Hot summer months call for easy updos that keep your neck and back cooler. This braided updo is casual yet adds a little polish to your style. Here's how to get this summer chic style.

This braided updo is easy to create and becomes even better as little hairs fall and create a softer, more lived-in look. You can do this hairstyle on hair of all lengths—from shoulder length to really long. I created this hairstyle on straight hair, but it looks super cute on curly hair as well. This braided updo features a lace braid, which is similar to a French braid, but you only add new pieces of hair to one section of the braid. Follow these easy steps to create the look:

1. To do the lace braid, begin on one side of your part and pick up three strands of hair. Start by crossing the lower strand over the middle strand as you would when doing a standard French braid. Cross the upper strand over the middle strand, then add hair to the lower strand, and cross it over the middle strand.

2. Continue the braid, only adding hair to the lower strand. This braid style makes it easy to tuck and hide the ends of the braid when you're done.

3. When there is no more hair to add, finish with a traditional three-strand braid and secure the braid with a small elastic.

4. Repeat on the other side, creating another lace braid that hugs the side of your head and ends in a three-strand braid.

5. Cross the braids at the nape of the neck.

6. Hide the ends under the lace braids and secure with bobby pins. Tip: If your hair is long like mine, fold it in two before you bobby pin it under the lace braid.

For more hair how-to help by Ulrika, go to Yet Another Beauty Site.