20 Gorgeous Braided Hairstyles to Switch Out Your Ponytail For

The loose, unraveled version of the fishtail braid: the bedhead fishtail. 

The beauty of this braid is that it's not overly perfect: it's pancaked enough that it avoids looking too precious and it makes a cool contrast to Seyfried's polished red carpet gown. 

The bigger and bolder, the better, says the wisdom of Janelle Monáe. Here she piles a tilted braid atop her head and lets the rest hang down on her shoulders in a side braid. 

The low braided bun: a less snooze-worthy take on the chignon. 

A beautiful long and segmented waterfall braid: the ideal way to accessorize a gown with a low-back. 

The unofficial hair mascot of your average music festival, and for good reason: it's pretty and nixes any sweaty hair moments in the sun. 

A perfectly coiled and braided (and giant) chignon to trump all chignons. 

Kind of like Beyoncé's high side ponytail, except Kravitz has swept up her natural braids atop her head. 

The best reason to dip dye your hair: the chance to try out a mermaid braided style. 

A stunning take on the fishtail braid: half of the hair coiled up in a tight sight braid and the other half left loose and flowing on top. 

We dubbed this one of the sweetest hairstyles to get married in and you can see why: the double braids and the flower tucked behind the ear are pure magic. 

A double braided beauty that combines a small French braid by the crown with a lengthy side fishtail braid (long haired girls, step right on up). 

A wispy, twisted French braid updo that will make them do a double-take. 

An especially creative way to wear braids? Pulling your hair into a braid that starts from the back of the crown and pinning it up along the side of your head. Difficulty Level: Expert. 

A cute little, 5-minute braid tuck is the best way to add some oomph to your hair without really lifting a finger. 

A stylized fishtail that focuses on adding wavy volume to the top of the crown and thick, puffy pancaking (or flattening out) to the braid itself. 

What's a braids story without a double appearance from the IRL Lara Croft of braids, Blake Lively? Pro tip from this look: try a high ponytail/braid hybrid by looping a length of hair around the top of it and securing it just the way you would hide a hair tie.

Exhibit A: The Milkmaid. It does wonders when you want not a single hair in your face. 

Exhibit B: Two exquisite pigtail buns that look like the modern version of the Princess Leia style. 

A *double* braided milkmaid for a Grecian-style hair crown.