D AY 24
D AY 24 - THE MESSY MESSY BRAIDED UPSTYLE How to: 1. Start by taking a section section from the top to to your left ear and do a waterfall braid. This is a basic braid-waterfall hybrid. Take a little piece of hair out of the bottom section of the braid as you go and leave it loose. Secure the end of the braid with a clear elastic. 2. Repeat this braid on the right hand side, making making another waterfall/ regular braid. 3. With the rest of your hair at the back, split it into three equal sections and do three regular braids. Secure the ends of these with clear elastics. Tip: Don’t Tip: Don’t forget to stretch all your braids out to really emphasise the shape of the braids. 4. Take the centre braid at the back back and twist it around and pin in place in a small bun. 5. Repeat with the other two braids either side, pinning them in level braided buns on the back. Tip: It’s Tip: It’s best to do the middle braided bun rst as this makes it easier to keep all three buns level. 6. Take your side waterfall/regular braids and pin these round the back of your head above the braided buns. 7. With the loose tendril sections, sections, grab some bobby pins and roughly Twist & Pin them in place. Variations: This is a messy look style, so you can keep some tendrils loose or pin them all up in place. You can skip the waterfall braid part of this style and just do a regular braid instead.
D AY 25
D AY 25 - THE DOUBLE DIAG DIA GONAL DUTCH BRAIDS How to: 1. Start by making a part from a deep side side part on the right diagonally across the back of your head to the left side of your neck. Clip one section out of the way while you do the rst braid. 2. Starting on the right side, take take a section and start to Dutch braid your hair (full details of the Dutch braid are on page 11). 11). 3. Instead of adding hair from both sides, just add in in hair from the right of the braid. 4. Angle your braid as close as possible to the part line so that it’s it’s sitting almost right on the part. Braid your hair following that part line diagonally. Finish in a regular braid and secure with a clear elastic. 5. Repeat with the hair on the left hand side, taking hair into the braid only from the left side this time. 6. Finish in a regular braid and secure with a clear clear elastic. Tip: Try Tip: Try and start the braids around the same point and angle them close together sitting right on the part line. 7. Stretch the braids out and stretch them together. together. Tuck the ends of the braids under and pin in place. Tip: I’ve Tip: I’ve used some pins to make them sit as close as possible together and almost look like they’re joined. Variations: If your hair is long, you can pin them together to form one long braid or secure in a side ponytail and leave your hair loose. You can also twist them up round to sit more behind your left ear to form a large braided bun. This style looks gorgeous in straight, wavy or curly hair.
D AY 26
D AY 26 - THE FRE FRENCH LACE FRINGE BRAID How to: 1. Start by making a deep side part on the right hand side. 2. Take a small section at the start of the part and split it into three. Start the French braid here but only adding in hair from the right hand side. Tip: Angle the braid right onto your face and in front of your hairline. You want the braid to sit grazing along the edge of your eyebrow, coming down the left side of your face. 3. Keep adding in very small small sections as you you French braid until you reach around your cheekbone or jaw line. 4. Finish in a regular braid and secure with a small small clear elastic.
Variations: This looks great in straight or curly hair. I’ve curled my hair with a large curling iron and brushed through to create these waves. This is also known as a lace braid and looks beautiful if you start with a centre part and mirror the braid on both sides around your face.
D AY 27
D AY 27 - THE FAUX FAU X UNDERCUT - CORNROW COMBOVER How to: This is a fun style that will create a side sweep look, almost like an undercut. 1. Start by making a deep side on the right side and clipping all your hair over to the other side. 2. Make a second part in the middle of that smalller side section and do two small Dutch braids going around towards the back of your head. 3. When you’re about one third of the way round with each Dutch braid, lift up all your hair and pin in place with a bobby pin across the back. Tip: I Tip: I nd by putting a bobby pin slightly diagonally into the braid helps to hold best. 4. Arrange your hair over the top so that the ends of the braids are hidden.
Variations: I’ve curled the ends of my hair here to give a softer wave. This braided hairstyle looks amazing in curly hair as you can see on page __.
