BORN AND BRAID
Show off your fierce sense of style with these experimental braids.
Breathe new life into the girlish pigtail, which has evolved from its innocent roots with tribal appeal this season, drawing inspiration from warriors who would braid their hair away from the face so they had perfect vision during battle. Fictional characters and modern-day symbols of feminism such as Daenerys Targaryen and Wonder Woman are often depicted with power braids, and have undoubtedly played a role in popularising the hairstyle, which is often associated with strong, independent characters—fearless in their conviction and respected for it. It would make sense then that designers such as Andrew Gn and Olivier Rousteing would send an army of glamazons down the Autumn/Winter ’17 runways with their interpretations of the new power hair. At Balmain, three rows of tight braids at the top of the head were fastened into a low ponytail, giving the practical style a high-fashion twist. Whether singular or multiple, the look is easily achieved with some practice and a fine-tooth comb to section off hair with clean lines. Start with a tight braid down each section and fasten with an elastic. Pull out pieces for added texture and dimension, or use a texturising spray, and back comb before starting on each braid for extra volume. Embellish with metalware for an edgy interpretation like at Concept Korea, or soften the look with a pearl stopper for added interest.