DAY 6 / UPDO WITH A BRAID

Hi, Dirty Girls! One of the most asked questions is: “how do I wear my hair up?” So, today I’m going to show you how to braid a braid into an “up” style that makes sure you’re looking cute all day long. You will only need a small rubber band and a few bobby pins! Are you ready? Let’s go!

"Updos are cute, fun, and transition seamlessly from grocery shopping to cute coffee dates!"

Step 1: Braids

A few twists will do the trick

First, take a triangular section at the front of your head, where your fringe would be if you had it. (If you do have them, incorporate them in!) Split that section off into three to get ready to braid. To get a pretty inverted, Dutch braid, you want to cross the strands of hair underneath. Bring each of the strands underneath to the middle! Each time you finish a group of three (a single “braid”), add a little more hair that’s next to it into the braid to continue to bring that around the top of your head. If you want to do a French braid, cross the strands over and to the middle! Use your pointer finger for more control to keep your braids clean. Continue (either braid you will like) until you get right above the ear. 

After your braid gets to your ear, it’s very difficult to keep braiding in this same position; your hands can’t reach! So, I have a trick which involves some yoga. Do a “sun salutation” with the hand on the opposite side of the braids and bring it up, over, and behind your head to reach those braids! Let that hand take the sections of hair you are braiding, freeing up that first hand to feed more strands into the braid.

Step 2: Wrap it Back

Let’s take it back now, y’all!

Continue the braids, now with your hands adjusted, down in a diagonal to wrap around the back of your head. Again, keep the braids clean and neat! This might take a while. Once you reach the bottom corner on the other side of your head, switch those hands again, except this time, it’s on the other side.

Step 3: That Last Braid

Simplicity

After you have reached all the way to just at the ear on the opposite side that you started on, just do a simple braid that uses the rest of your hair so that you are left with a pretty side braid! Tie it off with your small rubber band to secure it all!

Step 4: Updo

Elegant

Take that simple braid on the side of your head and tuck it up into the rest of the braids up on the back of your head. Use a “stuffing in” motion to make sure those braids will stay! Use your bobby pins to secure it in. A good tip when using bobby pins is to place them wherever your hands need to be to keep the hair up! This way, your hair is secured, and you don’t add unnecessary bobby pins.

Step 5: Pull them out

Make a statement!

Go back through all of the braids and pull them out! When you first braid them, they are always a lot tighter and less pretty than they can be. So, now is the time to take them to their fullest potential. Use a pinching motion on the two sides of each braid and pull lightly so they become fuller and wider. Go through all of the braids, and then spray for some hold. They don’t have to be perfect. That’s what makes them look fun!

And you’re done! Look at those adorable braids. Updos are cute, fun, and transition seamlessly from grocery shopping to cute coffee dates!