Ask A Chicago Stylist: Three Easy Braided Hairstyles

Call it the "Game of Thrones" factor, but braids are hot and allow a girl to be stylish whether she's the mother of dragons making another regional conquest or she's a nine-to-fiver just trying to get through a sweaty ride on the 151 bus. Check out some of these cute and easy braids that you can do at home, courtesy of Amy Corvillion of All About You Salon.

Amy Corvillion
All About You
741 S. McHenry Ave.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
(815) 477-2793
www.allaboutyoucl.com

Amy Corvillion, owner of All About You in Crystal Lake, is a veteran stylist who does it all: color, cut, texture and styling to transform a client's look so she'll emerge from the salon feeling wonderful about herself. Corvillion offers three easy braided hairstyles that will keep you cool, in both senses of the word, and looking hot.

Side Swept French Braid

This style takes you from work to cocktails.

1. Start with a triangle section just behind the ear.
2. Divide the section into three strands.
3. Cross right strand over center strand.
4. Cross left strand over center strand.
5. Pick up a 1-inch section with your right hand.
6. Add this section to the right strand already in your hand.
7. Cross right strand over the center strand.
8. Pick up a 1-inch section with your left hand.
9. Add this section the left strand already in your hand.
10. Cross left strand over the center strand.
11. Repeat steps 5-10 moving across the back of the head and over the shoulder and secure with a rubber band.

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Dutch Braid with Bun

This hairstyle is perfect for a wedding or Sunday brunch when sitting on the patio is a must.

1. Start with a triangle section in the nape of the neck.
2. Divide the section into three strands.
3. Cross right strand under the center strand.
4. Cross left strand under the center strand.
5. Pick up 1-inch section from the right.
6. Add this section to the right strand already in your hand.
7. Cross right strand under the center strand.
8. Pick up 1-inch section from the left.
9. Add this section to the left strand already in your hand.
10. Cross left strand under the center strand.
11. Repeat steps 5-10 until all of the hair is in the braid and reaches the crown of your head. Secure with a rubber band. Wrap ends around to form a bun and secure with bobby pins.

Two Braid Style

Here's a style that's appealing to fans of the "Princess Bride" and Renaissance fairs as it looks demure and feminine on all.

1. Start with triangle section on the right side of the part.
2. Divide into three sections.
3. Do a simple three strand braid and secure with a bobby pin.
4. Continue on the right side, take a section that continues to the ear.
5. Divide into three sections.
6. Do a simple three strand braid and secure with a bobby bin.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 on the left side of the head.
8. Connect all four braids in the back of the head and secure with a rubber band.

Related: Best Places For A Keratin Treatment In Chicago

Jacky Runice has been a columnist with the Daily Herald Chicago since grunge music and flannel was the new black. Her fingers and gray matter have been busy as travel editor of Reunions Magazine; penning a column that was syndicated around the nation via Tribune Media Services. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.