Summer Hair: Braid Special

August 7, 2012
By: Faye Smith

During these hot (or not so hot) summer months, what is a quick and easy way of keeping your hair off your face with a bit of a pretty edge? The answer is braids, or french plaits. Braids are lovely to look at and easy to do once you’ve cracked the twisting and twirling of your hair. Also, with braids, there is not just the typical one braid down your back (or two) that your Mum used to do for you when you were younger. Nowadays, there are so many different ways to pin up your hair with a braided flourish.

Day

During the day, you want something that is going to keep the hair off your face. If you have a fringe, the braid along the front of your hairline will be perfect. You can then wrap your hair up in a bun, or carry on with the plait until the tips of your hair. It is completely up to you! This hairstyle with a twist would be fab when you’re on the beach and in and out of the sea – if you’re lucky enough to go abroad this year! Also, a fishtail may be a sophisticated way to do your hair. Perhaps, you have a temporary job this summer, or an internship that you’ve been tirelessly wrapping your hair in a bun for. A fishtail braid can make your face look a bit softer than a tight bun. A simple braid can also do wonders for keeping your long tresses off your face, especially when you cannot be bothered to dry your hair after washing it (this is what I do every time I wash my hair). More importantly, keeping heated products off your hair will do the world of good as well as not making the back of your neck sticky on a sweltering sunny day. Halo hair is a winner for the easy boho look. If you have short hair, you can do this too, and with less effort needed!

 

Night

Braids are not just for summer days, but for evenings too as Blake Lively favours. Just because the sun goes down does not mean that the summer heat evaporates. Oh no. During the evenings, it’s more likely to be very humid. Therefore, occasionally you will need to keep your hair of the back of your neck, especially if you are on a girls night out in the likes of Ibiza or Kos. Again, fishtail braids are a must for at least one of your summer evenings. They are transitional, and you are able to dress them up on a night out. Loose braids that swing to the side can also be a good way to challenge your hair, and create a completely new look, as are the waterfall braids. This is a completely new hairstyle that I have only recently discovered, and I have not attempted the challenge yet. This is also one of those hairstyles that you can wear during the day. It will keep the hair off your face whilst making you feel like a bit of a princess (bonus!). Another transitional hairstyle is the braided fringe. This time, instead of throwing the rest of your hair in a bun, or another braid, curl your hair for that added vavavoom.

It is true that there are so many more ways to upgrade your hairstyle with the simplicity of a braid. Go on google, search blogs, tumblr, twitter etc. for a huge range of hairstyles that involve braids.

And after you take your braids out, you will have a head full of natural curls, no heat needed!

 

Images: ruedechic.com; hautenature.eu; lovemaegan.com; new-hairstyles-pictures.com; only-hairstyles.com; photobucket.com; dreamanddress.com