You know, I use to think that a long single braid would look countryish, but I've changed my mind. If style right, a single braid can look very cute and approachable. And I think guys would dig it! Here's what I mean:
Blake Lively from "becomegorgeous.com"
Jacqueline Bates from "ELLE.com"
from "style-hairstyles.com"
from "hairstylestalk.com" *I think the trick of it is to have the upper portion of the hair loose and teased to give a messy appearance, and that you didn't put too much effort into it but still giving the result of cuteness.
*This is with the exception of Blake's hairstyles, whome she made the braid more elegant with a piece of unbraided hair wrapped around the base of her braid as well as the middle of it.
Here's some DIY that I found for today that you ladies might enjoy. It's suppose to be wedding hairstyles, but I think it looks cute for other casual and formal occasions:
Getty Images
Jennifer Garner
Hairstyle how-to: Step 1: To get Jennifer Garner's hair texture, apply mousse to hair and either blow-dry with a diffuser (scrunching as you dry) or loosely French braid hair and let air-dry.
Step 2: Once hair is dry use a large (one-inch) curling iron on low heat to bump up your waves (wrap large sections of hair around the iron, don't clamp it in).
Step 3: Spritz hair with a light-hold hairspray and tousle with your fingers to loosen curls.
Step 4: Create a deep side part and tease the crown of hair for a little lift.
Step 5: Take one to two inch sections from each side of your head, near your temples, and pull them back below your crown. Make sure to leave face-framing pieces hanging.
Step 6: Tie the two sections into a knot (like you would a shoelace) and pin into place, leaving the ends hanging.
Step 7: Curl face-framing pieces by holding the iron vertically and rolling it away from your face.
Hairstyle how-to: Step 1: Apply a spray gel (if your hair is fine) or mousse (if your hair is thick) and diffuse hair, holding your head upside down to add volume to your roots.
Step 2: Once hair is dry, scrunch a dime-size amount of gel or mousse on hair to add a piece-y texture.
Step 3: Take the bottom half of your hair (from the ears down) and secure into a low, loose bun.
Step 4: Next, divide the top portion of your hair into small sections and tease the underside of each section, then twist and loosely pin each one into place above and around the bun, keeping the volume on top.
Step 5: Spritz with hairspray to finish.
Anne Hathaway
Hairstyle how-to: Step 1: Use a spray gel on hair and blow-dry using a paddle brush for smoothness (hair doesn't have to be perfectly straight).
Step 2: To determine where your part should be, Strahan says to draw a line from the highest point of your eyebrow arch diagonally back. This allows the hair to fall forward slightly, better framing your face.
Step 3: Curl the hair around the crown of your head with a large (one-inch) curling iron, holding it vertically, then place hair in Velcro rollers to set.
Step 4: Use a smaller (3/4-inch) curling iron on the rest of your hair. Curl one-inch sections at a time and wrap them all in the same direction.
Step 5: Once the rollers on top of your head are cool, remove the rollers. Mist a boar bristle paddle brush with light-hold hairspray and gently brush out curls so they form waves.
Step 6: Finish by smoothing finishing cream over strands to smooth flyaways.
Taylor Swift
Hairstyle how-to: Step 1: Divide hair into three horizontal sections and secure the bottom section into a pony at the nape of your neck.
Step 2: Pick up the mid section (leaving out a one-inch piece on each side) and divide it in half. Tie the sections into a knot (like you would tie your shoes) and secure the knot to the bottom pony, leaving the ends hanging.
Step 3: Next, go back to the top section and lightly tease it.
Step 4: Create a side-part. Separate the top mid-section into smaller pieces and twist and pin them around the knot you created in Step 2.
Step 5: Loosely pull back sides of your hair (the ones that are still hanging) and pin them around the pony to hide the elastic, leave the ends hanging.
Lacey ChabertWorks
Hairstyle how-to: Step 1: Use a large curling iron all over to define curls (or create them if hair is straight).
Step 2: Divide hair into three sections horizontally and clip the top two sections out of the way. Take each curl in the bottom section, tease it for volume, twist and pin it at the nape of your neck.
Step 3: Repeat the tease, twist and pin routine (pinning at the roots) for all the curls in each section, working upwards. But do leave a few small face-framing sections hanging. Remember, this is supposed to look a little messy and imperfect.
Bonus tip: Aim to make the final updo bigger than you want -- you can always pin down any sections that are too large (it's easier than trying to add volume later).
Step 4: Curl the hanging face-framing pieces with a curling iron.
Step 5: Smooth bangs out (if you have them) with a round brush and mist with hairspray to finish.
Kate Beckinsale (you will need a curly ponytail hairpiece, like PutOnPieces Put On Ponys Bounce, to get a full bun like Beckinsale's)
Hairstyle how-to: Step 1: Use a round boar-bristle brush to smooth hair while blow-drying.
Step 2: Brush hair back into a high pony, keeping some volume at the top.
Step 3: Use a curling iron to curl small (one-inch) sections of hair in the pony.
Step 4: Attach the ponytail hairpiece to the base of your pony.
Step 5: Twist and pin the tail to form a large bun in the back of your head.
Step 6: To finish, take an old powder brush, spritz with hairspray and lightly brush over your hair to gently control flyaways.
Emmy Rossum
Hairstyle how-to: Step 1: Use a curling iron that's the same size as your curls to define them.
Step 2: Divide hair into two sections horizontally at your ears. Secure the lower section into a low bun.
Step 3: Take each curl in the top section and gently tease it. Then twist and pin it into place over the bun, leaving some ends loose.
Strahan's Wedding-Day Hair Tips
• Have your hair cut or colored two weeks before your wedding (so there are no last-minute surprises).
• All hair, but especially color-treated hair, needs to be in good condition for your style to look its best. Use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, which will help your hair lay smoother and look shinier.
• When using styling products, it's important to know your hair type. Fine hair should try products like gel in spray form; heavier products will weigh hair down. Medium or curly hair should try mousse to give hair soft structure and thick hair should use gel for ultimate control.
• Always, always do a practice run of your hairstyle before your wedding day. Even if it's a simple style, you'll feel more comfortable and be less stressed if you've done it a few times already.
• Use these celebrity styles as inspiration but don't feel you have to recreate them exactly. Leave room for a "happy accident," which may look even better than what you've planned.
Source: "totalbeauty.com"
