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The humble plait is more versatile than you think
By Chelsea Tromans
Beauty Crew Contributing Editor / June 09 2022
Don’t be fooled, plaits aren’t just your ‘girl next door’ hairstyle.
What may seem like a simple hairstyle can easily be styled so many different ways.
It’s a red carpet staple, an off-duty go-to anda practical (and pretty)hairstyle for the gym.
Keep it loose or tightly braided; style it high or low; or trade a single plait for a head full of micro plaits.
There are so many different types of braids you can play with - here areour favourite celebrity plait hairstyles to getthose creative juices flowing.
Rainbow ribbon Pride plait
Regardless of whether you’re celebrating Pride or not, lacing a colourful piece of ribbon into your hair to spice up a plait or two is never a bad idea. Image credit: @caradelevingne
Baby braids
Leave it to Simone Ashley to perfect the baby braids aesthetic; working a beachy wave through the rest of your hair is the ideal way to marry the two together. Image credit:@peterluxhair
Triple rope plaits
The rope plait has been getting a lot of love from celebrities recently. But Yara Shahidi remixed the trend and debuted a trifecta of rope plaits instead while checking out the Dior A/W 22 runway show in Paris. We love that we can always count on the Dior Beauty ambassador to freshen up the way we look at hair and makeup…
Image credit: @yarashahidi
The rope braid
As far as braided hairstyles go, there’s something undeniably impressive about a hip-grazing rope braid. Channel your inner gothic princess like Megan Fox and pair the lengthy look with a set of Madonna ‘Ray Of Light’-era inspired face-framing tendrils.
Mini plaits
Certified Malibu Barbie beach babe Hailey Bieber has just reinvigorated the adorable mini plaits we were all obsessed with at seven years old. Sans butterfly clips this lowkey style is a great way to keep pesky flyaways out of your face while you’re chilling at the beach or poolside getting your tan on.
French braid
Swift is serving seriousschoolyard vibes in the promo pics for her surprise album 'evermore', but somehow the lookis 100 per cent chic and not at all childish.So, consider this proof that a simple French braid truly never goes out of style.
The high ponytail plait
Sky-high ponytails have that chic elegance to them; add a messy plait like Blake Lively and suddenly it has It-girl attitude.
The rosette braid
Here’s a nifty trick: wrappinga plait into a braided buncreates a rose-like effect. Nicole Kidman went ultra messy at the front, but her rosette detail madethis hairstyle red carpet-worthy.
Micro braids
Give your off-duty style a little somethin’ with a couple of mini braids to frame the face, à la Kylie Jenner.
Vertical half up half down braids
Come at your hairstyle from another angle like Marion Cotillard. It’s tough on one side, soft and tousled on the other.
The bedhead plait
Don’t confuse sloppy with intentionally messy. Emily Ratajkowski’s glossy shine and dainty bow are little touches that let you know this undone look doesn’t actually have a single hair out of place.
The faux Dutch braid
Dutch braids - the type of braids that are raised - can be tricky to master. But Julianne Hough’s hairstyle is a great way to fake it. Section off a top layer of hair and secure into a half upstyle. Plait the lengths then once you reach the nape of your neck,plait the underneath sectioninto the originalplait to connect the two.
Brushed-back and braided
Lili Reinhart’s brushed-back braided ponytail with fly-aways is the perfect balance of carefree and cool.
An undone braid
When braiding hair, you don’t need tobother with perfection - in fact, that undone look perfectly complements a plait. We love the softness of Elizabeth Olsen’s ‘falling out’ braid.
An off-centre plait
Braids for short hair are possible, especially when you go for smaller, tighter plaits. Lucy Boynton’s subtle side plait adds a striking detail to an otherwise plain lob.
A braid headband
If you have extra long hair, you can braid a section at the nape of the neck and wrap it all the way over the top of your head to create a braided headband. Elsa Hosk used this trick to add a Grecian vibe to her simple half up, half down hairstyle.Tip: You can also cheat with braid hair extensions!
The festival braid
Festivals are all about fuss-free yet eye-catching hairstyles, and we reckon this nonchalant hairstyle that Margot Robbie wore at the Cannes Film Festival Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood photocall in 2019 nails the brief. She didn't even bother securing the plaits with hair elastics.
The fishtail braid
Side braids put your plaited hair front and centre. By keeping the top loose, Sarah Hyland has given her fishtail braid a sultry vibe.
The two-layer plait
Diane Kruger’s plait is next-level! You may want to leave this one in the capable hands of your hairdresser. You’ll need to clip a top layer of hair out of the way before doing a reverse braid (aka Dutch braid) down the back of your head. Then, loosely braid the upper layer over the top. Pretty from the front, showstopping from the back.
Tri-boxer braids
Shailene Woodley’s three-way braids are the perfect gym hairstyle, but it’s also an edgy option for a night out.
The sleek low plait
Smooth, low and tidy is a winning combination for an office-approved braided hairstyle. Zendaya nailed it!
New to braiding hair? Learn how to braid hair including how to plait hair and nail a French braid.
If you have lots of length to work with, you may want to experiment with these intricate braids for long hair.
Main image credit:@peterluxhair
Chelsea Tromans
Chelsea is BEAUTYcrew’s Contributing Editor. She has a sweet spot for anything that claims to make skin glow and won’t leave the house without a slick of mascara. Chelsea has 10 years of experience as a beauty editor and her words can be found on BEAUTYcrew, Women’s Health, Daily Addict, The Joye and Primped.
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hairstyles /
plaits /
braids /
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