July 1 2021

Braids are one of the most flexible hairstyles, doing double duty as a practical style that pulls your hair out of the way and a trendy hairstyle that looks amazing for both formal and casual occasions. Of all this summer’s braid styles, the French braid, Waterfall, and Fishtail styles are the most popular. The best part is that they’re surprisingly easy to do by following just a few easy steps. Here’s how.

French braid. The French braid is a classic style that’s trending high this summer. It’s a simple yet elegant style for any occasion. Here’s how to get the look:

• Gather a section at the top of your hair and divide it into three sections.
• Braid normally for one section.
• Begin scooping in sections from the rest of the hair and incorporating it into the braid, with the new section in the middle.
• Repeat the process as you continue braiding, incorporating new sections from each side of your head. You can determine the thickness of the final braid by the size of the sections of hair you incorporate. Use a large section for a thick braid, a smaller section for a thinner braid.
• Finish up the final sections by holding the braid straight up while braiding that last section or by holding it to one side for a side-facing French braid.

Waterfall. The waterfall is a newer braid style that looks incredible for special occasions like weddings and the prom, but you can wear it every day when you do it yourself with these easy steps:

• Start with 2 sections toward the front of your hair, folding the frontmost section over the second section.
• Add another section and place it over the first section.
• Let that section fall through like a waterfall effect, then grab another section.
• Twist the original 2 sections and grab the fourth section, letting it fall through after the twist.
• Continue twisting the two original sections, drawing them toward the back of your head and letting additional sections fall through each twist until you reach where you want to stop the braid.
• Braid the ends together and pin-up the braid underneath your hair in the back.

Fishtail. The fishtail braid gives you an interesting new texture for your braid. It’s a style that’s trending big this summer as both a formal and casual look.

• Style your hair into a ponytail using a hair tie that you don’t mind discarding, then divide it in half equally.
• You’ll work the braid by taking smaller sections of the left and right ponytail, pulling them across the front, then alternating and pulling a small section from the outer part of the other side and pulling it across the front.
• Continue to bring in alternate sides of the hair until you reach the bottom, then tie it off with a hair tie.
• Cut out the first hair tie at the top and adjust the braid for a smooth transition from top to bottom.

Braiding your hair can be a challenge, especially when you have dry, flyaway hair that’s difficult to style. The trick is getting your hair in the best possible condition before styling it into a braid. The expert stylists at Village Salon & Spa can help you get your hair in its best possible condition before you style with our professional conditioning treatments like the Redken® Protein Bonder or a Pureology® Intense Hair Treatment. Your expert Village stylist can help you select the right professional conditioning treatment for your hair’s needs.

And to make styling easier, we’ll also help you choose the best professional-grade hair styling products from top salon brands like Redken®, Pureology®, Baxter®, and Mizani®. Shop for your favorite brands today on our online store for professional results and smooth, easy-to-style hair!

Get soft, easy-to-style hair with a little help from the experts at Village Salon & Spa. Make an appointment today and let our expert stylist help you get the look you want! Call us at 302-644-4247 to schedule your deep conditioning or styling appointment. You can find us in The Villages of Five Points center at 17314 North Village Main Blvd., in Lewes, DE. To schedule your hair styling or conditioning appointment right from your mobile device, try our free mobile app, available on iTunes or Google Play.