The best braided hairstyles for the holidays that are cool+ photos
The best braided hairstyles: Nothing ruins a vacation more than a mad dash to sort out your strands—so a pre-vacay appointment for a low-maintenance protective style is a must. An effortless protective style allows you to spend your time snorkeling in the sea or swatting a pickleball instead of panicking about lifting lace or fried edges. Who wants to spend their hard-earned PTO tussling with a flat iron?
Stay with this section of makeup and beauty in the health and beauty section of Eternal Pen magazine.
The key to choosing a protective style for vacation is understanding your natural hair and how it will work with the style in a new environment. We consulted the experts—celebrity hairstylists Marquita Lynch, Ursula Stephen, and Kim Kimble—to find out how to keep things cute and stress-free, so you can spend your time on mint juleps and mocktails instead of raking through matted messes. Keep scrolling for the best protective styles for your upcoming vacation.
The best braided hairstyles
hairBoho Braids
The best braided hairstyles: Lynch is a big fan of boho braids. She stands by them at any length, but “I just love long hair, so anything past the butt is chef’s kiss,” she says. She regularly turns to them for her celebrity clients. “If they’re going on vacation, I love to add human hair to the ends of the braids… it gives it more of a flowy look,” she says.
Rowed and Wavy
If you’re looking for length and fullness without the fussiness of leave-out, go for a partial sew-in. “Just sew it on the back and then maybe have your hair braided in the front,” suggests Lynch. This style can be adorned with beads or cuffs to take it to the next level.
Straight Backs
The best braided hairstyles: Cornrows require no more maintenance than a satin scarf. Want it to make things even more comfortable? Skip the synthetic hair. “I like to add human hair to my cornrows when I do them like from the nape down,” said Lynch.
Designed Cornrows
Braids are ideal for beach getaways: Unlike other styles, they function well after being submerged in water. “Even while you’re on vacation you can always, you can swim in your braids. That’s the luxury,” says Lynch.
