Celeb Hair Styles

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Celebrity Hair Styles - Plaits and Braids

Take a look through the different styles to find one you like and see if it suits you, with everything from Oscars up-dos to perfect day looks.

To get Quinn Fabray's signature sweet braid look, first, create a side parting and, taking the front section from the bigger side, create a plait. Secure it with a thin elastic band.

Using some pins that are as close to your hair color as you can get, secure the plait around the side of your hair. You won't needed to pin it all the way, maybe just use two or three pins.

*In this pic, Quinn's hair is straight but she sometimes has curls at the bottom; you can create your own using a curling iron and taking it up to just about shoulder length for each section of hair.

Categories - Dianna Agron, Golden Blonde, Plaits, Straight Hair

The Look - Intricately braided Up-do

Seen At - The Chanel HC Fashion Show held in Paris, January 2011

Needs - Someone to help you; and hair that isn't too long

For this look no blow-dry or straightening should be necessary as the hair is getting put into a style anyway.

Diane's hair has a very slight part just above her left eyebrow with the rest of her hair all swept back.

She has two braids on either side of her head (creating these is where you'll probably require some help), each working down to her neck.

The loose ends are pinned up at the back to leave the nape of the neck bare.  If your hair length is to long for a neatly pinned-up look, try gathering it together to make a neat little bun.

Finish with a lot of hairspray.  Diane has some loose frizzy parts but if you'd prefer a sleeker look, use the hairspray to help dab any fly-aways down with your fingertips.

Categories - Diane Kruger, Medium Length, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Shoulder Length Hair, Up-Dos,

Seen At - The June 2010 New York Premiere of Twilight Saga: Eclipse

For this look it's best to start with hair that isn't freshly-washed as it will hold a lot better.

Apply some texturising spray into the roots and throughout the lengths, scrunching with your hands and fingers to add or enhance natural body and waves.

Create a slight part on which ever side you prefer, then on the bigger side, create a French plait going down past the ear and round  to the centre of the back of the head where you can pin it into place.*

Leave a few tendrils loose around the face but gather the rest of your hair back into a low ponytail below the plait.

Twist the ponytail up into a loose, messy bun, suing pins to keep it in place.

Once you feel everything at the back is secure, move back to the loose tendrils.  If you feel they need a little more wave, taking one at a time, spray on some more texturising spray and wrap around your finger or use a medium-large curling iron to boost the shape.

Finish with a good dose of hairspray to keep everything in place.

*If your hair is long and going way past the centre, secure and pin it there, leaving the ends loose so you can later incorporate them down into the bun section.

For this up-do texture and volume at the back is required.  Leaving the front part of your hair and crown completely straight set to back-combing some volume and height into the back section of the crown.

A good trick for the back combing part is to get a thin head band and slide it on, pushing the hair back to where you want to start creating height from.

With the hair boosted, gather the hair at the back and pin into a low loose bun, making sure not to ruin the volume at the top.

There aren't many pictures of Heather at this event so it's unclear whether her braid is an add-in or real but you can get the look with the Sephora Collection Thick Braidie Headband ($10.00 at amazon and available in five different colors), using it to replace the head band if you decided to use one earlier in the earlier step.

Pin the braid into place with two criss-crossed hair pins on each side of the head, and finish with a good mist of hairspray.

Categories - Awards Styles, Bangs, Fringe, Golden Blonde, Heart Shaped Face Styles, Heather Morris, Long Face Shape Styles, Long Hair, Medium Length, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Prom Styles, Super Long Hair, Up-Dos, Waves,

For this look it's better to start with hair that isn't freshly-washed, so it's great style to try if your hairs a little greasy rather than just putting it into a pony.

Needs - Long hair, unless following version 2.

Create your centre parting, and pull your hair back, leaving some optional face-framing tendrils at the front.

Collect the hair at the back into a ponytail, slightly to one side of the nape, and plait it into a loose braid, securing at the end with a transparent band.

With the braid complete, wrap it up over the head, pinning into the scalp with bobby pins as you go.

Version 2 - Buy a thick braided headband, such as the Sephora Collection Thick Braided Headband, and pin it to you head the same way as you'd pin up a real one, putting your own hair into a bun at the back.

Categories - Curly Hair, Golden Blonde, Heart Shaped Face Styles, Mary-Kate Olsen, Medium Length, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Prom Styles, Super Long Hair, Up-Dos, Waves,

For this look it's best to start with hair that isn't freshly-washed as it will hold a lot better when a little dirty.

Apply some texturising spray into the roots and throughout the lengths, scrunching with your hands and fingers to add or enhance natural body and waves.

Create a slight part on which ever side you prefer, then on the smaller side, create a French plait going down past the ear and round to the back of the head where you can pin it into place.*

Leave a few tendrils loose around the face but gather the rest of your hair back into a low ponytail (*incorporate any extra length you might have after creating the plait into this) below the plait.

Twist the ponytail up into a tight bun, using a few more pins to keep it in place.

