3 Messy-Sexy Braids You Need to Try this Season!

In the world of music festival style, ​boho braids are like the hair equivalent of fringe — so necessary. And since these events don't exactly lend themselves to showering, you won't have to worry about what to do with your hair on, say, day three thanks to these anything-but-stiff upsweeps created by Meaghan Masterson, stylist for Sexy Hair​​. The best part is, the more you sweat, the better they get. ​

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Step 1: Prep & Curl

Apply a texturizing product to your hair, massaging it through from roots to ends to add effortless volume and texture. Next, using a 1-inch barrel curling wand, curl sections of hair — some going away from the face, some towards the face — to give your hair believable body. "This creates different curl patterns, which look more natural and undone," says Masterson. Just make sure to always curl the hair closest to your face away from it, so it keeps the focus on your features, rather than closing them in.

Step 2: Add Texture

Take a dime-sized amount of texture paste, which infuses hold, separation, and shine,​ and rub it in between your palms to emulsify it. This allows the product to distribute evenly throughout your hair.

Step 3: Sweep Up Your Strands

Sweep your hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck, letting pieces fall out naturally.

Step 4: Braid Away

Starting at the nape of the neck, create a three-strand braid. "As you braid, the soy paste on your hands will coat the hair in a natural way, keeping it from looking too product-heavy," says Masterson. "Having the product on your hands also makes the hair easier to work with since it won't slip," she says. Secure ends with an elastic and pull the sides along the braid to loosen and weather it a bit for that slept-in effect.

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Step 1: Part & Powder

Create a deep side part and sprinkle on some texturizing powder, ​at the root. Massage it into your hair at the crown to give it added height.

Step 2: Divide to Conquer

Apply some texture paste,​ to your hands, rub together to emulsify, and gather your hair to the dominant side of your part at the nape of your neck. Separate it into two sections.

Step 3: Finesse a Fishtail

A fishtail looks daunting, but it's actually super-easy to achieve. The tinier the strands of hair you work with, the more intricate the braid will look, says Masterson. Take a teeny piece from the right side and cross it over to the left and vice versa, repeating all the way down the hair section of hair.

Step 4: Set to Perfect

Once the braid is secured with an elastic, pull the edges to loosen and set with hair spray. Neat and tidy reads: so stiff; this style brings the sexy in a roll-out-of-bed kind of way. ​

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Step 1: Place Your Part

Divide your hair into a severe side part. Then, apply the texture paste​ to your hands​ and work it through your hair in the direction your hair is laying, says Masterson. "This will help smooth the cuticle," she says.

Step 2: Create the Braid

Starting at the part, craft a three-strand braid across your forehead, grabbing more hair from the side of your hairline as you go. Braid all the way to the other side, incorporating the hair at the back of your head. Secure with an elastic. Next, place the tail of the braid around the other side of your head, so that it connects to the front braid. Pull out a few pieces in the front to soften, and tuck the end of the braid underneath with bobby pins.

Step 3: Get Set

To keep the braid in place, spray hair spray, to a small coloring brush and go over the braid. "Applying the spray using a brush will keep the braid from looking stiff and help add shine," says Masterson. This year's version of the flower crown!​