10 Epic Braids from One Hairstylist’s 365-Day Instagram Challenge
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa1/12There are tons of beauty trends that come and go, but if we've learned anything over the years, it's that braids don’t go out of style. They can be cool, edgy, complicated, romantic, and will never go unnoticed if you post yours on Instagram. They're consistently one of the most eye-catching looks on the red carpet and one of the few styles that look as great at the gym as they do at the office. Since there are so many ways to reinvent the wheel when it comes to plaits, celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa challenged herself to see just how many different braided styles she could come up with. And it was as simple as that — her #365daysofbraids hashtag came to life on Instagram in 2015 and she successfully completed the task of creating and posting a double tap-worthy braid on Instagram every single day for a year. Now that's it's officially over, we strolled down memory lane with the stylist discussing our 10 favorite braids from the past year and discovered her tips and tricks for making it work for you at home. Whether you're looking for an update on a classic three-strand plait or a fancy fishtail, click through for tons of braid magic.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa2/12Hailee Steinfeld's Edgy Fishtail Pony
"This is a look I created for Hailee Steinfeld. Ever since I've known her she's always had a great fashion sense and is game for interesting, cool hairstyles," says Potempa. "This particular day we were running around together in New York City for a bunch of random meet-and-greets, and she needed something that kept her hair out of her face, but still looked rocker and cool with her leather jacket. To copy the style, first apply Fatboy Perfect Hair Putty through the length of your hair to give it structure. Then, create two five-strand Dutch braids (watch for a tutorial!) and reverse the process so that it looks like a rope instead of laying flat against your head. Once the braids meet at the nape of the neck, turn it into a fishtail braid. It's a great look for people who have long hair without many layers, so you can really see the details of the braid."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa3/12A Romantic Half-Up Bun
"I always create the waves before the braid for a style like this. Start off with Aussie Real Volume Styling Mousse on damp hair, blow dry, and then create curls using a Sarah Potempa Beachwaver. Brush them out so it creates a loose, romantic texture, then take two-inch sections at the roots and do a little back-brushing for volume. Separate the top half of your hair into two sections, and create a two-strand braid on either side, which gives off the illusion of a twist, but it won't unravel. Once the two braids meet in the back, create a simple three-strand braid all the way to the bottom. I 'pancake' the three-strand braid after it's secured — meaning I tug at the edges a little bit so it appears thicker and flatter. Lastly, wrap in a circular bun and secure it with bobby pins along the way."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa4/12A Sculptural Braided Updo
"I love the structured concept and sleekness of this style, which looks lovely on those with straight hair. Create a center part and carve out one inch from either side of the part for a very strong section in the middle — almost like a mohawk. French braid that section all the way down to the ends and secure with an elastic. Then take the remaining hair, flat iron it so that it's silky smooth and pull that into a three-strand braid, leaving out the French braid you just made. Swoop both braids over and above your hair, using bobby pins to secure it in place. The right side of your hair is actually smooth and braid-free — the juxtaposition is an interesting effect."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa5/12A Gilded Half-Updo
"This one is really all about starting off with the perfect accessory. Create two easy fishtail braids on either sides of your part, and once you get to the back, combine them into a single fishtail. I don't always love the look of securing your hair with an elastic, so sometimes I like to comb and tease the bottom of the tail and blast it with strong-hold hairspray so it stays on its own. Curl the rest of your hair and brush it out so it feels lived-in, then place your headband on like a crown and secure with bobbies if you need to."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa6/12A Boho-Chic Three-Strand Braid
"This style is slightly more complicated, but it's actually easier than it looks. Create a five-inch section in the middle and leave out the hair on the left and right sides. Then make a French braid with the middle part, but instead of pulling the entire section of hair from the roots, add a tiny portion from five inches away near the hairline, which creates a cool pieciness. It's the same idea as a French, but you pull a from a small, specific section—not the whole row. Then, incorporate the side sections you left out in the beginning and bring them into the braid. The waves are simple: Curl your hair and use a flat iron to run it over the waves hair. The imperfectness of the curls give it a bohemian, easygoing vibe."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa7/12A Gorgeous Date Night-Worthy Side Bun
"This looks like multiple braids, but it's just a single French fishtail rolled into a side bun. Take hair behind your right ear and separate it into two sections. Create a French fishtail, but instead of adding hair on both sides of the braid, just incorporate hair to the left side of the braid. Fishtail braid all the way across the back and continue down and around like a backwards 'C' shape. Continue the fishtail down the length of your hair, secure with a clear elastic and pancake the braid so it's loose and textured. Use bobby pins to roll it into a side bun and spritz with Aussie Assume Volume Aerosol Hairspray."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa8/12A Sporty Pinned Pony
"I love this look on second-day hair that has natural texture — all you need to do is add a little bit of Aussie Total miracle Collection 7 N 1 Dry Shampoo to volumize the roots. Create a tight Dutch braid (check out this helpful tutorial from Zoella) using very large sections. Once you get to the bottom, secure the ends with bright blue bobby pins (or any color of your choice!) that make a cool statement. I tugged at the edges of the braid on the top, added the bobby pins in the middle, then carefully tugged the middle part of the braid for a gorgeous texture."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa9/12Jessica Szhor's Faux Mohawk Braid
You might remember this pretty style last year, and it still remains one of our absolute favorite braids of all time. "Start by pulling your hair half up and separating it into three horizontal sections. Keep them divided by using large hair clamps like the Sarah Potempa Darby Clip so you don't create any indentations. Then, prep your hair with Aussie Total Miracle 7N1 Dry Shampoo — it not only gives any hair type this unbelievably cool texture, but it gives it the necessary grip needed for a braid to stay put all day long. At the back of the crown, create two knotty braids with the bottom section — don't worry about it being too perfect! Knots and flyaways add to the cool factor. Intertwine it with two small three-strand braids from the middle section and pin all the braids around each other to create the faux hawk look. On the top of your head, pull the third section that's closest to your hairline into a ponytail and secure it with a clear elastic. Create a fishtail braid and wrap it in the Sarah Potempa Half Up Bun Maker to create the top knot."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa10/12A Lacy Milkmaid Braid
"This one is essentially two pigtail braids — the one on the right is a French fishtail and the one of the left is a regular fishtail. The neon shoelace around the braids not only looks really cool, but it's also functional by keeping the layers from falling out of the braid. After pinning up the two pigtails, just hide the ends in your hair with bobby pins so they don't stick out."
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sarahpotempa11/12A Boxed Fishtail
"Quite possibly one of my favorite new braids I learned during the challenge: This three- dimensional braid is made so that if you look at it from any angle, it's a fishtail on all four sides. Once you get the pattern down, it's pretty easy. First, separate hair into two sections and take a small strand from the back of one section and cross it over to the opposite section. Repeat this pattern twice, then take a piece from the next section, and go under that section, into the other side. Continue the braid pattern with two regular fishtail sections and two reverse sections until you reach the end." Better with step-by-step visuals? Check out this tutorial Sarah did for our friends over at PopSugar.
