Braided Hairstyles for Summer: 6 Stunning Braids to Try with Extensions

Why Braids Are the Ultimate Summer Hairstyle

There's something about the combination of summer and braids that just works. Also sometimes referred to as "plaits", braids are perfect for the British weather at this time of year.

You can trust summer braids to keep hair off your face and neck when it's hot and sticky, as well as to be low-maintenance once styled. They also protect your natural hair from sun and humidity damage. Plus, braids just look effortlessly chic whether you're heading to a festival, the beach, or a summer wedding.

To these advantages of braids, we can add another game-changer: hair extensions. As great as summer braids can be, if you have fine or thin hair, your plaits may sometimes look flat or sparse. The right extensions, though, can transform your festival or beach braids into full and textured styles that actually hold their shape.

With over 17 years' experience here at Cliphair of helping customers find the perfect hair extensions, we've seen first-hand what a profound difference well-chosen hair pieces can make to a braid.

So, we decided to shine a spotlight on six braided hairstyles for summer that we're loving right now… and that we suspect you'll adore, too.

How Extensions Transform Your Braids

Extensions add instant volume and definition to braided hairstyles. They create thicker sections to work with, which helps make braids look fuller and more textured.

To pull off the best braids for thin hair, you'll need to have enough bulk to create a suitable plait. Adding a few wefts can be a great solution, avoiding the all-too common problem of fine hair disappearing into intricate styles.

For at-home braiding, the easiest options are clip-in hair extensions and halo hair extensions. Clip-ins allow for precise placement and control, whereas halos are particularly brilliant for speed, giving you added length and volume in under 60 seconds.

How to Prep Your Hair Extensions for Braiding

Before you start braiding, a little preparation will go a long way.

Take some time to choose the most suitable hair piece type, such as halo or clip-in hair extensions, and to get your placement right. This will enable you to ensure natural-looking braids that you can trust to stay comfortable and secure all day.

Whether you're a newcomer or slightly more experienced, you might be interested in our full guide to braiding with extensions.

Choosing the Right Extensions for Braids

The chances are that when you're using hair pieces to create braided hairstyles, you'll end up combining braids with clip-in extensions, halos… or both.

• Clip-in extensions are the most versatile option for braided hairstyles, because they allow you to control exactly where the extra hair sits. This makes it much easier to create balanced and fuller braids that don't show visible clips.
• Halo extensions are the fastest hair pieces to apply, in less than a minute. So, they can be a great choice if you're short on time. The added length works beautifully for braids for long hair. Cliphair's halo hair extensions come with bonus seamless clip-in pieces to help fill out the sides if needed.

If you're looking for the most natural blend in your braided hairstyles, Cliphair's Seamless Clip-In Full Head Sets are ideal. They're made with AAAAA grade, double drawn, 100% Remy human hair. This means you can count on the hair staying soft, smooth, and easy to braid without tangling.

Placement Tips for Braided Styles

Placement is crucial when you're braiding with extensions. It's all about making sure your hair pieces don't show through your braids.

Section your hair first, before clipping the extensions slightly lower than you normally would. This will help keep the clips hidden inside the braid.

Use smaller wefts closer to the hairline, and save fuller ones for the thicker parts of the plait. When you're creating braids with clip-in extensions, always test the placement before you start braiding.

Length and Weight Guide

For the majority of braided hairstyles, extensions measuring 18 inches to 22 inches tend to bring the best results. These hair pieces provide enough length for dramatic plaits without becoming unmanageable.

Alternatively, there might be times when you're aiming for chunky Dutch braids, bubble braids, or braided buns. On these occasions, heavier wefts such as Cliphair's Double Weft and Ultra Volume sets will work best.

Then, there are the lighter options in our range, such as our Classic or Seamless Clip-Ins. These are perfect for more delicate and intricate braids, like fishtail braids and half-up braided crowns.

6 Summer Braids to Try Right Now

In picking out these six braided hairstyles, we've aimed for a mix of easy everyday braids and prettier statement looks. Together, they cover every summer mood.

1. Boho Braids

Boho braids are everywhere during festival season, and we can understand why. They're one of the easiest braided hairstyles to make look good, with a little texture and looseness only adding to the vibe.

What Are Boho Braids?

Boho braids are soft, undone plaits with face-framing pieces and a relaxed, textured finish. Their "I woke up like this" feel helps make them the perfect summer-wedding, beach-day, and festival braids. Think effortless, but intentional.

How to Create Boho Braids with Extensions

1. Prep your hair with a texture spray for grip.
2. Attach clip-in extensions through the mid-lengths for added fullness.
3. Create a loose three-strand braid or fishtail.
4. Gently pull sections apart to achieve greater volume.
5. Leave a few wispy pieces around your face.

Product recommendation: go with our Seamless Clip-Ins or Halos for extra fullness. Balayage or highlighted extensions add lovely dimension to these braids. Why not take a look at our own balayage hair extensions here at Cliphair, or use our free colour match service to help you achieve the best possible look?

Don't fret too much about getting this style neat enough… some "imperfection" is the boho look, after all. If you're seeking out the ideal festival hair for 2026, you could hardly make a better choice.

2. Dutch Braids

As far as summer hairstyles are concerned, you could barely hope for a more practical one than a Dutch braid.

Rustle up one of these, and you can expect it to stay secure right through the day. It'll stand up well during workouts, relaxation, and almost everything in-between.

