Finish this sentence: There’s nothing better than beach ___. If you said hair, we’re right there with you! While beach buns and ponytails will always be mane attractions for a day on the water, this often-over-looked method for keeping the hair out of your face may actually be faster and easier than you think!
Braid #1: Party in the front
Step 1: Decide on your braid style. (Classic, French, or fishtail.)
Step 2: Part your hair + grab a chunk toward the top of your head along your hairline.
Step 3: Split your selection into the necessary number of sections. (Three sections for classic and French braids or two sections for fishtail.)
Step 4: Starting near your part, begin braiding downward along your hairline until you reach the desired end spot.
Step 5: Use bobby pins or an elastic band to secure your braid!
Step 6: Grab your favorite curling iron, wand, or straightener to add a little extra body to the rest of your hair that is not in the braid.
Step 7: Spray with your favorite texture or shine spray!
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Braid # 2: Party in the back
Step 1: Run your fingers, a comb, or a brush backward through your hair.
Step 2: Grab three sections at your hairline and start Dutch braiding down the back of your head, until you reach your ear line.
Step 3: Continue loosely braiding your hair without gathering any additional hair from the sides and use a hair tie at the end to secure.
Step 4: Select a small part to wrap around the hair tie and lock it in place with bobby pins, thus hiding the band! Voila!
Step 5: Gently pull apart the braid to achieve a looser, more “undone” look.
Step 6: Whip out a curling iron, wand, or straightener to add a little extra body to the rest of your hair that is not in the braid.
Step 7: Spritz your go-to flexible hold spray all over.
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Braid #3: Party on top
Step 1: Pull your hair up into a ponytail and secure with a hair tie or two.
Step 2: Run your hands or a comb through your ponytail to get out any lingering knots.
Step 3: Mist your brushed-through hair with texture or hold spray.
Step 4: Rope braid your ponytail and secure at the end with a hair tie.
Step 5: Evenly rough up your hair with your hands until you arrive at the desired tousled look.
Step 6: Re-spray your hair with desired-hold/texture spray.
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Braid #4: Party down low
Step 1: Smoothen your hair with necessary tools (brush, blow-dryer, or hot iron).
Step 2: Start near the nape of your neck (pulling one section from the right side and one from the left) and fishtail braid downward.
Step 3: When you reach the end, secure with a hair tie and add a bit of your favorite shine spray.
Step 4: Lightly pull on some of the pieces near the front of your face to create the wispy, “I woke up like this” look.
(Photo source )
Take a peek at Cosmopolitan’s 17 braid GIFs to freshen up on A-Z braid lingo and technique.
Additional pointers for making the most of your day on the coast…
- Apply sunscreen to the part of your hair! There’s nothing quite like a scalp sunburn! (If you know… You know.)
- Check the weather! Match your hold spray to the humidity level for best results.
- Too much scalp showing? Fill it in with powder, like Color Wow’s Root Cover Up, in a shade that makes sense for your skin tone.
- Use hair ties that are the same color as your hair to draw less attention to the band itself.
- Find the right products for your hair type. (Bonus tip: check if they come in travel sizes!)
- Remember, beach braids can also mean beach waves! When you un-do a braid, the hair often wants to stay put. The tighter your braid, the tighter your wave.
We hope these braids motivate you to shake up your beach hair routine! Comment below with your favorite braid types, tools, and tips.
Written By: Brittany Young