The Braid Bible: Your Guide To Summer’s Hottest Hair Trend

Irrefutably this season's biggest hair style, the braid is back with a vengeance and it's weaving its way through the locks of It-girls and style icons. From Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner, to Rihanna and Beyoncé, the braid and its various iterations is solving our bad hair days and too-hot-to-wear-hair-down dilemmas. Consider this your bible to the braid's most coveted forms.

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1. French braid

The classic French braid, AKA three-strand plait, was a staple hair style during our schooling days, but then suddenly vanished post Freshman year. Well, thanks to recent fashion weeks, runways have been awash with the school girl French braid. In other words? Get plaiting!

2. Fishtail braid

The most Pocahontas-like braid of all, fishtail braids are the two-stranded plaits that test your dexterity (and your patience) with their achingly cool arrowed aesthetic.

Using a thin bunch of hair from one of the two big bundles, and then crossing it over the other big bundle (while still gripping the first bundle!), can seem like you’re getting nowhere. But stick with it! Suddenly the all-important arrow-looking pattern will form and you’ll be done before you can say ‘Navajo.’

3. Boxer braids

Summer’s hottest hair trend has to be, without a doubt, boxer braids. Every woman and her dog has been sporting the double-plaited look, which DKNY & Co. revived for SS15. Now this Million Dollar Baby ’do has reached critical mass, and models, It-girls and influencers are having a go at the ring-ready style. Guess you’d better, too.

4. Milkmaid braid

Heidi braids — alias: Milkmaid Braid – are best for those with thick tresses (natural or extension-enhanced) to achieve its signature ‘halo’ effect.

There are two ways to achieve this look: Criss-crossing two pigtail plaits over the top of your head and pinning them, or going down the advanced route and weaving a single French braid around your head. Add flowers / hair gems for added flair.

5. Dutch braid

The unsung hero of the braid world, this technique is surprisingly easy to achieve – much easier than the Fishtail or even Milkmaid cheat’s version. All it is, is a French braid, but inverted. So, instead of integrating hair strands over the main bundle, you go under and blend them that way. The great thing is, this simple alteration in braiding method creates a dramatic effect.

6. Upside-down braid

This hair style is the most subtle of the braid family. But it’s a lovely little surprise for onlookers, as what appears to be a boring bun or basic ponytail is, in fact, the proud owner of a cheeky addition to its oft-forgotten under side. The other awesome thing about the upside-down braid? It’s the perfect way to secure naughty fly-aways.

7. Four-strand braid

Four-strand braids are interesting twists (literally) on the conservative three-strand edition. As the French braid’s slightly scrappy cousin, Four-strand braids’ rope look is both a mess and absolutely fascinating. So what are you waiting for? Start knotting.