Once you feel everything at the back is secure, move back to the loose tendrils.  If you feel they need a little more wave, taking one at a time, spray on some more texturising spray and wrap around your finger or use a medium-large curling iron to boost the shape.

Finish with a good dose of hairspray to keep everything in place.

Categories - Diane Kruger, Golden Blonde, Heart Shaped Face Styles, Long Hair, Medium Length, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Up-Dos, Waves,

Seen At - An event in May 2010

For this style it isn't essential to have super smooth hair, it looks good with waves an texture too; but if you have natural curls and want Nicky's total look, first apply some silkening balm and blow-dry your hair straight with a paddle brush.

Create a centre parting and gather your hair at the back, dividing into two equally sized low ponytail sections, one behind each ear.

Plait each ponytail and pin them up and into the scalp, over the top of your head like Nicky.

The tricky part is getting the ends of each to look like the merge together - it's best to use hair pins that closely match your hair shade for this, placing them in a criss-cross shape over the ends.

Use hairspray lacquer to help and shine and keep the style in place.  You can also use it to help dab down any frizzy or stick-out hairs.

Shorter haired girls can cheat their way to this style with the help of a Sephora Collection Thick Braid Headband.

Categories - Brown Hair, Buns, Light Brown, Long Hair, Medium Length, Nicky Hilton, Oval Face Shape, Up-Dos,

Seen At - On Rachel McAdams at the December 2009 Premiere of Sherlock Holmes

In creating this look, first apply some volumizing spray  to wet hair.

Blow-dry, with some medium-large sized velcro rollers to create volume and shape at the top of the head.

Allow the rollers to cool and curls to set before removing them then tease back into place with your fingers, back-combing a little and keeping as much volume on top as possible before gathering the hair at the back.

Rachel's hair was French-braided from below the left ear down the length and secured with a transparent band - don't worry about making the braid too neat; you can see from the pic Rachel's isn't and it still looks great.

Finish the look with hairspray, especially at the top, but try not to apply too much as this look shouldn't be rock hard.

Categories - Golden Blonde, Plaits/Braids, Rachel McAdams, Side Swept

Gwyneth's Oscar dress may not have been a hit with everyone but her quirky plaited hairdo was definitely a winner.

Color- Dark Blonde

Suits- Almost every kind of face, except round.

First of all comb some straightening cream through damp hair to remove any waves. Try John Frieda Wind Down Creme.

Then blow-dry your hair straight and comb a small amount of styling wax through your hair, try Toni & Guy Define It Wax.

Create a side parting and smooth your hair into a low bun at the back of your head, leaving the large section at the side of the parting loose.

Plait the loose section into a braid then coil it around the side of your head and tuck into onto the bun, or wrap it around it.

Finish off the look with a squirt of Charles Worthington Results Stay In Shape Hair Super spray.

Categories - Awards Styles, Buns, Gwyneth Paltrow, Long Hair, Medium Length, Oscars, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Prom Styles, Up-Dos,

The Look - Glam side-plait

Liv's side plait style looks fairly simple but with it's full volume, it can be a little tricky to achieve unless you've got lots of hair or thick extensions.

To get this style, begin by applying a volumizing mousse into damp hair.  You can blow-dry with a round brush if you need to, or leave it to dry naturally which will encourage some volume.

Once the hair is dry, back-combing is key.  Boost the volume at the crown and roots then gather the hair, ready to create your side plait.

Tease the hair throughout the length to increase the volume then create your plait - tying it loosely rather than plaiting it tight.

Categories - Brown Hair, Dark Brown, Liv Tyler, Long Face Shape Styles, Long Hair, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Side Swept,

The Look - Thick side-plait

Nicole's side plait style looks fairly simple but with it's full volume, it can be a little tricky to achieve unless you've got lots of hair or thick extensions.

To get this style, begin by applying a volumizing mousse into damp hair.  You can blow-dry with a round brush if you need to, or leave it to dry naturally which will encourage some volume.

Once the hair is dry, back-combing is key.  Boost the volume at the crown and roots then gather the hair, ready to create your side plait.

Tease the hair throughout the length to increase the volume then create your plait - tying it loosely rather than plaiting it tight.

Categories - Heart Shaped Face Styles, Long Face Shape Styles, Long Hair, Nicole Kidman, Plaits, Red Hair, Strawberry Blonde, Super Long Hair, Waves,

The Look - Sleek Fish-Tail Braid

For this look, most of the length will be tied together so straightening and blow-drying isn't an absolute must, just make-sure you have smooth hair and some volume at the top.

Gather all your hair as if making a low ponytail at the back then sweep it round to one side.

Leave some loose at the front to frame the face a little.

When creating the fishtail braid make sure to keep it as tight as possible all the way down - fishtail braids are tricky so you might need some practice if you're planning this look for an event or night out.

Once you've created the braid, leave a little length free at the end, then add it a discreet elastic to secure the look.

Categories - Dark Brown, Long Hair, Plaits, Side Swept, Tulisa Contostavlos

The Look - Fishtail Braid

Best For - Non-layered hair, lots of different lengths in the hair can make this look a bit messy.

