The braid trend: cool or corny?

Braids have been picking up steam over the last five years or so, thanks to Lauren Conrad, Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate Olsen, and other famous boho girls of Los Angeles. Since hip designers featured braids on the spring runway, they are officially the It hairstyle of the season. "It's a braid frenzy! My favorite variation was Alexander Wang's because it's sexier, Bohemian and anybody can do it," celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger told the New York Post. But how do you look cool and stylish and avoid looking like Pippi Longstocking? That's the tricky part. Sally Hershberger provided tips on how to create the Alexander Wang look, so you can check them out here. I have recently been experimenting lots with braids lately (especially since Style.com blogged about fishtail braids), and developed a few unofficial rules:

1. No pigtails. In fact, I'm a firm believer no one should wear pigtails past the age of 10.

2. The looser the better. Braids can have a way of making you look either uptight or very formal, so I lay off the high French braid action and start around the nape of my neck unless I'm going to a fancy event.

3. Off-center braids look less dorky. I can't really describe why, but like the old trends of wearing a baseball hat to the side or unhooking one strap off your overalls, this is how the cool kids are doing it.

Take a look through these braided looks for additional styling tips and what not to do. [NY Post]