Richie's earthy double braids that she set out with some bobby pins and rubber bands to create her own.
Worried that she didn't have enough hair to properly recreate the original look, she tweaked it and made it work. Get her modified version for shorter, layered hair when you read more.

Start off with your hair parted normally whether you usually part to the left, right, or up the center. Begin a loose French braid angled down along one side of your face heading towards your ear.
Attach a rubber band once you get right behind the ear or whenever you run out of hair from the layers in front. Repeat the process on the other side.
Next, divide all the hair that's down (including the two ponytails from the ends of your French braids) and form two more very loose braids with all of your remaining locks.
Use bobby pins to pull the bottom of each individual braid to the other side of your head so they criss-cross and secure.
If you don't have enough hair to form a bun with the braids, hide the boring, pinned results with an oversized barrette, hair pin or clip.

Who Wears the Chunky Side-Braid Best?

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:00:10 -0700

Over the past few days, it's been chunky side braids aplenty. While various types of braids have been hot for years now, check out how these three women put their own twist on this trend below. Jessica Simpson stepped out for Easter dinner with the family at first wearing this classic French braid, which mysteriously disappeared before she left the restaurant. Drew Barrymore paired her braid with a retro twist and some serious red lipstick while promoting her new film on Live With Regis and Kelly. As for Nicole Richie, she chose a casual wraparound braid with long, heavy bangs when she was out and about in LA. So, tell me. When it comes to these three takes on the braid to the side, which one is tops in your book?

Flynet, WENN.com, and INFDaily.com

Recreate LC's Double Braids With Tips From Her Stylist!

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:15:56 -0700

Just when we thought there couldn't possibly be any more ways to wear braids, who better than trend-setting Lauren Conrad to bring us back in? At the Hollywood Style Awards last night in LA, the former reality show star styled her signature waist-length extensions in not just one side-braid, but two intersecting plaits. Celebrity stylist Byron Williams of the Byron and Tracey Salon created the look for Lauren, using her multihued frock as inspiration.

"We wanted to get it as narrow as possible because we didn’t want to overwhelm the dress," Williams said. "It was side-parted, and we French braided both sides. It’s kind of half-up, half-down." To finish off the look, he combined the two braids to create a "headband" in the back. Want some tips on getting the overlapping braids for yourself? Follow the link after the gallery.

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To get Williams's advice, just keep reading.

Steal the Spotlight: French Braid to This Silly Story

BellaSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:31 -0700

French braiding may be second nature to some of you, but have you ever tried to explain it to someone else . . . without visuals? While not everyone will instantly catch on, I've written down a cute tale that was told to me when I first learned this style. It's story time. Read on for an easy way to remember which hair goes where (and a step-by-step photo demo).

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How-To: Kristen Bell's Braided Updo

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:10:45 -0700

Kristen Bell's red carpet appearances are almost always practically flawless, and at last night's premiere of Couples Retreat in LA, the actress dazzled once again. This time, it was her loose and wavy braided updo that had heads turning. To copy the look at home, you'll need just a few basic items and a little creativity:

Part your hair to the side and section off the front of your hair from the back. A good guideline is to create a part from ear to ear.

Next, pull the back section into a loose ponytail. Braid, using the four-strand method. Secure with an elastic band and twist the braid up toward the occipital bone. Secure with bobby pins.

Twist small sections of hair from the front into the back of the updo. Weave some of the strands together for a wavy effect. To create a seamless look, hide the pins behind the braid.

To finish off the look, curl face-framing strands, and softly pull back away from the face. Spritz on a volumizing spray for lift, like Nexxus 360 Volume Volumizing Design and Finishing Mist ($11.50).

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Milkmaid Braids are Back!

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:35:22 -0800

Who would have thought this unlikely bunch would share the same hairstyle? Hollywood stars, Jennifer Lopez, Sienna Miller, model Carmen Kass and Princess Leia all love their milkmaid braids. Like it or not, this classic updo is back and it's cuter than ever.

