Love the flowing, loosely braided tresses in “The Hunger Games” but prefer to skip the post-apocalyptic drama? We thought so. That’s why we asked Master Stylist Ruben González of Thomas Saverio Salon and Spa in Northwest Austin to show us how we can channel our inner Katniss Everdeen.
“It’s been the trendiest look that’s come out of a film in a long time,” González says. With sequels on the way and websites such as Pinterest and YouTube heating up with “Hunger Games”-inspired looks, González says stylish braids are a look that we’ll be seeing for a while.
He assures us that if we’ve ever made a simple braid, we’ve already got the basic tools to create these hairstyles at home. Luckily for beginners, looser braids also mean looser rules. “There’s no wrong way to do braiding,” González says. “And remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect; sometimes the messier the better.”
So, with González’s help, here’s a mini-tutorial to help achieve three fun summer styles at home.
Contact Nancy Flores at 912-2559.
Fishnet braid
Try a casual look with the fishnet braid. Because it’s probably the easiest braid that González explains, beginners should start with this one. Unlike the French braid, which requires you to lift hair from both sides, González says creating the fishnet braid only requires lifting from one side. Before delving into any braid making, remember to make it easy for yourself by first detangling the hair.
Give it a try:
1. Pick a small triangle section of hair on the right side of your head and separate into three medium-sized strands, pulling hair for the third strand from underneath only on the right side.
2. Begin the base of the braid by weaving a simple, classic braid (like those you did in grade school) crossing right to center, left to center, etc. This can be as thick as you want, depending on how chunky you want it to look. Start bringing the braid down across your head.
3. The braid will thicken with each rotation. The more control you have of the hair, the more you can braid it on a diagonal. Remember, it’s OK if it’s straighter than you’d like, especially the first time.
4. Repeat rotations until you get to the end of the head. Because there’s no more hair to pull from the right side, you just continue to braid in a traditional way. Pin back any spots you feel need to be secured. Finally, you can add some hairspray if you’d like.
Waterfall braid
Though it’s a little more structured than the previous Hunger Games-inspired braids, this look can also be worn to casual events. Mastering the waterfall braid probably requires the steady hand of an advanced braider. This horizontal braid goes across the head with hair flowing underneath to create a cascading effect.
1. Grab a triangle section of hair right above the ear. Try leaving out a chunk of hair from the side of your head for a more casual look.
2. Begin braiding horizontally in a traditional three-strand style, pulling the third strand from underneath.
3. Keep braiding, and then skip 1-inch sections of hair from underneath to create the cascading effect.
4. Continue braiding and skipping sections until you reach the other ear. Pin excess braid underneath remaining hair.
Rope braid
Getting that ropelike effect on the hair for this two-strand braid might require the touch of an intermediate braider. The sharp results, though, are worth the little extra practice to get up to speed. Pulling off this look requires at least shoulder-length hair, González said. And the longer your hair, the more options you have to turn this into a more formal look by coiling the end of the braid into a side bun.
1. Begin this braid like the fishnet by picking a small triangle section of hair — except this time from the front center of your head. Separate into two strands.
2. Start twisting a strand of hair inward, making it tight.
3. Twist the second strand the same way and begin twist braiding by crossing it over the first strand so they interlock. That’s your foundation.
4. Next, begin incorporating the rest of the hair that hasn’t been sectioned off. Grab thicker strands of hair from right side and then the left and twist them into braid. Continue until there’s no more hair to pick up.
Source from: http://www.statesman.com/life/style/get-the-look-of-hunger-games-braids-for-2410146.html