As much as we all love the arrival of warm weather, I for one do not look forward to the frizzy, unmanageable hair days that inevitably come along with it. The easiest—and cutest—remedy I’ve found for unruly summer hair are braids. They have that fresh-off-the-beach appeal. But they’re trickier than they first appear, and not all techniques are flattering for everyone. Here, a helpful breakdown on picking the right braids for you (with a little modeling help from some celebrities who wore them best).

A Coiffed Jessica Alba:

(image via instyleweddings.com)

This face-framing look works best on someone with strong-but-small, pronounced features and an oval face shape. Notice that the small French braid mimics the exact angle of Jessica’s jaw line creating a beautiful sense of balance and bringing the eye directly to the intricate bun at the nape of her neck. Be sure to avoid tight braids, which—besides being deeply uncomfortable—will pull your scalp in a very noticeable way.

Emmy Rossum’s Side Pony:

(image via instyle.com)

Braids are tricky for someone with a deep-set hairline. Starting them too close to your face will only draw attention to that fact. So instead, leave the hair closest to your forehead free, and gather the hair on top of your head to create a large, loose French braid that will go across your scalp. The look is supposed to be a bit messy, so don’t worry about it looking perfect.

Blake Lively’s Peek-a-Boo Braids:

(image via instyle.com)

This is the best trick in the book, and, as an added bonus, is universally flattering. Say you want to leave your hair down for a perfectly tousled effect, but there are a few frizzy, fly-aways that just won’t stay put. Braid them! Start about an inch away from your scalp, and do a tight braid all the way down. You can even use the braid to hold other hair in place.

Mary Kate Olsen’s Milkmaid:

A round face and lots of hair are necessary to pull off this tricky style. You really want the braid to be loose and messy here. Anything too perfect is going to feel costume-y. Once you’ve adhered the braid to the top of your head, make sure to tousle the surrounding pieces a bit. Otherwise it will look out of place. And definitely leave a few face-framing fly-aways.

Lots of love,
Loren