When you think of braids you may have flashbacks to kindergarten days filled with colorful scrunchies and tiny bows. Well, it seems recently braids have outgrown their baby cute image and revamped into a sophisticated, yet simple hair option. This look is so versatile and low maintenance that it can work for any occasion ranging from a post Pugsleys workout to a night out in the city. When heading to the gym you definitely don’t want to spend more then 5 seconds working on a hairstyle that will ultimately get ruined, but why not switch up your usual pony for a ponytail braid? Simply gather your hair into a normal ponytail then begin to braid until you reach the end and secure with a hair tie. Voila! You now have yourself a perfect no fuss hairstyle bound to stay put and out of your way. Braids are also great for creating those enviable Lauren Conrad-esqe loose curls. When looking for a quick and easy look for class all you have to do is braid you hair the night before and when you wake up your hair should have the perfect flowy loose curls. Plus if you have an extra minute before sprinting off to class you can step the hairstyle up another notch by taking a small section of hair on whichever side of your part you wish and start braiding down to a little past your ear. Once you finish that tuck the braid under your hair and secure with a bobby pin for a look no one will believe only took 2 minutes. If your looking for something a little more sophisticated for a night out, check out Blake Lively’s red carpet fishtail braid pictured below. No one does Boho chic better then Blake and now you can have the same look in just 10 minutes. Now for those of you who aren’t familiar with the fishtail braid don’t worry, it seems a lot more complicated then it actually is. Here’s a basic guideline to the perfect fishtail:
Step 1: Gather all your hair on either side of your head and split the hair into 2 sections.
Step 2: Take a small section of hair from the right portion and bring it over to the left side
Step 3: Take another small section of hair from the left side and this time bring it over to the right side.
Step 4: Repeat until you reach the end of your hair and secure with a clear elastic hair tie.
If your still a little confused on any of these braiding technique YouTube has often been a lifesaver with tutorials on any and all braid styles you are interested in testing out. So next time your heading out don’t forgot about your old friend the braid, because everyone knows oldies are goodies.
Fashion for Philanthropy 