You can always count me in for 1) a Keanu Reeves movie and 2) an iced latte, but a fun bun? These days, they’re hit or miss for me. Sometimes, you can’t beat a quick and messy bun for convenience, but there are also days when haphazardly shoving my hair up just won’t do.
I’m the type of gal who absolutely NEEDS to get out of her pajamas first thing in the morning; otherwise, I feel absolutely useless, and lately it’s been the same way for my hair. I need to style my hair in order to feel productive, which is why I’ve been all about braids.
The half-up Dutch braid I’ve been wearing for a while doesn’t take too much time to do (less than 10 minutes), and I feel mostly functional when I’m wearing it.
I found a good how-to video for it on YouTube last week. It’s the first style in this roundup of 10 styles, and I modified it slightly by using small hair ties instead of bobby pins.
Dude, I’ve been watching SO MANY braiding videos on YouTube lately, and you don’t even wanna know how deep I stumbled down the rabbit hole last weekend! I bookmarked a bunch of cute styles that looked easy enough to do…
These all look totally doable.
I say “yes” to crown braids!
The second hairstyle is on my to-do list.
Another video of the pull-through style
These are so cute and creative, and it’s refreshing to see braids on shorter hair.
Before I forget, here’s one small word of advice if you’re going to braid: Turn away from the mirror, because if you’re anything like me, that makes it easier and faster. When I just feel my way through the braid, instead of looking at my reflection as I go, the braid turns out better.
I think it’s because, when I use a mirror, I’m hyper aware of how the braid is coming along, and I’m more likely to take it out and start over, whereas when I turn away from the mirror, the braid tends to work itself out. And it does so every single time. It’s the strangest thing!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I love the look of braids but Is struggle with doing them! Definitely going to check out some of those videos…
oh snap! braid videos are incredible! and when you have an active(read squirmy) little girl with long straight hair, the more tricks you can master the better. If you ever visit the Dickens Faire in SF at holiday time, be sure to get into the chair at the braiding booth. You will be amazed at all the gorgeous results, and how fast they can get you in and out. PS while you are on you tube check out Samara Weaver’s braided updo hairstyle in Ready or Not trailer. gorgeous!
Ooh, thank you for the recommendation, Lorraine! BOOKMARKING!
I went down that hole about a year ago, and I love Milabu. Unfortunately my hair is super fine and I just can’t get the same effect.
Hi Lillie,
Have you tried upping the volume of your hair up first with a texturizing spray? Those really help a lot with braids. I use them all the time to kinda rough my hair up and add lots of volume, especially with the front pieces.
Your hair is gorgeous and I love the braided bun in the photo. I haven’t done braids since Dear Daughter learned how to do her own. Going to resist watching any videos on the subject, I don’t need yet another rabbit hole to fall down into. Lol.
I think you need to get a horse just so you can braid its mane!
#teampony
Haha. Of course I do. Although we rarely braided Lucy’s mane, since she was a jumper and it was easier for her to stretch her neck over the jumps without braids. (Our head trainer rode for New Zealand in the Seoul olympics and he insisted braids pull on the horses neck, so we never had to pay a braider.) When she retired to pasture we let her mane grow and Dear Daughter did a running braid one day.
I love these braids and I’m getting so good with practice. Great for second day hair!
I wear a lot of braids, but for most of these styles my air is just too thin to look good. Check out Kayley Melissa (?) on You Tube, she does amazing braided hair styles too.
Your hair always looks great braided. And I think it’s awesome for people with thick hair. The braids always look full and nice – plus it helps to keep your scalp cool. For fine hair like mine, it’s like having a single cornrow. 🙂 But, agreed 100% on not looking in the mirror. We all braided our hair a lot back in HS for sports and the best ones were done on the bus, without mirrors.