Yes, I think the $150 plaits must be cornrows or something similar. But the word "plait" can also be used for a so-called French braid (the kind where you start small then gradually braid in more as you follow the scalp front-to-back, then when you reach the back hairline it becomes an ordinary free-hanging braid the rest of your hair's length). Some people can manage to braid their own French braids, and they do tend to stay neat longer. Don't know how they hold up to swimming in salt water, but I wouldn't mind swimming at the Croatian coast myself :D Whaddya say, UK. I'll braid your hair, then you can test how it holds up in the Adriatic? Mine's too short, but yours is getting back to braidable length.
