As I'm sure I've mentioned before, the one thing I miss about having really long hair is being able to braid it. Braided hair is so pretty, but as it happens, there are so many different ways to do it that even if you're rocking a bob – like yours truly – you can still get in on the trend. You just have to know all the options that are available to you – and trust me when I say that there are a ton! In fact, there are probably way too many to write about in just one post, but to get you started, here are the most popular ways to wear braids!
The French braid is a gorgeous way to wear braids … and I can't do it for the life of me. I can never figure it out. I haven't gone Googling in a while, though, so many I should give it another try. Anyway, this braid is classic, elegant, and timeless, and it can be used to create myriad other looks as well. For instance, if you tuck up the tail of a French braid, you get a gorgeous updo!
For those of us who haven't mastered the French braid, the standard braid looks good too. This one typically because at the nape of the neck. It can hang straight down your back or, for an innovative look, you can braid your hair sideways. That way, it will lay over your shoulder and look lovely!
This may sound complicated, but you can manage it in just three steps! It works better if your hair is really long, but if it's not, you can also sneak in some extensions. You should use a dry shampoo first, because that will let you get a good grip on your hair. Create two pigtails and secure them right above your ears, then braid them. After that, you should wrap each one over to the opposite side of your head, and use a pin to keep them in place. You tuck the ends, and voila!
The fishtail braid is a fantastic, if complicated way to wear braids. I still haven't gotten this one down either. Fortunately, there are about a million tutorials available, and maybe your fingers are more skilled and dextrous than mine! Remember, practice makes perfect, and if you can succeed in doing this yourself, let me know in comments – we need to talk!
This is a simple but adorable way to wear your braids. Your pigtails can be standard braids or French braids, beginning high on the crown of your hair. They can go all the way down to the ends or, in the case of double French braids, stop at the nape of your neck. Either way, don't ever think you're too old for this look! You can find a way to work it!
This look is simplicity itself. All you need to do is make a braid, then or thick, anywhere you like – under the top layers of your hair, up at your part, at your crown, what have you. You can do as many as you like, but let them interweave with your loose hair. Even better, after a while, you can take them down and have some textured waves mixed in with the rest of your hair!
This is another great way to wear braids, and there are numerous ways to do it. It does involves French braiding, though, so you may need help. You can create a braided hairband, or you can pull two braids back, one on each side of a center part.
This braid is simply gorgeous, and again, there are many ways to do it. All you really need to do is texturize your hair a bit, create a braid – or two, if you like – and, about two inches up from the end, secure it, preferably with one of those clear elastics. After that, tug your hair, up around your crown, along the back of your head, and toward the bottom of your braid; this will give you a messy look, which is signature for the undone braid. You can even stick your fingers into some of the braided pieces and widen them a bit.
As you can see, there really are lots of ways to wear braids – and these are just a few of them! You can work a braid into just about any kind of hairstyle, especially if you're inventive. What are some of the ways you like to wear braids in your hair?
Top Photo Credit: idathue