Oh-So-Ethereal Waterfall Braid Ideas—and How to Recreate Them

By Lindy Segal

Published on Jan 12, 2021

Close-up of Blake Lively rocking a waterfall braided hairstyle and silver sequined dress Mobile

Close-up of Blake Lively rocking a waterfall braided hairstyle and silver sequined dress Desktop

Remember your favorite waterfall braid on Pinterest in 2014? It’s back, and it’s just as pretty as you remember. A favorite in bridal and boho looks alike, this trendy hairstyle is the chameleon of the braid world. “A waterfall braid can be a great daily style!” says Miramar Beach, Florida-based hairstylist Savannah St. Jean. “You can certainly dress it up for more special occasions by adding in some cascading curls, or even creating an updo with the lower portion of your hair.”

Even better, unlike the more complicated Dutch braid or French braid, the basic technique is fairly simple to do. “A waterfall braid is a horizontal or diagonal braid with one of the three strands dropped in between each twist while you grab a new third strand (like you would do in a French braid) to create a ‘waterfall’ of hair throughout the braid,” explains St. Jean. Before you move onto the more advanced braided hairstyles below, here’s the simple step-by-step tutorial:

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How to do a basic waterfall braid:

Start with three sections of hair from the area you want your waterfall braid to begin.
Cross the top section of hair over the middle section, just like a regular, three-strand braid.
Cross the bottom section of hair over the new middle section, again like a regular braid.
Cross the top section of hair over the middle section.
Then, cross the bottom section over the middle section.
Now, drop the middle section and let it fall into the rest of your hair.
Grab another section from the top to create a new top section. Take this new section and cross it over the middle section.
Cross the bottom section over the middle section, and let the middle one fall into the rest of your hair again.
Continue this process until your braid is complete!

To see the braiding technique in action, watch a YouTube tutorial like this one from Sonia Castañeda, which demonstrates the look on both straight hair and curly hair. Ready to see more waterfall braid hairstyles? Continue reading below for gorgeous inspiration, along with St. Jean’s tips to DIY the looks.

1. Nina Dobrev’s Simple Style

Nina Dobrev with a waterfall braids hairstyle in a green tube dress Mobile

Nina Dobrev with a waterfall braids hairstyle in a green tube dress Desktop

Aside from being minimalist and pretty, what makes Dobrev’s style a slam dunk is that unlike a lot of waterfall hairstyles, it can be done with short hair too. To copy her look, “Use the waterfall braid steps on either side of your head,” explains St. Jean. Then, simply “secure the two braids in the back with a hair tie.” Finish with a spritz of hairspray and you’re all set!

2. Jennifer Morrison’s Romantic Half-Up Hairstyle

Jennifer Morrison smiling and rocking a half-up waterfall braids hairstyle against a wall of roses Mobile

Jennifer Morrison smiling and rocking a half-up waterfall braids hairstyle against a wall of roses Desktop

We dare you not to add a date night to your calendar the second you try out this beyond gorgeous braid. “Leaving the front, face-framing sections loose, follow the steps of the waterfall braid with a piece of hair right behind the face frame on both sides of your head,” St. Jean says of recreating Morrison’s hairstyle. Then, “Take the braids until they meet in the back and secure them with either a clear elastic or bobby pins.”

3. Laverne Cox’s Braid Crown

Laverne Cox looking glam in a braided crown hairstyle, smoky eye makeup look, and sequined silk dress Mobile

Laverne Cox looking glam in a braided crown hairstyle, smoky eye makeup look, and sequined silk dress Desktop

Leave it to Laverne Cox to show us an amazing new way to wear a waterfall braid. To get her glam braid, “Follow the steps of a basic waterfall braid along your front hairline. When dropping your middle section, be sure to drop the section behind and take the new top section from the front,” says St. Jean. “Once you have successfully completed the waterfall braid, secure it with an elastic and allow the tail to drop with the rest of your hair.” Pro tip: Because this braid is created on the hairline, it works on a variety of hair lengths, too.

4. Blake Lively’s Intricate Updo

Blake Lively rocking a waterfall braided updo hairstyle and silver sequined dress Mobile

Blake Lively rocking a waterfall braided updo hairstyle and silver sequined dress Desktop

Brides, you can thank Blake Lively for your wedding hair inspiration (although it’s so gorgeous, we might need to wear it on a random Wednesday). “Use the basic waterfall braid steps, and then take the bottom of your hair and secure it with an elastic,” says St. Jean. Then, “Take the ponytail and secure pieces with bobby pins to create a piecey and messy bun.”

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