It’s a constant battle between a good hair day and the unpredictable Lewisburg weather. As the sky begins to turn grey, straight plates and curly locks frizz and transform into something totally unmanageable. Sometimes, all we can do is pull our hair back and bind it with ties to keep it from falling prey to the elements. But how do we retain our femininity when our hair is bound in a haphazard bun?
The simple solution is to braid it! Now I know, the word “braid” evokes memories of being in kindergarden and having your hair pulled into two Heidi-esque braids, adorned with bows. But you’re not the only one who has grown up since that time; the braids have too. They’ve changed and evolved over the years to allow us a level of beauty and intricacy in our hairstyles.
The Reverse French Braid Bun
This is a deceptive one! It looks infinitely more complicated than it actually is, and will surely amaze everyone who sees it. Simply bend over and take hair from the base of your neck. Begin to French Braid your hair, gathering in more and more hair as you traditionally would and working your way up to the crown of your head. Then twist together all of your hair, braided and unbraided, into a bun, secure, and viola! You have one rainproof style that will be sure to impress. You can wear it to formal events: it is elegant and elevated but does not carry the heavy price tag of the salon. It works with cocktail or casual attire, especially open-back shirts to highlight the style.
The Dutch Braid
Finally, there is an answer to all of us dark-haired folk who labor over braiding a piece of hair only to have it blend into the rest. The Dutch Braid is so easy it will become your new staple. It’s achieved by pulling your hair underneath the other strands of the braid, rather than on top as you would in a regular braid. When you pull your hair underneath, incorporate another section of hair as you would do in a French braid. This causes the braid to appear to lay on top of the hair, and is much more visible than a standard braid, especially for people with dark brown and black hair. This braid can cover a wide gamut of occasions: you can curl all of your hair and just braid back a piece from the front for fancier occasions, or braid a small section and pull the rest into a ponytail to wear to class.
The French Ponytail
If you’re a fan of the French braid, but feel the traditional style is a little too, well, traditional for you, here’s a new twist! French braid your hair from the top as you would in a typical braid, but pull it into a ponytail once you reach the top of your neck. This style takes less time than a French Braid, but still lends the same feel of structure and elegance. It is casual enough to wear with a T-shirt and jeans, and secure enough to wear to the gym!
The Braided Headband
This one works a lot better for girls with long hair and minimal to no layers. Simply pull a section of hair from both sides of the head, braid each section individually, and secure each at the end. Then pull the braid from the left side of your head over to the right, and secure it behind your ear. Do the same on the left side of your head with the braid from the right. This can be used with an up-do, or with your hair left down. Pair it with a casual sundress for a fun summer ensemble!
The Fishtail
This is the new messy bun. Rather than throwing your hair into one disheveled lump, pull it into a fishtail for a cool, relaxed look. The fishtail can be done with thin pieces for a tighter braid, or thick pieces for a looser braid. It’s really a matter of personal preference. Regardless of the size, the process is the same: separate the hair into two handfuls, pulling one piece from underneath the left hand, over the left handful, and placing it in the right handful. Then repeat with the right hand, and so on. The look of a blazer, T-shirt, jeans, flats, jewelry, and a fishtail seems both effortless and impressive. Wow your friends with this easy, chic style.