Level: Easy Best for: Long, wavy, or straight hair
Step 1: Split hair in half at the nape of your neck, as if you're going to make pigtails. Step 2: Braid pigtails. Start from your nape and braid underneath your ears. Secure each braid with a clear elastic. Step 3: Pull the braids up over your ears (like a crown) and cross the ends, tucking them underneath each other. Step 4: Pin the braids in place. If the braids have bunched up over your ears, that's OK. Step 5: Set with strong-hold hairspray.
Photo 5/10
NY Chic
Level: Intermediate (only because you have to braid sideways!) Best for: Any length, straight or wavy hair
Step 1: Make a slight side part. Step 2: Do a tiny (and we mean tiny!) French braid from the scalp down the side of your head. (If it's going awry, start over. This time, find and work with the section of hair that falls naturally where you want the braid. Braid in that direction.) Step 3: Pin the braid in place a few inches above your ear.
Photo 6/10
The Breeze
Level: Intermediate Best for: Any length, straight or wavy hair
Step 1: If you have time, spray your hair with heat protectant and curl all of it with a double-rod curling iron (try the Nalu waver, $179.99). This will give you structured waves sans the frizz. Step 2: Part hair in the center and identify where you would normally section your hair if you were putting it half up. That's where you'll want to do the braid. Step 3: On one side of your head, do a tiny side braid starting about an inch from your hairline and moving back toward the center of your head. Step 4: Pin the braid in place underneath the hair in the back. Step 5 (optional): Repeat on the other side.
Photo 7/10
Rapunzel Chignon
Level: Intermediate Best for: Long, thick, wavy, or straight hair
Step 1: Tease hair and lightly smooth it out at the crown for height, if necessary. Step 2: Split hair in two sections, left and right. Step 3: On each side, reverse French braid the entire section until you get to the spot behind your ear. Step 4: Switch from a French braid to a regular braid and finish braiding each section away from your head. Secure each side with a clear elastic. Step 5: Wrap one braid from left to right at the nape of your neck, securing with large hair pins (available at a beauty supply store) or bobby pins as you go. Coil the opposite braid underneath it and secure into a bun. Step 6: If desired, leave out a few pieces around your face and curl them with a curling iron for a soft, romantic touch. Step 7: Set with strong-hold hairspray.
Photo 8/10
Girl Next Door
Level: Difficult Best for: Long, wavy, thick hair
Step 1: If you have time, curl all your hair with a double-barrel curling iron. Step 2: Gather hair behind your left ear. Step 3: Loosely braid your hair toward the nape of your neck and over your right shoulder. (You can start with a French braid, then switch to a regular braid once you've started braiding away from your head.) Set the braid itself with strong-hold hairspray. Step 4: Secure with a clear elastic and pull out a few chunks to give it that girly, imperfect look.
There's something so enchanting about braided hairstyles. Braids are one of the few effects that can transform a hot mess of unwashed hair into an ethereal masterpiece. To that end, I'm not ashamed to admit that I spend a good amount of time on Pinterest swooning over boards dedicated to intricate braided hairstyles.
Unfortunately, this routine also involves repeatedly muttering "but how?" under my breath and remembering that I can barely finish a French braid on myself while others can do it with their eyes closed. So, I click out of Pinterest and my hair goes into a ponytail. Again.
But if this sounds familiar, keep reading. Celebrity stylists Florido Basallo and Amber Maynard of Nine Zero One Salon (and its famed braid bar) are giving the braid-challenged (like yours truly) a glimmer of hope. The two experts were more than happy to break down seemingly complicated braided hairstyles into a handful of easy to follow steps. Actually seeing how these celebrity hairstyles came together from start to finish -- instead of just looking at a polished paparazzi shot -- makes them far less intimidating.
Combine these braided hairstyles how-tos with celebrity stylist Marcus Francis' tips for better braiding and you'll be well on your way to A-lister-worthy 'dos. Click ahead to start recreating these gorgeous celeb braided hairstyles now.
