20 plait hairstyles for every skill level

Regardless of whether you’re celebrating Pride or not, lacing a colourful piece of ribbon into your hair to spice up a plait or two is never a bad idea. 

Image credit: @caradelevingne

Leave it to Simone Ashley to perfect the baby braids aesthetic; working a beachy wave through the rest of your hair is the ideal way to marry the two together.

Image credit: @peterluxhair

The rope plait has been getting a lot of love from celebrities recently. But Yara Shahidi remixed the trend and debuted a trifecta of rope plaits instead while checking out the Dior A/W 22 runway show in Paris. We love that we can always count on the Dior Beauty ambassador to freshen up the way we look at hair and makeup…

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As far as braided hairstyles go, there’s something undeniably impressive about a hip-grazing rope braid. Channel your inner gothic princess like Megan Fox and pair the lengthy look with a set of Madonna ‘Ray Of Light’-era inspired face-framing tendrils. 

Certified Malibu Barbie beach babe Hailey Bieber has just reinvigorated the adorable mini plaits we were all obsessed with at seven years old. Sans butterfly clips this lowkey style is a great way to keep pesky flyaways out of your face while you’re chilling at the beach or poolside getting your tan on. 

Swift is serving serious schoolyard vibes in the promo pics for her surprise album 'evermore', but somehow the look is 100 per cent chic and not at all childish. So, consider this proof that a simple French braid truly never goes out of style.

Sky-high ponytails have that chic elegance to them; add a messy plait like Blake Lively and suddenly it has It-girl attitude.

Here’s a nifty trick: wrapping a plait into a braided bun creates a rose-like effect. Nicole Kidman went ultra messy at the front, but her rosette detail made this hairstyle red carpet-worthy.

Give your off-duty style a little somethin’ with a couple of mini braids to frame the face, à la Kylie Jenner.

Come at your hairstyle from another angle like Marion Cotillard. It’s tough on one side, soft and tousled on the other.

Don’t confuse sloppy with intentionally messy. Emily Ratajkowski’s glossy shine and dainty bow are little touches that let you know this undone look doesn’t actually have a single hair out of place.

Dutch braids - the type of braids that are raised - can be tricky to master. But Julianne Hough’s hairstyle is a great way to fake it. Section off a top layer of hair and secure into a half upstyle. Plait the lengths then once you reach the nape of your neck, plait the underneath section into the original plait to connect the two.

Lili Reinhart’s brushed-back braided ponytail with fly-aways is the perfect balance of carefree and cool.

When braiding hair, you don’t need to bother with perfection - in fact, that undone look perfectly complements a plait. We love the softness of Elizabeth Olsen’s ‘falling out’ braid.

Braids for short hair are possible, especially when you go for smaller, tighter plaits. Lucy Boynton’s subtle side plait adds a striking detail to an otherwise plain lob.

If you have extra long hair, you can braid a section at the nape of the neck and wrap it all the way over the top of your head to create a braided headband. Elsa Hosk used this trick to add a Grecian vibe to her simple half up, half down hairstyle. Tip: You can also cheat with braid hair extensions!

Festivals are all about fuss-free yet eye-catching hairstyles, and we reckon this nonchalant hairstyle that Margot Robbie wore at the Cannes Film Festival Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood photocall in 2019 nails the brief. She didn't even bother securing the plaits with hair elastics.

Side braids put your plaited hair front and centre. By keeping the top loose, Sarah Hyland has given her fishtail braid a sultry vibe.

Diane Kruger’s plait is next-level! You may want to leave this one in the capable hands of your hairdresser. You’ll need to clip a top layer of hair out of the way before doing a reverse braid (aka Dutch braid) down the back of your head. Then, loosely braid the upper layer over the top. Pretty from the front, showstopping from the back.

Shailene Woodley’s three-way braids are the perfect gym hairstyle, but it’s also an edgy option for a night out.

Smooth, low and tidy is a winning combination for an office-approved braided hairstyle. Zendaya nailed it!