Celeb Stylist Ashley Streicher’s Triple French Braid

Hollywood hairstylist Ashley Streicher is known for her way with braids. Here, she shares her tips for perfecting the style of the moment.
Written By CHRISTINE WHITNEY

Hollywood hairstylist, STRIIIKE salon co-owner, and Violet Files columnist Ashley Streicher is renowned for her braiding prowess. She’s a favorite of such ingenues as Lily James and Kiernan Shipka, and even two of her most discerning clients, siblings and STRIIIKE cohorts Kristie (Tinseltown’s brow master) and Jenn (makeup artist extraordinaire), regularly request their sister’s French braids. As reported recently in their column, all three Streichers consider the style ideal for skinny dipping, asserting that, like a fine wine, it only gets better with time.

This multiple-braid marvel is meant to be modern, slightly messy, and long-wearing—no sectioning comb required, just chin-length or longer locks and a sense of adventure.

Tip number one: Despite what you may think, short hair can be braided. “You can usually go pretty short; you’ll just have to do more sections,” says Ashley, who reports that even a chin-length bob will do, provided you braid it in three separate sections. Long hair? One to two braids work nicely, though Ashley vouches for the fun, modern look of two or more braids connecting in the back. Superlong locks? Just keep wrapping the hair around the head, pinning it to the sides.

Get Ashley’s tips for the perfect take at home as she demos her inverted Freestyle French braid on her sister Kristie.