This Sunday, throughout the land of the free and the home of the brave, from sea to shining sea, eyes will be glued to the 57th annual NFL Super Bowl. And while I’m sure, yeah, maybe a few of those viewers will be invested in the football game, we all know the real draw is Rihanna’s grand return to the stage during halftime—which is why we’ve got a Rihanna-inspired hairstyle for you on today’s episode of The Braid Up.
Taking a note from Rih’s intricate promo look, Braid Up stylist Tiffany Anderson put together a showstopping braided masterpiece. Like FR, this hair is so A-list, it’s not even funny. Watch to see how it was even possible to whip this up—and keep scrolling for some of the tools and knick-knacks you’ll need to create this complex style at home.
1. Wrap up your edges. This look starts with a solid foundation, so to keep your natural hair from lifting after the braiding is done, secure the front part of your hair with a wrap to help mold the style. This way, your situation’s sleek and secure after all of the styling is complete.
2. Stock up on hair. This looks calls for extra-lengthy braids, so you’ll need a few packs of pre-stretched Kanekalon hair to get the job done. And if you’d like to give this style a personal spin, you can always switch up the color of your braiding hair too.
3. Use craft wire to give your braid structure. These braids have got to be literally built. To do that, you’ll need to intertwine craft wire through the braid to sculpt the updo’s design. As noted in today’s episode, make sure your wire isn’t too thin (18 gauge or 1.0 mm is recommended).
4. Lay those edges down. It’s the cherry on top! And with a good edge brush and edge control product (like the four below), styling your baby hairs will be a breeze.
Hair: In collaboration with Stasha Harris of Magic Fingers Studio
Stylists: Latosha Star, Chastity Morales, and Monique Williams
Makeup: Ashley Johnson
Videographer: Rob Mroczko
Production assistant: Jay Aguirre
Director of digital series: Tara O’Connell
Annabel Iwegbue is a culture editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers pop culture, lifestyle, relationships, and digital trends. She previously wrote for Harper's Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film. She's originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Cinema Studies from New York University. You can check out some of Annabel’s work here and also find her on Instagram and Twitter.
