Halo Braids & Fishtail Braids Are Making A Celeb-Approved Comeback
Our take
The beauty pendulum, as it so often does, has swung. After a period dominated by the aspirational minimalism of the “Clean Girl” aesthetic, we're witnessing a delightful return to artistry and playful expression. The resurgence of halo braids and fishtail braids, fueled in part by Zendaya’s captivating press tour for ‘The Odyssey,’ feels less like a fleeting trend and more like a recalibration—a move away from the pursuit of an unattainable ideal of effortless perfection and towards celebrating individual creativity. It’s a welcome evolution, one that aligns with a broader cultural shift towards embracing personality and self-expression, a sentiment we've also observed in the rise of thoughtfully curated, yet accessible, vacation wardrobes, as seen in My OOO Is Set—These Under-$200 Finds Are Coming on Vacation With Me. This move away from austere minimalism resonates with the quiet luxury ethos we champion; it's less about erasing individuality and more about subtly enhancing it with intentional details. The beauty of these braided styles is their inherent versatility – they can be dressed up for a formal event or softened for a more casual, everyday look, mirroring the adaptability we value in a curated wardrobe.
This shift also speaks to a deeper cultural moment, one where the relentless pursuit of “flawless” has begun to feel exhausting. The clean girl aesthetic, while initially refreshing, eventually risked becoming prescriptive, dictating a narrow definition of beauty. The revival of intricate braids, with their inherent imperfection and handcrafted feel, feels like a conscious rejection of that rigidity. It's about celebrating the artistry of hairstyling, the skill of the stylist, and the beauty of texture and movement. This isn't about achieving a perfectly polished look; it’s about embracing the nuances of individual hair and creating something visually captivating. The emphasis on intricate detail also echoes the elevated craftsmanship we admire, a sensibility that extends beyond beauty and into fashion, as demonstrated by the recent embrace of The Row's understated elegance in It's Official: Suddenly Everyone Is Wearing These The Row-Coded High-Street Shoes This Summer. Both trends highlight a desire for quality and timelessness over fleeting trends. And just as the ESPY Awards proved the power of individual style choices – showcasing vibrant looks from Alysa Liu, Simone Biles, and Jordyn Woods – The Best 2026 ESPY Awards Red Carpet Looks Prove the Summer of Sports Is So Stylish – the return of intricate braids signals a broader acceptance of diverse beauty expressions.
The emotional resonance of these braids shouldn't be underestimated. They evoke a sense of nostalgia, reminding us of childhood memories and simpler times, while simultaneously feeling fresh and modern. There’s a quiet confidence in showcasing a style that requires skill and attention to detail. It’s a statement of intentionality, a deliberate choice to adorn oneself with something beautiful and meaningful. This aligns perfectly with the introspective and emotion-driven approach we strive for, prioritizing inner states and personal expression over external validation. The visual poetry of a perfectly executed halo braid, the subtle texture of a fishtail, speaks volumes without needing verbose explanation—a hallmark of our brand voice. It’s about feeling beautiful and empowered from within, radiating that sense of self-assurance outward.
Ultimately, this trend feels less about returning to a specific style and more about embracing a broader philosophy of beauty: one that celebrates artistry, individuality, and the inherent beauty of imperfection. It’s a move away from prescriptive aesthetics and toward a more fluid, expressive interpretation of personal style. The question now is: how will this wave of expressive beauty continue to evolve? Will we see even more intricate and personalized braid styles emerge, or will the pendulum swing again, ushering in a new aesthetic altogether? The beauty landscape is ever-shifting, but one thing is certain: the embrace of artistry and self-expression is a powerful and enduring force.
An interesting (and, arguably, inevitable) shift has been occurring in the beauty world; namely, away from the neutral, minimalist “Clean Girl” aesthetic and toward more expressive and creative looks. And, as is often the case in the style space, people have been looking back to move forward. In makeup, that’s manifested as the return of Y2K-era frosted vibes; for manicures, there’s been a resurgence of the square tips of the 1990s; and in hair, it’s meant a celebrity-led comeback of the kind of braided hairstyles that dominated Pinterest boards in the 2010s. Specifically: Halo and fishtail braids. “We’re seeing a shift back toward hairstyles that feel polished but effortless,” says Rashuna Durham, master hairstylist and amika pro educator. “Fashion and beauty are embracing softer, more romantic silhouettes.”
