2 Jan 2021

The Best Braided Hairstyles You Need to Try for Long Short & Medium Hair

So we’re betting that your very first hairstyle was a braid. Are we right? It’s a school fave that never gets old and because of that, we’ve decided to dedicate an entire blog post to the art of the braiding. 

Braided hairstyles are practical, long-lasting, perfect for summer (or any time of the year, really), heat-free, and they look incredible, which understandably, makes them a classic go-to style. No matter what your hair length or texture, below we have a braided hairstyle for any hair length - from short, medium and long hair.

So whatever length of hair you’ve got, there’s a braid for you! 

For long & medium hair length gals we hope you find something in our list so you can rock your braids just like Queen Bey!

Medium & Long Hair

LOOK 1 - The Messy Side Braid Is the New ‘Messy Bun’ 

Has Meghan Markle lost her crown? Or rather has her messy bun had its day?  We’re not going to call it just yet but we’re putting it out there - only because we’re seeing a new take on it – the messy side braid! Nicole Kidman has rocked a few variations of this look, as well as the queen of side braids, Blake Lively! Rob says this look is easily achievable. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman) on

Image Source: nicolekidman

How to get the messy side braid:

  1. Dry your hair with your VS Sassoon 5Q Brilliance High Performance Dryer to add body and shine.
  2. Then section the front top of your hair and clip up before sweeping the rest of your hair to one side ready to create your braid - just decide if you want to do a regular braid or a fishtail.
  3. Finally, release the front of your hair from the clip and use the VS Sassoon 25mm or 38mm Ceramic Curler to create soft waves to give your braid an on-trend, loose edgy finish.

LOOK 2 - Dutch Boxer Braids for Medium & Long Hair

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Director - Jacque Morrison (@hairbyjaxx) on

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Director - Jacque Morrison (@hairbyjaxx) on

Image Source: hairbyjaxx

While braids can be chic enough to work for your wedding day (we promise!) they also work a treat when you’re off duty, at the gym or just want your hair out of the way and looking on point. Yes, we’re talking Heidi plaits and boxer braids - perfect for the down times, rainy days, festivals and pretty much any occasion you want no fuss locks.

“Boxer braids or Dutch braids are one of my favourite looks,” says Rob. Unlike a more traditional French braid you need to weave your hair under rather than over as you do for a French braid.  

Pre-styling tip - Braids work best on day old hair. If your hair is fine, flyaway or clean, spray with texture or salt spray and dry in with the VS Sassoon 5Q Brilliance High Performance Dryer or the VS Sassoon Air Style Brilliance.

How to do a dutch boxer braid:

  1. Part your hair down the middle from the front (forehead) to back (nape of the neck) using a tail comb to get a perfectly straight precise part and comb sections smooth
  2. Start on one side at the forehead and create your dutch braid all the way to the ends of your hair. Secure with a snag-free band
  3. Repeat this process on the other side.

For more on how to create a Dutch Boxer braid follow this tutorial from our friends at Scunci 

 

 

LOOK 3 - Beachy Glam Braid Style

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by emilyrosehannon (@emilyrosehannon) on

Half up hairstyles are really on trend and adding a chunky fishtail braid can really take your style to the next level. One of our fave influencers @emilyrosehannon has amazing braids and hairstyles so we’ve taken her look and simplified it so you can easily achieve it at home.

How to recreate this beachy glam do:

  1. Prep your hair with either your Straight & Curl Brilliance, Nourishology 40mm Curler or 38mm Ceramic Curler. 
  2. Take medium to large sections and add soft waves by wrapping only the middle of hair section around the tong for 8-10 secs.
  3. Take 4 sections on the parting, 2 on either side, and create 4 messy loose braids working back towards the crown.
  4. Secure these at back with a hair tie to create a soft halo of braids.

