5 Stunning Braided Hairstyles to Try – with GIFs

Waterfall Braid: Create a center part (since this hairstyle looks more even that way) and French braid from the right side of the part to your temple. Then, holding the three strands, continue French braiding but drop the outermost section of the braid that you would normally cross over (it’s every piece that crosses over to the right if you’re braiding the right side, and the left piece when you’re working on the left side), letting it fall, thus creating the waterfall effect.

Have you ever looked at a nicely braided hair and thought how amazing would it look on you? If you ever wondered how is it possible to do such complicated braids, then just keep on reading, I have good news for you! Kayley Pak, braid specialist at the John Barrett Salon in Bergdorf Goodman, shows and tells you how to weave the perfect plait. So grab your combs & besties girls and Good Luck! 😉

Regular French Braid: Start by brushing your hair back with a boar bristle paddle brush so it’s smooth. Then, take a comb (you can also use your fingers) to section your hair off in a “V” formation from your temples to the crown of your head. Next, take three pieces of hair from that section and begin braiding them, making sure to incorporate more hair from each side of your head each time you cross the hair over. Repeat this until the ends.

Regular French Braid

Dutch Braid aka the Inverted French: To create an inside-out French braid (note: this is also how you braid cornrows), repeat all the steps above, but then when you begin braiding, cross the sections of hair underneath one another, rather than over each other.

Dutch Braid aka the Inverted French

Chainlink Braid: Start with a low ponytail and wrap a piece of hair around the hair tie so it looks polished. Then create four sections — to make this easy, label them in your head as one, two, three, four from left to right. First, take the third piece and cross it over the second piece, then take the fourth section and cross it under the second and third sections, and then over the third section. Next, drop the second piece and bring the first section under the third and fourth pieces. Continue this sequence until you’ve reached the ends.

Chainlink Braid

Halo Braid: Part your hair down the center. Starting at the nape of your neck on your left side, begin creating an inverted French braid following your hairline. Continue doing so the entire way around your head until you’ve braiding all your hair. Finally, tuck the secured ends under the braid and you’re done!

Halo Braid

Spiral Braid: Gather all the hair at the crown and start French braiding counterclockwise in a circular motion across the front of your hairline, down the left side of your head, around the nape of your neck, and ending up on the right side. Finish by tucking the ends of your hair into the braid along your hairline to conceal it.

Spiral Braid

Photos & GIFs by Kathleen Kamphausen.

From: Cosmopolitan