Single vs Double Dutch Braids

• A single Dutch braid is the classic "inside-out" French plait running down the centre back of the head.
• A double Dutch braid consists of two braids, one on each side. It's a sporty, practical, and on-trend look that is ideal for hot weather, because it keeps everything neatly in place.

The main difference between a French braid and a Dutch braid is the technique. A French braid involves the strands crossing over each other. In a Dutch braid, the strands cross underneath, creating their distinctive raised 3D effect.

How to Dutch Braid with Extensions

1. Part your hair and secure clip-in wefts in each section.
2. Dutch braid from the hairline downwards, crossing strands underneath.
3. Secure with a clear elastic.

Creating double Dutch braid buns involves following the same method as this, except that you coil the ends into buns at the nape.

Product recommendation: Cliphair's Double Weft or Ultra Volume Clip-Ins will give you pleasingly chunky and full Dutch braids.

3. Fishtail Braid

The fishtail braid looks complicated, but once you get the hang of it, it's surprisingly straightforward. Still, our full guide to how to fishtail braid will be helpful if you could do with a more detailed tutorial.

Why the Fishtail Braid Never Goes Out of Style

Beyond its intricate and impressive appearance, the fishtail braid is actually just two sections of hair woven together in tiny pieces. It can work beautifully as a side-braid, back-braid, or half-up style.

How to Fishtail Braid with Extensions

1. Gather hair to one side and clip in two or three wefts for thickness.
2. Split into two equal sections.
3. Take a small strand from the outside of one section, and cross it over to the other.
4. Repeat on the other side all the way down to the ends.

The key to creating a beautiful fishtail braid is remembering that the smaller the sections are, the more detailed it will appear. Gently pulling apart ("pancaking") the braid will give a fuller and more relaxed look.

Product recommendation: our Seamless Clip-Ins are perfect for this style, due to how naturally they blend into the finished braid.

4. Bubble Braid

Is traditional braiding not your thing? Well, the existence of the bubble braid style means it doesn't have to be. This look, on-trend for 2026, shows that easy braids can also be head-turning ones.

What Is a Bubble Braid?

A bubble braid isn't technically a "braid" at all. Instead, it's a ponytail sectioned with elastics to create "bubbles", with no actual braiding skill required.

You've likely seen this style on TikTok and Instagram. The bubble braid's huge popularity for summer festivals and events is understandable; it offers that magic combination of looking impressive, while actually being the most beginner-friendly style on this list.

How to Create a Bubble Braid with Extensions

1. Tie your hair into a high ponytail.
2. Clip in a ponytail extension for instant length and volume.
3. Place clear elastics every two to three inches down the ponytail.
4. Gently pull each section outward to create rounded "bubbles".

That's it. Of all braided hairstyles, this is one of the quickest, taking just minutes to do. So, whether you're a novice or just short on time, you'll be thankful for having the bubble style as a "go-to" when you're considering summer event or festival braids.

Product recommendation: plump for one of Cliphair's clip-in ponytail extensions (the Classic or Mega variety, depending on the volume you desire).

5. Half-Up Braided Crown

This style serves up all the romance of a crown braid, without the need to fully wrap your entire head in plaits.

The Modern Take on a Crown Braid

A half-up braided crown consists of two braids from each side, which meet across the top of your head. It doesn't require as much commitment as a full crown braid, but it's no less elegant.

If you're looking for braided hairstyles that suit summer weddings, garden parties, and special occasions, a half-up braided crown might be perfect for you.

How to Style a Half-Up Braided Crown

1. Clip in extensions through the mid-lengths for volume.
2. Take a section from each side above the ear, and braid (French, Dutch, or simple three-strand).
3. Wrap each braid across the crown and pin in place.
4. Leave the rest of your hair down in loose waves.

Product recommendation: a Halo Extension underneath allows you to achieve all-over volume. Adding a couple of Seamless Clip-Ins will thicken the braided sections nicely. Curl the lengths left down for a romantic, soft finish.

6. Braided Low Bun

The chances are that there will be especially hot days this summer when you want your hair completely off your neck. On those occasions, a braided low bun will be just the ticket.

Why This Is the Go-To Summer Updo

A braided low bun is created from one or more braids gathered at the nape. This look can be sleek and polished or soft and textured, depending on the occasion.

It's a style that ticks the boxes of being practical in hot weather, comfortable to wear, and an excellent match for casual and dressy settings alike.

How to Create a Braided Low Bun

1. Install your clip-in extensions.
2. Create two or three braids (French, Dutch, or rope braids).
3. Wrap these braids around each other at the nape, and pin securely.
4. Pull a few face-framing pieces loose for softness.

Product recommendation: use Double Weft Clip-Ins to help create a substantial and voluminous bun. Finish with a light-hold hairspray to set the look without making it feel stiff.

Which Braid Suits Your Hair Type?

Choosing the right braid will often come down to your hair type and length:

• If you have fine or thin hair, go for boho braids and fishtail braids. These are brilliantly suited braids for thin hair, because they're more forgiving of fine sections. Still, while these braided hairstyles don't rely on extremely thick areas of natural hair, extensions do add the extra bulk needed for fullness.
• Do you have thick hair? In that case, you'll be pleased by how Dutch braids and braided low buns enable you to create bold and defined plaits with ample texture.
• As for if you have medium-length hair, it's bubble braids and half-up braided crowns that will work especially well. These particular braided hairstyles don't require ultra-long lengths.
• Finally, as far as braids for long hair or extensions are concerned, all six styles produce beautiful results. Remember that the longer your hair is, the more dramatic your braid will look. So, you'll be spoilt for choice.