By Audrey Fine
If, like me, you're all thumbs where trying to do your own hair is concerned, look on the bright side: at least you live in Los Angeles where getting your every hair need tended to by a professional is possible—especially when it comes to copying the intricate, drool-worthy, super-complicated braid looks of the moment. If you have your heart set on rocking a waterfall braid but balk at the mere thought of attempting it with your own two hands, you're in luck; we've handpicked four local braid bars so that you can get the look you want without any of the frustration.
A braid from Nine Zero One (Instagram)
Nine Zero One
The newly re-launched Nine Zero One is West Hollywood's go-to dream spot for the best braid looks. For a mere $25 (and typically in less than 30 minutes) you can choose from a great many signature looks. Or, you can just bring in a page from a magazine or flash a Pinterest shot and they'll have you rocking it in no time. And since it's a favorite of stars like Julianne Hough, Nina Dobrev, Emma Roberts and Ashley Tisdale, you never know whom might bump into!
Bonus: Complimentary water, wine, champagne and other beverages are always flowing.
Nine Zero One, 8469 Melrose Place, West Hollywood, 310-855-9099
Actress Joanne Froggatt after the Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Striiike
Striiike's resident braid pro, Ashley Streicher, started 2015 on a high note by doing Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt's sensational look for the Golden Globes (she won!), and her phone hasn't stopped ringing since. Streicher says, "I thought a modern braid would be good for her; she's never done anything young and fresh … plus, she had beautiful earrings. I thought it was a perfect look for her." Braids at Striiike will cost about $50 and take around 15 minutes. Ashley's sister, Kristie Streicher, is the brow sister. Striiike told LAist she plans to do a lavender brow for Coachella, and she'll be posting pictures on her Instagram here.
Striiike 9278 Civic Center Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-205-2600
A crown braid (Photo by Emma Gallegos/LAist)
Hairroin
This is the place to go to get that Hollywood look—not necessarily that Red Carpet look though you can get that, too—but that edgy, amped-up style. Harroin has a couple of tiers of stylists on hand, depending on how complicated your vision is. I didn't have a clue what I wanted when I went in, so my stylist Nikki Fox improvised a crown braid, leaving a few wispy strands near my ears. I liked the products she used: a texturizing spray, some paste plus a flexible hairspray that kept my braids in line for a full 24 hours without making them feel crunchy. If you'd like, you can take your braids to the next level with a bunch of accessories they have on hand, including pretty broaches, flowers, ribbons, sparkles or even piercings (Harroin even offers jewelry for individual teeth while you're at it because that's a thing now). Braiding starts at $60 and goes up from there, depending on how long it takes or how expert your style. But if you drop by on Foxy Fridays when they have a $35 blowout special (with some free bubbly!), you can opt for a relatively simple braid instead of getting your hair blown out. —Emma Gallegos
Hairroin is located at 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Suite 2 in Hollywood
They're like friendship bracelets for your hair (Photo via Go Blush Yourself)
Go Blush YourselfGo Blush Yourself has a robust service menu including eyelash extensions and makeup, but they also offer hairwraps for $30. GBY's Courtney Booette Casgraux calls them "friendship bracelets for your hair." Wraps can be customized from a selection of over 50 colors, plus charms and crystals. You can even get seashells (we know because an LAist staffer was particularly interested in this option.) "Hair wraps are a fun way to accessorize your Coachella look," Booette Casgraux said. GBY also has those tooth gems, starting at $75. -JBR
Go Blush Yourself. 3120 W Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake. 2501 Main Street, Santa Monica. 323-816-9628.
