Just braid it!

In this October heat, leaving your hair open is like committing hair suicide. Instead of pulling your hair out, how do you make it look magical in this hot, sweaty weather? Well, just braid it!

Get inspired by Alia Bhatt and Sonam Kapoor, who are at the forefront of bringing the braid movement back. While Alia’s braidy hairdos during the promotions of her next film Shaandaar have become the talking point, Sonam’s waterfall braid has given a charming twist to the fairytale hairstyle.

Sachin Dakoji, creative director at Mane’a Salons, says, “Braids lend an incredible amount of control to wild hair. With Game Of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryn’s amazing braided hairdos becoming increasingly popular, many want to go for it as they lend a chic, Cinderella-like look. Moreover, they are quite easy to manage. However, you need to have nimble fingers to do it on your own. Otherwise, get someone to do it.”

Alia Bhatt’s hairstyles

Now, you know what to do with your bestie on a fun girls night out — do some crazy braids for each other. But are there any latest braids to look forward to? Santosh Ghatraj, style director at Jean-Claude Biguine in Lower Parel, Mumbai, says, “You can try the rope braid, which starts from the front and goes right till your nape. Also, you can go for a braided chignon, which looks quite elegant. Even men, who have long hair, can do a braided topknot.”

“I’m also doing a lot of twists, especially the Senegalese twists that Vengaboys had made hugely popular. It’s a nice, African look. Even normally, if you go for the tried and tested fishtail braid, make sure it’s messy and a few tendrils frame your face. It will give you a very windy yet beautiful look. Men can also go for cornrows that pull your hair back but also look exciting,” Sachin adds. However, Sachin cautions that it’s better to use texturing hair products before braiding, and for silky hair, hairspray is a must.