Made to Braid

There's no other way to say it, I'm obsessed with braids. 

                   

 All hail my Fishtail
I love the complexity of this style, but it's extremely easy to do once you get the hang of it. Fishtail braids can be done to the side for a casual, everyday look or dressed up with ribbons and bows (right). It's definitely very popular this year. You can find a great tutorial at http://thebeautydepartment.com/2011/09/get-excited/

Let's do the Twist
How elegant is this look?? I absolutely love doing the twisted sister for the simple elegance it gives. This look is so versatile! It looks fabulous when paired with business-casual attire (for interviews or work) and is also a great option for parties and weddings. For a step-by-step demo go to http://thebeautydepartment.com/2011/06/pin-it-up-girl/.

A one-sided conversation

One-sided braids are on the cute side of the spectrum. They're simple and casual for the most part but like any other hairstyle, one-sided braids can be dressed up with accessories such as flowers, ribbons, or feathers. There are SO many ways to do a beautiful one-sided and these are just some of them.  The only sad thing is that if you have a darker shade of hair or one without highlights/lowlights, the complexity and different strands of the braid barely show.

Here's an easy waterfall french braid for which you'll find the tutorial at http://thebeautydepartment.com/2011/08/the-long-the-short-of-it/

This one looked really difficult at first glance but makes sense once you get the hang of it. You'll find a step-by-step tutorial here: http://thebeautydepartment.com/2011/08/braidy-bunch/

What's your favourite braid?     

Photos courtesy of Kristin Ess at thebeautydepartment.com and tumblr