Papped out in late 2010, casual-looking Rihanna sported a fishtail braid.

The fishtail style is probably the most complicated braid if you've never done one before, so don't be put off if it doesn't turn out right the first time - here's a few tips for getting the look.

Brush your hair through then gather it all in front of one of your shoulders - it's easier for a right-hander to put it over the left shoulder and vice-versa.

Divide the hair into two equal parts, hold one of the sections between the middle and index finger, and the other between the middle and ring finger of your less dominant hand.

Use your free hand for the braid creating.  Take a small section from the outside of the first part and place it in the section held by your other fingers.

Now, pick up the same amount from the outside of the other section and put it into the first (sounds complicated, right?  If you check out youtube you can find a few videos of people doing it - this still is much easier to understand demonstrated than written out).  Continue alternating the strands from each section to the other until you're happy with the length of the braid, then secure with a band of your choice.

Categories - Colorful Hair, Extensions, Heart Shaped Face Styles, Long Face Shape Styles, Long Hair, Plaits, Red Hair, Rihanna, Super Long Hair,

Categories - Golden Blonde, Heart Shaped Face Styles, Marisa Miller, Plaits, Round Face Shape Style, Side Swept, Waves,

Seen at - A charity event in April 2011

To create this look apply some smoothing balm and blow-dry (not totally necessary if your hair is straight).

Divide your hair at the back, leaving the upper section loose to add oomph like Paris, while gathering the rest up into a neat bun - pinning it into place.

Get the section of hair at the top and backcomb it for volume.  You might find a hairdo filler very useful when creating this.

Once your happy with the style so far get some hairspray, such as L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray, and use it to dab down any frizzy hairs.

Your finishing touch - Paris's sweet braid - again calls for a little help.

Take a Sephora Braided Headband (available in three different shades) and pin it around your volumized bun - or secure into your hair filler if you used one.

Recommended products for recreating this look -

Categories - Buns, Golden Blonde, Heart Shaped Face Styles, Long Hair, Medium Length, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Prom Styles, Straight Hair, Up-Dos,

For this look, most of the length will be tied together so straightening and blow-drying isn't an absolute must.

Gather all your hair as if making a low ponytail at the back then sweep it round to one side.  If you have some shorter lengths or layers that fall down around the side that's okay - this style doesn't have to look perfect.

Create a loose fishtail braid in the length of the ponytail.

Leave a little length loose at the bottom and use a discreet elastic to secure the braid in place

Going uber glam, Blake added a gold hair adornment into her hair; get the look with the Golden Leaves and Central Crystal Flower Hair Comb; sliding it into the top of your ponytail at the back.

Categories - Blake Lively, Golden Blonde, Heart Shaped Face Styles, Honey Blonde, Long Hair, Plaits, Side Swept, Super Long Hair, Waves,

Seen at - An event in January 2011

For a smooth, polished looking base like Jessica's, first blow-dry your hair using a paddle brush.*

Create a deep side-part on whichever side you prefer and sweep all hair across to one side.

Leave some hair loose to frame the face, then braid the rest into a wide plait before securing at the end with a hair elastic.

This is a great look but isn't too pristine , so don't worry too much if your plait has loose sprigs etc.  Jessica's has them but she still looks great.

*If your hair is naturally straight you might not feel the need to do this.

Categories - Black Hair, Dark Brown, Heart Shaped Face Styles, Jessica Lowndes, Long Hair, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Side Swept, Straight Hair, Super Long Hair,

Seen at - The September 2009 Emmy Awards

Wearing her hair up to show off her stunning Versace gown to full effect, Blake opted for this plaited style.

The look was created by Renato Campora who first applied Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to Blake's wet hair.

Next, he blow-dried her hair smooth and applied the Fekkai Coiff Extra Control Styling Gel to prep before teasing it up into a high ponytail.

A few extensions were added to the ponytail to give Blake's look extra length and drama for the night.  Then the ponytail was braided down the length and fastened at the end.

Renato then applied Fekkai Coiff Magnifique Ultra-Light Finishing Creme throughout the look for a smooth and sleek finish.

Categories - Awards Styles, Blake Lively, Extensions, Golden Blonde, Oval Face Shape, Plaits, Pony Tails, Super Long Hair, Up-Dos

Seen - At the S/S 2010 Alexander Wang Show

Creating this style, make a deep side-part sweep all hair across to one side.*

Leave some hair loose to frame the face, then braid the rest into a wide plait before securing at the end with a discreet hair elastic.

Isabeli had some extensions added to her ponytail for extra length and thickness.

This look is very dishevelled so it doesn't matter if some hair come free from the plait or at the back.

*You can also enhance some light texture and wave by applying a little texturising spray onto your hands and scrunching to create some waves at the top of the style before working on the plait.

Categories - Brown Hair, Dark Brown, Extensions, Isabeli Fontana, Plaits, Side Swept, Super Long Hair, Waves

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