The coolest trend to come from Coachella is weaving its way into the hearts of every fashionista looking for a summer hairstyle that’s ideal for any occasion. The braid has always been big at the California music festival, and this year’s trend was a single braid on the center part of the head. Shay Mitchell was seen sporting the simple, casual look, and you can follow the Pretty Little Liars star or bump up the drama with two or three braids. Add a little more oomph with glitter spray or a hair accessory of chains, pearls or jewel accents woven down the center braid.
Another popular look at Coachella was the inverted fishtail braid. Of course, the ethereal braided crown is a perennial favorite in the desert along with the half up, half down hair style with braid. Here’s how to get the looks.
Single, Double and Triple Braids in the Center Part
Typical French braids are one of the easiest types of braids to do. To do a French braid, blow-dry your hair very straight by using a smoothing and heat resistant oil. You can add dry shampoo or a texturizing spray to help get some texture. Divide the sections into one (on your part), two (one on each side of your part), or three (one on your part and one on each side of it). Start all French braids with three pieces of hair like a normal braid. In each of the next steps, add some more hair to each section of hair you are about to braid in.
Secure with clear elastic or small bobby pins before styling the rest of your hair. Leave the rest of your hair loose in beachy waves or secure it in a bun or ponytail.
Inverted Fishtail Braid
An inverted fishtail braid on the top of the crown will be your biggest and fullest braid. Take a section of hair from the crown and divide it into two pieces. Grab a small section on the outside of each section and wrap it under into the opposite main section. Continue this while adding small sections of hair from each side.
Braided Crown
Create a clean center part using a tail comb. Off the center part, create a triangle section of hair on both sides. Use the front of the part as your first point, the second point starting behind the ear and the third point starting at the highest point of the head. Section away with a hair clip.
On each triangle, begin inverted braiding by taking each section forward diagonally. Secure each strand with an elastic. Loosen plaits before joining braids in the back to create a crown braid. Conceal the elastics. Secure with pins. Use a flat iron in an S-wave pattern to create loose waves on the rest of the hair that’s left out.
Half-Up Half-Down with Braid
Gather a small section of hair from one side of your head. Braid the strand of hair and add a ponytail holder at the bottom. Repeat for the other side so that you have two braids, one on each side. Starting at the top of a braid, pull the hair in the braid outward to the sides to make the braid look wide. Keep pulling outwards on the braid from the top to the bottom to get the braid to your desired width. Bring the two braids together in the middle on the back of your head.
Wrap one braid under and then over the other one as if beginning to tie a knot with the two pieces. Twist the two hanging braid pieces around each other. Use a small elastic to secure the two pieces together. Remove the two elastics holding each individual braid.