Braided Beauty: 4 Styles to Take You From Meetings to Martinis

Let’s be honest, no style is as effortlessly glam as a well-placed braid. It’s been a back-to-school staple for years but it’s clear, braids are a style that transcend grade school! These four styles help you embrace your hair’s natural texture and are perfect for going from meetings to martinis!

Beach Waves with a Hidden Fishtail

Step 1: No Heat: Embrace your hair’s natural texture! Whether you have curls or straight hair, placing damp hair into a braid will offer you loose beach-worthy waves. (Note, my hair here was a waved and then slept on, and I added colored extensions so you could see the braids.) Heat: Taking a curling wand apply a heat protectant to dry hair. Take 1-inch sections of hair and, holding your wand pointed down, wrap each section around the wand and hold for a few seconds. Follow this process until all of your hair is curled and cooled. Once your hair is cool take your fingers and comb out the curls.

Step 2: Take a handful section of hair from behind your ear and get ready to braid. To fishtail braid you’ll separate your handful of hair into two sections. Take a small piece from the back of one section and bring it around the front of that section of hair and move it to the opposite section, follow this process alternating sides each time until you’ve reached the bottom of the braid and secure with a small elastic.

Step 3: The secret to big, beautiful braids, even when you have thinner hair is “pancaking.” Pinch a loop of hair from your braid and gently pull it out a bit, follow this with each loop until you have a fatter braid.

Braided Top Knot

Step 1: Turn your head towards the ground and flip your hair over (it may be easiest to sit for this braid!). Starting from the nape of the neck, French braid your hair until you get to the crown. Secure all of your hair and the braid with an elastic into a high ponytail.

Step 2: Holding the end of your ponytail with one hand, take the index finger of your opposite hand and wrap your ponytail around your finger and secure your bun with an elastic!

Fishtail into a Side Braid

Step 1: Part hair into a deep side part and take a large section from the front. Take this section and fishtail braid it down and secure to the side of your head with an elastic and bobby pin. If you have shorter hair you can stop here!

Step 2: Move all of your hair to the direction opposite of the part and braid down in a classic three-section braid or a fishtail.

Step 3: Pancake to get a bigger, fatter braid!

Faux Hawk Braid with Beach Waves

Step 1: Using the beach wave steps, create heat or no-heat beach waves!

Step 2: Take a three-inch section of hair from the top of your head and secure the rest of your hair in a low ponytail to make the final step easier.

Step 3: Taking the top section, French braid it back to the crown and secure with an elastic. Be sure to pancake the braid to thicken it up! Let the rest of your hair down and rock your new style!