Braid Me Up, Scotty

Perfectly straight and sleek hair certainly has it's place in the world... But that place is far, far away from my head.

I spent years trying to force my extremely curly locks into submission with hundreds of hair products and a drawer full of heat styling tools. I would usually manage to achieve the perfectly flat and shiny look... But the second I stepped out of my bathroom and into the unprotected world my lovely straight hair would frizz/expand/curl and it was not a pretty sight.

Eventually I gave up on perfectly straight hair and decided I didn't want it all that flat anyway. I have pretty fine hair so it didn't look all that great anyway (don't you feel like having fine/curly hair is an oxymoron? It should be one thing to deal with, not both). Instead, I've figured out how to do that beachy-undone-sleep-rumpled-wave thing that all the celebrities love and it makes my life so much easier. I can stop worrying about my perfect style getting crazy cause crazy is the point! Love it!

So what's my favorite accessory for beachy hair? Braids, of course! Forget headbands, pins, and clips... Braids are a way more fun alternative.

Okay, I have a confession to make about where my braid-love came from.



Yep. That's right. My favorite "reality" star, Lauren Conrad. I'm boycotting The Hills now that she's no longer a part of it (well, that and Kristin Cavallari is just a huge, obnoxious bitch). Nobody else's hair fascinates me quite the way hers does. She just about single-handedly brought this particular hairstyle to the hot lists. I don't care who else has worn braids or how much you'd like to pretend that The Hills wasn't a pretty massive cultural phenomenon. If you didn't watch it, that's fine, but you've gotta admit the girl's got great hair and after she started wearing this style on the show it definitely started popping up all over the place.



Does she EVER have a bad hair day? Completely unfair.

And it has certainly spread. Braids have been everywhere the last few years and they show no sign of disappearing anytime soon.



Blake Lively keeps it California-casual with her messy part and randomly braided pieces and Minka Kelly goes for a messy-chic way to keep all that gorgeous hair out of her face.



Nicole Richie and Sarah Michelle Gellar give their updos a down-to-Earth Boho twist while Rachel McAdams livens up her look with a magenta flower .



Jennifer Anniston takes her mini-French-braid to the Oscars and Molly Simms rocks an 80's inspired side ponytail.

I think there's something really soft and feminine about braided hairstyles and there are so many different ways to incorporate them into your hair that everyone can find a suitable and easy-to-create style. If you need a little help with ideas, just youtube braiding tutorials and you'll find everything you need. This is one of my favorites.

Braids are way easier to do than you would imagine, I promise. Just give it a shot and let me know how it goes!

[photo credits: fashionfeen.wordpress.com, justjared.buzznet.com, celebritybeautybuzz.com, bellasugar.com, spoiledpretty.blogspot.com, glam.com, honeybeebzz.blogspot.com]