When my daughter (who has not yet been inducted into the world of YA and therefore unaware of the craze) asked me to give her a fishtail...I may very well have invented a braid of my own. I call it the mermaid. It is basically a low French braid slash fishtail. I had great success with wet hair. The next day we tried the fishtail, which came out to her satisfaction.
The Mermaid- A combination of a French Braid and the Fishtail (below.)
She loved this one- it was easier than braiding- if that's not your thing.
Simply brush all the hair backward (again wet hair is very helpful.)
Working from the outside take 1/4 inch strands and cross in an X shape going right-left (or left right) grabbing new strands each time. It isn't officially a braid, but more of a crossing of the hair. Directions can be found here.
Here are more thoughts I have about hair.
Please share any holiday or fiction-inspired hair you below!