Formal Hairstyles with Braids and Twists

Charlize Theron's Chic, Sophisticated, Blonde, Formal Updo is a gorgeous way to style your hair for a formal event. See how celebrity hairstylist Enzo Angileri created the look for the 17th Annual Critics Choice Movie Awards:1. To get Charlize Theron's hairstyle, start by shampooing your hair with a smoothing formula.2. Apply Moroccanoil through your damp hair to create a foundation for a soft look. This will also help protect your hair from the heat styling that's about to come. 3. Part your hair to the side and create a braid using a section of hair at the nape of your neck. Make this first braid gradually larger and looser as it reaches the opposite side. 4. Take the remaining hair and create a thinner braid above the first one. Direct both braids toward your ear, and twist them into a low bun. Secure it in place with bobby pins.5. Finish with a light misting of shine spray to add luminosity. See More Charlize Theron Hairstyles

Leona Lewis' side fishtail, also known as a herringbone braid if you really want to get technical, works best on long hair. Steal her style with tips from Head & Shoulders celebrity stylist Ryan Trygstad:
1. Apply a texturizing product through your hair and brush through, but don't blow dry. You want the braid to look textured and rough without hair getting tangled in your fingers while braiding. 2. Gather a section of hair from the top of one side of the head, and do a loose, simple French braid down towards the bottom of the opposite side of the head. Just pull in a strand of hair from the bottom every time you cross the braid over, don't add any hair from the top.3. Once you reach the nape of your neck, bring it over one shoulder and split the bottom half of your hair into two halves. Looking in the mirror, take a small section of hair from the outside of the left side and bring it over to the right side. Then bring a small section of hair from the right side, and add it to the left side.4. Do this all the way down, until you reach the end of your braid, and secure it with a thin elastic. If you have any strands that didn't quite make it into the braid, just let them frame your face -- sexy.

Christina Ricci's elegant twist embraces the natural texture of your hair. Steal her style with tips from Herbal Essences celebrity stylist Charles Baker Strahan:
 1. Work mousse into damp hair to provide extra lift. In the back of the head where you'll be placing bobby pins, backcomb hair a bit to create a base to work your pins into.2. Push hair off to one side, beyond center, where you back combed. Crisscross six bobby pins to create three X's in a vertical line.
3. Smooth the front of your hair back and gather hair in one hand. Twist it tightly inwards and upwards, and tuck the top strands into the twist, securing it with hairpins. 4. Spray with a strong-hold hairspray.

Rachel McAdams' braided hairstyle is a fun and flirty option for prom. Steal her style:
1. Split hair into three horizontal sections. Tie up all of your hair in the back section into a bun and clip the middle section away from the front as you work on the first section.
2. Start with the first section: Tilt your head to the left and start French braiding from the right side above your ear all the way across to the left side. When you reach your other ear, bring the end of the braid under your bun and bobby pin them down.
3. Release the middle section of hair and braid it in the same way, from right to left, and pin the ends down under your bun.4. Pull out a few strands for a wispy effect, add a pretty flower to the side of your head (you can use a real flower, but a fake one means it won't wilt in the middle of the night), and mist the entire look with hairspray.

Josie Maran's twisted style is perfect for prom. Get the look:

1. First create a front side part on dry hair and gather a small section of hair at the top. Twist it back and pin place.
2. Use a small-barrel curling iron to curl the rest of your hair. Run your fingers through curls the give them a little bit of a messy look.
3. Mist the entire look with hairspray to keep it in place while you're tearing it up on the dance floor. See More Josie Maran Hairstyles

Vivica Fox's updo is super easy and it's going to stay in place -- no matter what. Get the look: 1. Start by using a gel on damp hair. 2. To do the twist: Begin in front with a small section of hair and make a couple of twists. Then, take another small section and twist this into the original twist. Keep picking up hair and twisting it in until you reach behind your ear. Secure the end of the twist with a bobby pin.3. Take the rest of your hair into a side ponytail, just behind your ear. 4. Braid the ponytail and make into a chignon.5. Tuck the end of the twisted section under the chignon.6. Put on a little shine spray to smooth away any frizzies.

Kim Kardashian's hip hair roll is a retro twist on an updo that works best for thick, long hair. Steal her style:1. Start by applying an ample amount of strong hold hair gel to your entire head, saturating strands -- don't get shy with that gel, you will need a lot.2. With a fine tooth comb, create a deep side part starting where one of your eyebrows ends.3. Comb hair all the way to opposite side of head (away from part) and pin against your scalp; starting above your ear and ending midway across your forehead.4. Like you would a French twist, roll hair with both hands over pinned area, keeping one of your thumbs inside the roll to keep form.5. Slip thumb out and pin inside roll. Spray entire head with the strongest-hold hairspray you can find. See More Kim Kardashian Hairstyles

Jessica Simpson's French twist with tons of volume at the crown is timeless wedding hair. To get the look:1. On completely dry hair, tease hair at the crown. Go crazy here! Lots and lots of volume is what you are going for. Alternately, you can use that Bumpit you've been denying you bought. 2. Create a French twist by gently gathering the sides of your hair (making sure to keep the teased volume in the crown intact) and the hair at the nape of your neck and gently twist; bringing ends of hair toward the ceiling and tuck the ends into the twist. 3. Pin the side of the twist with bobby pins, tucking them into the hair to hide them.4. Finish with maximum hold hairspray.