Among the hairstyles that best capture that energy is the halo braid. A red-carpet and festival-season mainstay in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the updo — which consists of a braid wrapped around the top of the head like a crown—fell off a bit during the slick-back era. But it’s made a surprising comeback in the last several months, perhaps most notably during Zendaya’s press tour for The Odyssey.
Halo braids are “incredibly versatile; you’ll see them dressed up for weddings and events, but also paired with casual outfits for an elevated everyday look,” says Durham. It’s also a pretty low-maintenance protective style that’s a relatively easy DIY. “When you’re braiding, don’t make it too tight — a softer braid always photographs better and feels more current,” says Durham. “Once you’ve secured it, gently loosen the braid with your fingertips to create fullness and give it that effortless, lived-in finish. To lock everything in place while still keeping movement, I finish with amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray. It gives flexible hold, controls flyaways, and keeps the style looking polished without feeling stiff.” (Another pro tip: Make sure your hair isn’t too clean or too dry, she says. Spritz a little detangler to get your strands in halo condition.)
The equally festival-friendly fishtail braid is also back. Seen on the likes of Taylor Swift — for whom a fanciful braid has never gone out of fashion — Ayo Edibiri, and, you guessed it, Zendaya, the woven braid style is capital “R” romantic; as in, you’d half expect to see one on a nymph in a Waterhouse painting. When creating a fish tail braid yourself, consider skipping the ponytail and “just kind of going at it so it's still kind of loose at the nape of the neck,” as hairstylist Bob Racine told TZR backstage at an Ulla Johnson show. You can also add waves with a hot tool first before braiding to keep things from looking too smooth, as hairstylist Justine Marjan did for Rebecca Minkoff.
Scroll on to see some of the best modern fishtail and halo braids, as seen on celebrities.
Zendaya, Part 1
As previously noted, Zendaya’s press run for The Odyssey has arguably been the single strongest driving force behind summer’s Pinterest-board hair revival. For the film’s London premiere, hairstylist Coree Moreno gave the star a half-up, half-down halo braid style “rooted in softness, caramel hues, and wispy separation” (per his IG post).
Olivia Wilde
At a Fendi event in New York City, Wilde put a fresh twist on the halo braid — literally. Instead of the traditional three-strand plait, she wrapped her crown in a breezy two-strand twist. A pair of tendrils left out at the front added a romantic touch.
Jennifer Lopez
By bedecking J.Lo’s halo braid with bejeweled brooches (try saying that three times fast) and opting for a super sleek and glossy finish, Marjan took the style from “maiden” to “diva.”
Ayo Edibiri
At the 2026 Met Gala, Edibiri matched the Greek goddess vibes of her white Chanel gown with a feather-festooned fishtail braid, courtesy of celebrity hairstylist Jacob Aaron.
Chappell Roan
When a big part of your brand is “Medieval princess,” it’s safe to say you know a thing or two about whimsical braids. One of Roan’s all-timers has to be the fishtail braids that accented her long, fluffy curls at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway crafted the fairytale-worthy mane.
Zendaya, Part 2
Zendaya wore a super long, super full, and super dreamy take on the fishtail style to The Odyssey’s New York premiere. To match the “ethereal, sculptural presence” of her winged Pamella Roland gown, Moreno “wanted the hair to feel soft, lived-in, and full of movement,” he said in a statement. He used Nexxus AIR SHAPE Workable Hold Texture Spray to achieve lightweight, airy texture and volume.
Taylor Swift
At music festivals, on the red carpet… and courtside at Madison Square Garden? Taylor Swift — who has remained devoted to Pinterest-worthy braids throughout her career, regardless of the trends —wore a peppy fishtail pony to Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
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