To learn how to create this look at home, read more

smoothing serum

Next, coat your hair with a smoothing gel to help prevent frizz and fly aways. I like Biolage smooththérapie Smoothing Gel, $11.95. Then, create a center part and blow dry your hair downward at a 45 degree angle using a nozzle for a smooth look, or blow dry with no nozzle for a more relaxed look.
Using your center part as a guideline, create two braided pigtails and secure each braid with a small hair elastic. If you have enough hair, try and cross the braids over the top of your head like you see in the photos, and secure each side with bobby pins. If you have short hair, buy a hair piece to go around your head the same color as your hair (or have it dyed to match) and secure with bobby pins. Take your real hair and weave it into the braid or else pin your pigtails underneath the hair piece so that it doesn't show.
To secure the look and reduce the amount of loose wisps, spritz hair generously all over with any hairspray of your choice.

This just in! To prove we practice what we preach, here's our in-office ten minute attempt. Not bad I'd say!

How-To: Lauren Conrad's Twisty Braids

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:00:33 -0700

Just when you think you've seen nearly every type of braid imaginable, leave it to Lauren Conrad to add her own twist. LC's time on The Hills may be over but that's not stopping the young star from pursuing other endeavors.

At last night's book signing for LA Candy and appearance on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien, Lauren busted out the braids again. But this time, she chose dual French braids that looped together in the back, forming a loose, chic bun. Recently I got the scoop behind her iconic braids, and now, here are some tips on re-creating last night's updo version.

View 5 Photos ›

Get the how-to when you read more.

For a shiny effect with slight hold, apply a glossing gel to damp hair and blow-dry. Try Nivea Diamond Gloss Styling Gel ($12).
Part the hair down the middle. Starting from one side of the part, loosely French braid the hair all the way down, stopping the braiding at to the nape. Secure with an elastic band. Repeat on the other side. Note how Lauren's stylist only braided hair along the sides, leaving hair from the crown down to the neck out of the mix.
Leaving the two braids out, gather the hair from the crown down to the neck into a ponytail. Secure with an elastic band and twist hair around it, securing with bobby pins into the base of the pony.
Finish up by twisting and wrapping the two ends around the "bun" you created in the third step, using bobby pins to secure. Add a spritz of hair spray (such as David Babaii for WildAid Light Styling Spray, $12.50) for a little hold.

WireImage and Getty

How To: Get Jessica Simpson's Summer Braids

BellaSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:03:26 -0700

This How To is for those of you who have written in asking me about the cute summer braids Jessica Simpson was seen wearing yesterday and again over the weekend. This style is great for summertime, because it's quick, easy and it gets your hair off of your face. It can be created on wet or dry hair, no sticky styling product is required and it is a great option for those of you who have bangs in that awkward in between stage. All you need are two hair clips and two hair elastics.

For directions on how to create these simple summer braids at home, read more

Step 1: Part your hair where it would naturally fall and divide the rest of your hair into three sections. The first is the front left which should be left loose for braiding, the second is the front right which will also be braided and the third is the rest of your hair which will not be braided. Clip the front right and the back of your hair so that you can begin braiding in a neat and organized way.
Step 2: Begin braiding the left front of your hair in either a reverse corn-row style braid or in an inverse, french style braid. Braid hair on an angle starting from your roots and working down toward your ear. As you work on each braid, incorporate strands in even amounts on either side of the braid so that your hair lies flatly and securely against your head.
Step 3: When you get to your ear, you shouldn't have any more hair to pick up, so finish the braid in a slightly looser style than the rest of your hair. Braid until the very end and secure with a hair-tie of your choice.
Step 4: Repeat steps two and three on the right front section of your hair. You can either leave the back loose or you can put it in a ponytail, a loose bun, a knot, a twist or a braid of its own!

Can't get enough of Jess's tresses? Check out her beautiful bridal 'do from back in the day.