1. French side braid – Begin with day-old hair, or alternatively apply Essential Treatments Absorb to give you some grip. Start braiding from one corner of your crown and continue braiding diagonally downwards, adding sections as you go. Once you run out extra pieces, simply continue to plait until you reach the end of your hair. You’ll be channelling Katniss Everdeen in no time!

1. Fishtail braid – The softer, more romantic cousin to the French braid, the fishtail is a way to transform ‘normal’ braids giving them a twist. Loosely curly your hair to give your hair some movement – remember to use some heat protectant! Defence Extinguish will do the trick. Section your hair into two, taking outside pieces from one side and adding it to the inside of the other section, repeating with the other side. Remember to tie off with a decent amount of hair left over to show off that wavy texture you’ve created and don’t be too worried about loose pieces around your face – they add a touch of softness to the look.

1. Braided bun – A way to make braids look sleek and polished is to incorporate them into a high bun. Use Elements Afterglow to tame those pesky flyaways first and then with hair in a ponytail, braid the hair and tie it off. Gently loosen the links to keep the look from looking too harsh. Twist and pin into place and then spray over with Elements Granite to ensure your look stays in place.

1. Side braids with loose waves – If you like the look of your hair down, but can’t stand it when strands get in your face, this is the look for you. Apply some Instant Allevi8 Shine Serum to your roots to keep your natural hair looking its best. Braid the front sections of your hair before pinning the ends back under the sections you leave loose to keep it looking effortless. Elements Ocean Mist will make your hair look beachy and fresh.

1. Edgy ponytail – Sick of the same lank ponytail? An easy way to shake things up is to braid small sections of hair just above your ears, styling with Elements Grit to give a cool matte texture. Backcomb the crown before scraping everything into your ponytail and finishing everything off with a spray of Elements Sandstorm for added texture.

De Lorenzo x