3 Mesmerizing Braids That Are Really Effing Cool

Want to switch up your latest look for something fresh? Try these three crazy-cool braids:

The Butterfly Braid

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1. Blow dry your hair as straight as possible.

2. Section your hair, creating a slightly slanted side part from mid-brow at your hairline to the middle of the crown of your head. Using a rat tail comb for the most precise line.

3. Smooth fly-aways and baby hairs with an edge control styling gel. (I used Creme of Nature Flexible Styling Snot).

4. Start braiding your hair along your hairline to the right of your part. Make sure that you're adding in hair each time your cross a section of hair under the other two sections to make your braid bigger and longer, creating a side braid. Continue along the edge of your hairline until you reach the nape of your neck on the left side. Then repeat on the left side of your part, braiding down to the left side of the nape of your neck.

5. Create the butterfly effect by using the tips of your fingers to pull the braid apart to make your braid look even thicker.

6. Combine the two braids into one larger braid. Stitch the two braids together with a needle and thread. Then, braid all your hair to the ends; secure with a black rubber band.

7. Pull the braid apart even more for a looser look, and then use the edge control and a rat tail comb to style your baby hairs.

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A Stitch Braid & Coils

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1. Part your hair down the middle (from your hairline to the nape of your neck). Then, split each side into two sections, creating the part in line with the middle of your brow, extending it all the way down to the nape of your neck. Use a rat tail comb to create straight lines. You should end up with four sections total.

2. Use a rat tail comb and a conditioning gel to style your baby hairs. I used AmPro Extra Hold Shine'N Jam Conditioning Gel here.

3. Braid each section. Apply a small amount of product to the section you're starting with first, then braid each section from your hairline straight back to the nape of your neck, and all the way down to the ends. You can also add in extensions to your braids, depending on how long you want them to be.

4. Hold the end of each braid and roll it in a circular motion to form a coil at the nap of your neck. Use a needle and thread to secure it. Apply mousse followed by a durag and blow dry for two to three minutes or until dry to set your style.

Superstar Braids

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1. Section your hair into a star shape that's in line with your left temple just above your ear. Using a rat tail comb, create a part at an angle going upwards. Then, three-quarters of an inch away from your hairline, part out a star and braid it into a box braid.

2. Create another braid directly above your left ear and link the box braid that's coming out of the star braid, adding in extensions as you go. Continue to braid it to the ends.

3. Take a sliver of hair along the right side of the star, and braid it in line with the shape. Continue braiding to the nape of your neck.

4. Make a straight part from your hairline to your crown, and then turn it into a zig-zag part to the nape of your neck.

5. Start braiding the sliver of hair that falls along the left side of the star toward your hairline, and then turn the braid so it goes back toward the crown of your head. Adding in the end of the braid from step 3, continue to braid until the ends.

6. Style your baby hairs into place.

7. Part out a small section for a micro cornbraid starting at your hairline, next to the larger braid you created in step 5, braiding it away from your head after you reach the crown.

8. Part out another star-shaped section on the right side of your head.

9. Braid a larger section next to the micro cornbraid, and weave the micro cornbraid into the larger braid when you reach the crown of your head. Braid until you reach the ends. You should now have three medium-thick braids hanging from the left nape of your neck.

10. Create a slanted part on the right side of your head and braid in a zig-zag formation, braiding it away from your head when you reach the crown.

11. Make another braid along your hairline, braiding that all the way down to the nape of your neck. Style your baby hairs on the right.

12. Braid the remaining section of hair above your right ear from your hairline to your ends, again, adding in extensions as you go.

13. Apply mousse to the baby hairs and cover them with black wrapping paper until they're dry.

14. Dip the ends in boiling water to make the braids more flexible and to seal the ends.

15. Remove the wrapping paper.

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Styling: James Demolet

Makeup: Tatiana Donaldson

Hair: Stasha Harris

Senior Video Producer:Jason Ikeler

Shot And Edited By: Rashawn Colton

Music By: Rashawn Colton