Kate Hudson's half-braided updo packs a three "S" punch as it's: smart, sexy and sweet. It is versatile enough to wear to the office, on a date or night out, or even for a casual weekend outing. It's also the perfect braid to wear when you haven't had a chance to shampoo. It'll camouflage slightly greasy roots in a flash. Check out other hairstyles you can pull off in minutes here.
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Worst: Elizabeth Banks
We don't quite understand why a beautiful woman like Elizabeth Banks decided to wear this ratty, headband braid to a star-studded gala. All we do know is that if a look can't be explained, it's best to avoid trying to pull it off yourself.
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Best: Leona Lewis
Lewis' fishtail braid is super sexy and worthy of a night out on the town. We think Simon Cowell (her mentor) would agree that this reality star and Billboard-topping singer's side braid style is definitely on key. While you might need an extra set of hands to accomplish this look, it is totally worth copy-cating. Follow this step-by-step tutorial for a fishtail braid for some extra help.
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Worst: Jada Pinkett Smith
Ladies, can we leave the faux hawks to the boys? Jada Pinkett Smith's braid unfortunately is not as big a Blockbuster hit as her hubbie's movies. And this isn't the first time Smith has fouled, check out this mullet fiasco that landed her a prime spot in the Worst Hair Trends of All Time photo gallery.
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Best: Gwyneth Paltrow
Can we get an "Amen" to the assertion that for some heaven-sent reason Paltrow can do no wrong. She is not only a good Samaritan (a title earned from her appearance in 24 Celebs Who Will Save the Earth), but she also always looks polished and sexy on the red carpet (see her in Sexy Summer Hairstyles and How to Get 'Em). These bohemian-chic braids are not only super easy to do, they are totally cute.
Getting your hair braided by your BFF or braiding her hair is part of a young girl's rite of passage. Now that we're all grown up, youthful braided hairstyles are back in style for us adults. There are a million ways to work a braid whether it's inspired by Lauren Conrad's iconic French-braided bangs, (learn how to create the look by watching this braided hairstyle how-to video) or Nicole Richie's various boho braided looks. Braids are a fun, flirty, versatile hairstyle that can be worn casually for a day at the beach, in a more flirty way for a date, or even more polished for the office or a big event. Braided hairstyles are also a great way to make unwashed hair look beautiful. We personally love the messy, yet chic side braided hairstyle with face-framing loose curls. It pairs perfectly with beachy, tousled hair for a sunny summer day. For a little braid inspiration, check out this tutorial for the classic fishtail braid.
No matter the braided style you choose to try, here are a few quick tips on making any braid look perfect:
Tip 1: To create a sleek braid, comb through your hair first to smooth out any knots or tangles. Then apply a bit of shine-enhancing pomade to get rid of flyaways.
Tip 2: To create a messier braid, curl all of your hair before braiding with a large barrel iron then backcomb the curls slightly to create that messy volume.
Tip 3: After finishing any braid, spritz with flexible hairspray to help the look last. You can also add an accessory to your braids to up their cool-factor -- try a leather headband or glitzy flower pin.
One warning: not all braids are created equal � if they're not done well, they can look super sloppy or like a prom hairstyle gone wrong, quickly becoming a bad hair day for you. Take a look at the best and worst braided celebrity hairstyles that have graced Hollywood's red carpet.
Guess which of these celebs hit or missed the braided hairstyle trend: Mena Suvari, Kate Hudson, Elizabeth Banks, Leona Lewis, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gwyneth Paltrow, Katie Price, Amanda Seyfried, Nicole Richie and Amy Smart.
