My Image Expert

Bountiful Braids

From Princess Leah to Little Annie Oakly braids have always been around but it was just that, they were particular to movies and childhood memories. Now however, they’ve become a hot commodity. They’re no longer tied with pigtails in the play yard but can now be worn as a chic and sophisticated up-do. Here are a few ways to achieve these twisted wonders and a few variations to keep things up in the air:

1. A simple and always easy style is the double braids on top. To achieve this look part your hair in the center (or off to the side if you prefer the asymmetrical look). Take about an inch of hair from the very front of your head, on each side of your part and braid it back regularly. Not a French braid but a regular. This allows you to play with the form of the braid a bit more. When finished braiding, pin both braids in the back of your head with bobby pins. Crossing them in an X shape is always a classy alternative. Allow the braids to droop just a little bit to give them some natural form. Afterwards give your hair a soft curl or light tousle with a curling iron and you’re good to go!

2. Not only did they give us wonderful fries and yummy bread, but the French also gave us braids. Or their version anyway. A French braid is a very classy version of the American braid and it tends to stay in place much better. You’re less likely to have fly away hairs. You begin with three pieces of hair a little lower than the very top of your head. Start braiding like a regular braid and as you move down keep adding hair to the outside piece before you pull it into the center. By the time you get to the nape of the neck you will have used up all of the hair and you can braid the rest regularly.

3. The fish bone braid can be slightly tricky if you’ve never done it before but when you master it, it is oh so worth it! Begin by splitting your hair into right and left portions. Those portions will then be split into two pieces, leaving you with for equal pieces.  The outside right piece will come in the middle of the two left pieces and then the outside left piece will come in between the two new right pieces. Continue this until you are at the end of the rope. Then tie it up, throw it to the side and roughen it up a bit if you want more of a bed head look.

4. Thus far we’ve gone from easy to difficult on the braid scale. So let’s end it off with an easier twist to the braid. An actual twist! Part your hair on the top, down the middle. Split your hair into right, left and back portions. Throw your back portion into a loose and messy bun. On each side of the part grab about an inch of hair and start twisting it. As you go along add a little bit of hair into the twist. When you eventually run out of hair to add just keep twisting it to the end. Cross the two twists above the bun, wrap it under the bun and pin it.

Whether your hair is long, short, or in between you should find something on this list that works for you! And yes, you can wear it at any age.

By: Brooke Brazil Assistant NYC Personal Stylist for My Image Expert

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