3 braided hairstyles that are celebrity-approved and easy to DIY

The undisputed champion of second-day hair, braids are an easy hairstyle to whip up in a short amount of time. They might take practice, but once you’re deft at the process, they become like second nature. You’ll find fishtail braids pulling in regular cameos in day looks in the beauty diaries of Disha Patani and Shraddha Kapoor, while Karisma Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja’s vast lexicon of red carpet-ready hairstyles is headlined by a classic braided bun. From textured to slicked back, celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist Kritika Gill believes there is a type of braid for every hair length and type. “The best thing about braids is that they are kind to all hair textures. If you’ve got wavy or frizzy hair, it will simply add more volume to the finished braid. As an added bonus, you can open the braid and finger-comb your hair for some fabulous waves at the after-party,” she says. Here’s her beginner-friendly guide to acing three braid styles, even when you have just ten minutes to head out the door.

Fishtail braid

1. Start by opting for your go-to parting, whether it’s straight down the middle or leaning towards a side, and divide your hair into two sections.
2. Take an inch-wide section from the right side of your hair, and tuck it under the left. Repeat the same by taking a thin section from the left and placing it directly under the right side.
3. Keep alternating this criss-crossing pattern on both sides as you work your way down till the end, and secure it with an elastic band.
4. ‘Pancake’ the braids by softly pulling at them to make them look thicker. Spread each section apart with your thumb and pointer finger, so they instantly look fuller.
5. Finish by tucking any stray bits with pins and a quick spritz of hairspray to set.

Braided bun

1. Brush the hair from the roots down and apply an anti-frizz serum to tamp down flyaways at the top. Start a side braid on one side of the hair, and then secure the rest of the strands into a ponytail.
2. Start weaving the ponytail in whatever style you find easiest (dutch braids or fishtail braids provide a strong base for this kind of bun), and secure the hairstyle once you’ve worked your way from top to bottom.
3. Leveraging the bottom half of your braid, begin to twist it around the base and keep pinning as you go until you’ve formed the bun shape. Blast with hairspray to set it.
4. This hairdo is the easiest to elevate, and you can glam up the blank canvas of the bun with hair accessories, hair bun cages or weaving in pearl beads or bows.

Dutch braid

1. Begin working your way right at the top where the hairline usually starts, and split the central section into three subsections.
2. Start braiding your hair as you normally would, with the exception of adding minute sections from the sides into your weave as you go.
3. Secure with an elastic band or an embellished hair tie once you’ve reached the bottom, and top off with a shine-enhancing spray if you’d like a sleek, neat finish.

Also read:

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4 hairstyles from Lakmé Fashion Week that even beginners can DIY