Short Hair

There's a common misconception that braids only work for medium-length to long hair, keeping those of us with bobs, lobs, pixies, short afros, and curly tapered cuts from fulfilling our full braided potential. However, we’re here to dispel that myth. No matter how long or short your hair is, braids can always make a major impression. Not only do they highlight your hair's natural texture and color, they can mask any signs of a bad hair day, allowing us to maximize our manes with minimal effort yet wind up with a finished result that looks like it took more time than it really did. Scroll down for three of our favourite braided hairstyles for short hair

LOOK 1 - The Flat Braid for a Different Half Up Look

Half up braid hairstyle


Image source: Scunci Australia

A flat braid is great to add some style to your short hair half up look. This look is perfect for a day out with family and friends, or even a special occasion! It’s a versatile look that‘ll suit any occasion.

How to create a half up braid style:

  1. Start with blow dried hair. A good blow dry is the foundation to any style, giving you a smooth base to start.
  2. Create a centre part and take a vertical section on either side of the part, about 4cm from the hairline.
  3. Take one section and create a loose braid, securing with a hair tie.
  4. Take the other section and repeat this step.
  5. Bring both braids to the back of the head and secure together with a barrette.

LOOK 2 - Classic Corn Braids

Image Source: joyjah

There are some hairstyles that are as beautiful as they are protective, not to mention so easy to achieve. Cornrow braids fall into this category. If you know the basics of braiding, you're already halfway there when it comes to learning how to cornrow. The difference, though, is that while braids or plaits hang freely from their individual sections, cornrows are braided to the scalp. Perfect on short hair too, they can be worn a million different ways, but the example above features braids of equal widths going into a bun.

Tip: To prevent frizz and add moisture, before you start your braids prep hair with a leave-in conditioner or styling butter. Apply to damp hair and let it air-dry before braiding.

  1. Take some hair gel and rub between your fingertips before you start braiding. 
  2. Begin to braid the small section of hair at the hairline and then braid backwards, taming flyaways as needed. 
  3. As you go down the head keep feeding more hair into the braid until you come to the end.

LOOK 3 - The Side Braid

Image Source: beautybytiera

We love this look for those lazy Sunday days when you’re running around doing errands. It’s also the perfect relaxed look for brunch with the girls! There isn’t much effort needed with this look at all.

  1. Part your hair from the center. Take three strands of hair from one side of the hair.
  2. Cris-cross the sections into each other until you reach the tip. Don't forget to secure the tip with a hair tie. 
  3. After braiding, use your fingers to pluck out the hair a little from the braid to make it look fuller. 

Tip: You can leave it hanging or choose to clip the braid to the side of your head.

LOOK 4 - The Simple Loose Sweeping Braid

Image Source: tamaraholdenhair

We love this look for those lazy Sunday days when you’re running around doing errands. It’s also the perfect relaxed look for brunch with the girls! There isn’t much effort needed with this look at all.

  1. Either work with 1-2 day old hair for texture or create texture with a sea salt spray, hairdryer and a round brush. If your hair is extra flat use the VS Sassoon Digital Sensor Luxe Air Styler for easy volume
  2. Choose your desired parting (either in the centre or the side) leaving your fringe or shorter front pieces loose for softness
  3. Then create two dutch or french braids (depending on your desired look) on either side of your parting, working back towards your nape and securing together with a band or pin
  4. Finish with a light layer of hair spray.

Create Beautiful Braids at Home

So with all this great inspo all that’s left is to get braiding ladies - and don’t be scared - after all it’s as simple as one (over), two (over), three!

With that in mind, add texture and smooth frizz to prep your hair for styling your braids. We have a range of stylers, straighteners and dryers that can easily be used in the comfort of your home. Our products are available at participating stockists near you! 

We also have so much more hair inspo content on our blog, so head there for more hair trend reports, how-to tutorial and hair styling tips. If you like to receive tips in your inbox, simply sign up to our mailing list to get notified every time we post something new!

Love your style, from the VS Sassoon team x
 

 

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