D AY 28
D AY 28 - THE FRENCH CROWN BRAID How to: 1. Start on top of your right ear and braid over your forehead all the way around to your left ear. 2. Split the section into three and French braid, adding in hair from both your hairline and from the crown behind. Tip: I Tip: I like to sit this braid about an inch back from the hairline so that I can have a little bit of height in the hair around my face that’s added in. 3. As you reach around the back, keep following your hands round and keeping the tension there. 4. Follow your hairline. By the time you reach reach the bottom right side of your neck, you’ll have added in all your hair. 5. Finish in a regular braid and secure with a small small clear elastic. 6. Stretch out the braid, tuck the end under and pin pin in place under the start of the braid behind your right ear.
Variations: If your hair is very long, you can nish in a small bun underneath or start a double crown and pin in place around the top. If you have shorter hair, by keeping the braid closer to the crown of your head, you should be able to make it all the way round without running out of hair or the braid falling out so easily.
D AY 29
D AY 29 - THE S-CURV S-CURVE BRAID How to: This braid looks complicated, but it’s just a French braid with hair going in from one side. The trick is keeping the tension on the braid as you twist. 1. Start on the left left hand side and and take a section section and split it into three. 2. Start to French braid braid but only adding adding in sections from from the top. Tip: Try Tip: Try not to add in too much hair because you want to keep a similar thickness of hair as you go all the way down. 3. Braid horizontally across from left left to right. When you reach the back back of your head, you want to take in one more section as you curve from the right. That section should be from just around your temple. This section will be the furthest right of the braid you should be adding in hair from. 4. Then as you start the curve – the next piece you want to add in will be from the top of the braid again, as you can see from picture three. Tip: It’s essential that you only add hair from the top. When you want to change direction, just start adding hair to the other side of the braid. 5. Continue braiding horizontally horizontally back towards your left ear ear, from right to left. 6. Start the second curve when you reach reach level with where the braid starts above. The section you add from b ehind your left ear should be the furthest left you add hair in from. 7. Continue braiding horizontally horizontally again (now (now from left to right), still only adding in hair from the top. Add in all the rest of the hair until you braid in all the remaining hair at the bottom. 8. Finish in a regular braid and and tuck the end under, under, pinning in place just under your right ear. Variations: If you add in smaller sections, I bet you could even do three or maybe even four turns in your hair. hair. You could end in a side ponytail if your hair is very long.
D AY 30
D AY 30 - THE CR CROWN BRAID How to: 1. Brush all your hair around forming a circle circle around the top of your head. Hopefully you won’t have too much hair sitting on your face, but this will make it easier to braid evenly around. 2. I like to start on the back right hand side as I nd it’s easier to hide the join around this point. Take a section from the the top and split it into three. 3. Start to braid underneath, forming a Dutch braid. Angle the braid at against your head and towards your face. 4. Add in sections from the top only as you keep braiding around towards your face. Tip: Keep Tip: Keep the tension in the sections as you add them in; this will help you position the braid as you go around. 5. Keep braiding as you go around your forehead and then carry carry on until you reach the original starting point. 6. To join the braid together, together, do a little section of a regular braid. Tuck Tuck the ends of this through where the starting point of the braid is. Pin in place. You can let the rest of your hair trail through and join back in underneath that braid too. Tip: Stretch the braid out to make it sit evenly. IfIf you have layers like I do, you may have some loose pieces – particularly in your fringe/bangs. You can use bobby pins to keep these tidy. Variations: This looks great in straight or curly hair. I’ve used a large one inch curling iron to add some waves into my hair for this style. Can you imagine how beautiful this would be with some owers added in as a beautiful braided oral crown?
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: CURLY HAIR IPS FOR BRAIDING CURLY HAIR T IPS
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• Brush before you braid is one of my key braiding tips but this is not always true for curly hair. Brushing removes knots and makes it easier to add in even sections, but the reverse can be true for curly hair. Run your ngers gently through your hair before you start to braid. Add in larger sections to your braid to suit your curls. • Use a conditioner spray. Curly hair normally doesn’t have any problems starting in a braid. In fact it’s harder to remove braids. A light conditioner spray on the ends of your hair will help it stay smoother and reduce knots when you are removing the braid. • Customise to your curls Choose a style that suits the shape of your curls, and that enhances them. If your hair is curlier at the front, leave it loose and braid your hair up at the back. If your curl looks good out but gets messy at the front, try a fringe braid like Day 10 or Day 26.
