The hottest braids of the summer, defined

Just us, a sneaking a peek at this szn's prettiest plaits.

- ERIN REIMEL

Set your strands up for success

Before you start braiding, prep your hair to guarantee your work lasts all day (or longer).

STRAIGHT: "It's challenging to braid straight hair when it's super clean because it's so smooth," explains DevaCurl stylist Faith Jones Rivers. Wait until you have second-or third-day strands or dupe a li'l dirtiness by hitting freshly washed hair with a texturizing spray like SGX NYC The Do-It-All 3-in1 Dry Texture Spray ($11, target.com) to give your locks some added grip.

CURLY: "Seal in moisture with a styling cream to prevent frizz and flyaways," says Jones Rivers. Try Mane Club's Honey, That's How I Roll Curl Defining Cream ($10, maneclubnyc.com).

COILY: "Stretching your hair using heat or Bantu knots on damp hair can give you a smoother style," shares Jones Rivers. Just use a lightweight protector (we like DevaCurl FlexFactor, $28, devacurl.com) to prevent damage.

Olivia Rodrigo

BASIC BRAIDS

Most of us learned a classic braid back in kindergarten-and it's still one of our go-to styles (find the basics on TikTok @girlslifemag).