With all the weddings and music festivals going on, summer is the best time to rock a trending hairstyle. Since they’re one of the most mesmerising ’dos, not to mention they help keep us cool, intricate braids are having such a moment this year, making them the perfect choice. And you can always count on Instagram to find a rabbit hole of new plait ideas, just like the DNA plait.
While we won’t stop loving fishtail plaits and pipe braids, it’s DNA braids that have most recently caught everyone’s undivided attention. In fact, the latest craze to blow up social media has been transporting beauty lovers to a hair wonderland. It’s called the DNA braid because it resembles the twisty, turny double helix shape of a strand of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which carries all those complex biological details of our genetic code. And it’s taking over the ‘gram mostly thanks to Rhode Island-based hairstylist, Alexandra Wilson. "I have actually seen the DNA braid done before, but it’s just not a popular braid. I wanted to recreate it taking smaller sections so that it really made the braid look intricate. I attempted it because I wanted to try something new and different that a lot of people haven’t seen before," Wilson told “Bustle.” The wedding stylist who specialises in braiding started the fad by sharing a tutorial to show how beautiful the braid can look half-up, alongside another big trend, rainbow coloured hair.
The hairstyle garnering thousands of heart emojis is quite similar to a fishtail braid except it has three sections instead of two. And while it works particularly well on multi-coloured pastel locks, the technique looks great on highlighted and balayaged hair too. What’s more, you can find countless ways to twist the braid that pays homage to the discovery by scientists Francis Crick and James Watson. Many braid-savvy hairstylists around the world are putting their own spin on the DNA braid. All you need to do is tap on the #DNAbraid hashtag on Instagram to find versatile and innovative ideas, including ones that can be worn day-to-day.
How To Do DNA Braids:
For the best results, your hair should ideally be below shoulder-length and be layer-free or styled with a small amount of layers. While you don’t have to be a braiding wiz like Wilson, you do need to have tons of patience, as it is time-consuming.
You can create the style by separating the hair into three sections. Then starting with one of the outermost pieces, you take a smaller section and weave it over and under the larger ones, until it's added to the opposite side. You then repeat the same steps on the other side, alternating back and forth until you have the length you want. One useful tip to remember is you should keep the middle section stationary, while twisting the outer two outer divisions.
