After having had short hair for may years, we recently grew ours out, reaching a new goal where we can finally genuinely call it “long”. This has made us incredibly excited about all of the new styling opportunities all this hair gives us but we’re also feeling quite in need of some guidance and practice when it comes to styling after so many years off. That’s why we’ve been looking up tutorials! We’re enjoying finding cute, unique styles of all kinds, but there’s something about braids that has us particularly excited to get back into the swing of styling our own hair.
If you love the idea of learning how to do all kinds of cute new braid styles in your own hair (or a friend’s or family member’s) just as much as we do, if not more, here are 15 of the very best ideas, designs, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for inspiration!
1. Half-up Dutch fishtail braid
Perhaps you actually do have a little bit of experience when it comes to braiding hair and you’re feeling quite confident in your skills, so you’re looking to try something a little more challenging right out the gates? Then you just might be the perfect person to give this stunning half-up Dutch fishtail braid a try! Get the full details for making it happen on Missy Sue.
2. Twisted crown braid
Perhaps you’re quite a big fan of the half-up style but you’re looking to create an overall look that’s a little more dainty and classic looking than the one we just showed you? Then we have a feeling you might get along a little better with this lovely twisted crown braid outlined step by surprisingly simple step on Twist Me Pretty!
3. Simple pull-through braid
Do you have very long hair indeed, and lots of it to work with, so you’re often able to do the very voluminously styled designs you see in magazines and hair shows? Then mastering this easy but extremely impressive looking pull-through braid technique featured on Kassinka might be your best plan! The way they show you how to make it happen actually makes it look like you have even thicker hair than you already do.
4. High braided crown
Perhaps we really caught your attention when we started talking about the idea of making a hair crown but you’re convinced that you’d much prefer a classic three-strand braid over a twisted two-strand, just because you’ve always like the look of those better?Well, especially if you’d rather a full up-do as opposed to a half-up, we think you’ll get along very well indeed with this braided crown concept outlined clearly on Hair Romance.
5. Double fishtail braids
Fishtail braids are a slightly more modern style of braiding hair that have been trending pretty hard the last few years and, if we’re being honest with you, we’re completely obsessed with them! Of course, having two of something you really like is better than one sometimes, so we’re sure you can imagine just how excited we were when we came across this fantastic double fishtail braid style featured on Missy Sue.
6. Messy mermaid braid
Are you feeling caught somewhere between loving the fishtail braids we’ve shown you and adoring the voluminous look of the pull-through braid but you’re really having trouble choosing between the two? Well, who ever said you have to choose at all? Instead, check out how More Beauty made a sort of combination of the two in one place with this fantastic messy mermaid braid.
7. Reverse braided bun
Particularly if you’re still growing your hair out a little bit and you find that you get lots of “tails” falling down at the back when you style your hair high on your head, here’s an idea that puts the braided detail at the back instead of the front! Lulu’s Fashion shows you in detail how to create a reverse braided bun that has a neat French braid leading upwards towards your top knot.
8. Half-up fishtail braid
Are you actually scrolling through our list and feeling as though you’re still not over the idea of fishtail braids, but you’d like to collect as many different kinds as you can because you want plenty of style options within the realm of your favourite kind of braid? In that case, we feel like this half-up, half-down messy fishtail braid from Kassinka might just be the style for you!
9. “Cross my heart” braid
Are you actually still feeling quite confident in your braiding skills and open to a challenge like we mentioned before but you’re not sure the previous more advanced styles we showed you are quite the ones for you? Then maybe you’d prefer to concentrate on pretty details! That’s precisely what Barefoot Blonde did here when they created this lovely little “cross my heart” braid that really does end in a cute het shape.
10. Bohemian side braid
Maybe these bigger, messier styled braids really are what’s catching your attention best but you’d prefer to start gathering the hair from the very top like a French or Dutch braid rather than just starting at the nape of the neck like many fishtail braids do? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how The Wonder Forest created this Bohemian chic braid using both French braiding and fishtailing techniques.
11. Lace hairband braid
We’ve talked a little bit about crown style braids by this point, but what if your favourite part of that style and the only part you’re really interested in doing in your hair is the part that runs along the top and front? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Missy Sue created this lovely lace headband style braid following their hairline.
12. DIY waterfall braid
If you’ve never done a waterfall braid before then we’re pleased to tell you that you’re about to create one of the most fun braids of all to do! Once Wed guides you through the process of gathering your hair in pieces the way you would for a French or Dutch braid but, this time, letting some fall on the far side of the braid so they cascade down, mimicking what the braid is named after.
13. Double side braid
We’ve already talked about how much we loved the double fishtail braid, so we’re sure it’ll come as no surprise to you at all that we’re completely enamoured with this double side braid concept from Sincerely, Kinsey too! Rather than leading a front French braid straight down into a side swept three strand braid, we love the way they made the two separately so they complement each other nicely instead of blending together into one. It’s nice that they stay quite distinct!
14. Lace fishtail bun
Have the two styles of braid that you’re absolutely the most interested in actually been both fishtails and very small lace braids, so now you can’t help wondering whether there might be a way to combine those two things in one place? In that case, we have a strong feeling you’re going to completely adore the way Cute Girls Hairstyles made this stunning lace fishtail bun that’s simpler to do than it looks but fancy enough looking for special occasions.
15. Waterfall braid bun
Did the jaunty angle of the way a waterfall braid spreads diagonally downward really grab your attention but you’re just not sure you want to leave the rest of your hair hanging because you’ve always preferred updos? Then we have a feeling you might get along a little better with the way Once Wed finished their braid off all the way down and twisted the resulting tail into a pretty braided low bun.
Do you know another DIY enthusiast who has been trying to learn some new braiding techniques lately but who could use some inspiration and guidance? Share this post with them so they have all kinds of stunning styles to try out!
