Let's Talk Hair: Braids.

So, Elliott has kind of taken over my blog these days.... how about a post about hair for a change?

This spring, we have been seeing lots of braids in the salon.  I've gotta admit, braids aren't my strong suit, so I've been brushing up on braiding via YouTube home videos. Braids are a perfect solution for humid summer weather, and Arkansas might be the most humid place on the planet in mid July.  Here are a few of my favorites you might like to try:

1. The fishtail braid:

This braid will work best with longer hair and needs a bit of texture to hold.  If you have straight hair give it some curl with a curling iron and dirty it up with product.  I like this one to the side.  Pull your hair to one side and secure it at the base of your neck.  Then seperate the hair into two sections.  Hold one section, then take a small section from the outside of the other section and bring it to the one in your hand. Repeat, adding hair from one section to the other until you run out.  Secure the bottom, and then carefully cut out the top elastic band for a looser look.  You can also loosen it up by gently pulling the braid apart.

2. French braided bangs:

You can sport this look even if your hair is short.  Start with a deep side part, and work from the part to the opposite temple.  French braid about an inch wide section along your hairline and stop at the temple. Secure the braid with bobby pins and then style the rest of your hair like normal.

3. Braided halo:

This one is not so easy to do on yourself, so maybe have a friend do it for you, or practice on your friends until you get good enough to do it on yourself.  (I'll be having one of the girls at the salon do mine for me.)  If you can french braid, you can do a braided halo.  Part the hair in the middle, and start french braiding on one side, working your way around the head, ending on the opposite side.  Finish by braiding until you've used all the hair.  Wrap the part that's not attached to the head around the front of your head, and tuck it in to where you started, securing with a bobby pin.  You can tug on the braid a little to loosen it up.  If you are a fan of going a couple of days with out shampooing this look can hold though a night's sleep no problem.  It would also be a perfect poolside look.

Hope this gives you some fresh ideas for summer hair.  Practice makes perfect, so use them frequently.