Left, clockwise from top left: My curly hair, Day 1, Day 22, Day 18
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: CURLY HAIR D AY 27
30
Any of the 30 braids are suitable for curly hair. Try them in your hair and adapt them to suit your curls. My pick of the best styles for curly hair are below.
Top ve braids for curly hair: Day 7 Day 10 Day 17 Day 25 Day 27
D AY 10
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: FINE HAIR IPS FOR BRAIDING FINE HAIR T IPS 30
• Work with what you’ve got. Don’t wish for thicker hair, embrace your ne locks. Think how much time you save washing and drying your hair. Avoid Avoid multiple braids and stick to simpler styles. • Stretch it out. This is the biggest difference you will make to your braids. Small, tight braids can look childish. Gently pull at the sides of your braids to loosen them and make them appear thicker and fuller. • Try clip-in extensions. If there is a particular style you love but just won’t work in your natural hair, try adding a little oomph with clip-in extensions. I’m wearing some in Day 19 for the shtail braid as my hair isn’t long enough to do this style. • Build in structure with product. Use a volumising shampoo and a root boosting mousse in damp hair before you blow dry your hair. This will add in extra volume to the nished look. Try dry shampoo to add texture to the midlengths of your hair. Use styling powders to add volume at the root. • Best braids for ne hair: Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 8, Day 15, Day 21, Day 23 and Day 26
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: TROUBLESH T ROUBLESHOOTING OOTING BRAID TROUBLESHOOTING G UIDE 30
PROBLEM
TRY THIS
OR TRY THIS
My hair hair kee keeps ps fall fallin ing g out out of my braid braidss
Spra Spray y dry dry sham shampo poo o ont onto o the the midl midlen engt gths hs of Need more hold? Try a texture spray or your hair to add texture before you braid. sea salt spray to add some more grit and hold to your hair. Those braids won’t be going anywhere after that.
I get confused about where to put my arms when braiding
Start practicing with braids around the front of your face and watch in a mirror what you’re doing
However, However, the mirror can also confuse you, so once you’ve practiced give it another try without the mirror and go by feel.
My layers layers keep keep pokin poking g out out of of my braids braids
Curl the ends ends of your your hair hair unde underr befor before e you start to braid. Then instead of sticking straight out, your layers will curl in to the braid.
See Day 10, 10, put a bobby pin on any loose pieces and push the pin underneath the braid, so you can’t see the ends.
My ar ms hurt from braiding
Keep practicing, it will get easier. I promise. Plus think of all the time you’re saving lifting weights at the gym!
Convince your friend to practice braids in your hair. Then you’ll have good hair and her arms will be sore ;)
I can braid from the right across, but not the left
Maybe that’s your best side? Everyone favours one arm, but by practicing, you can even them up.
Use a hair accessory to cover up any mistakes on your weaker side. Or just embrace messy hair!
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS MORE H AIR LINKS 30
Connect with Hair Romance online and share your braid photos with the hashtag
#30Braids30Days
LOOKING FOR MORE HAIR-SPIRATION? Check out Hair Romance’s rst ebook - 30 Days of Twist & Pin Hairstyles. Hairstyles . Using the signature Hair Romance “Twist & Pin” technique, this ebook has 30 hairstyles to inspire you and get you out of your ponytail rut. Have some more fun with your hair with another month’s worth of fabulous hairstyles.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS THANK Y OU
30
Thank you so much for purchasing the Hair Romance 30 Braids in 30 Days ebook. I hope it inspires you to try something new with your hair. If you have any feedback or any questions about the styles please contact me via email
[email protected] [email protected],, or tweet me @hairromance. @hairromance.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE Version 1.0 © 2012 Christina Butcher and Hair Romance TM All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. You may store the pdf on your computer and backups. You may print one copy of this book for your own personal use. DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this book is based on the author’s experience, knowledge and opinions. The author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book. DISCLOSURE: I have included links to some of my recommended products in this book. These are not sponsored links, I use and love these products. I have used afliate links to certain online stores. That means if you buy through, them I receive a small commission from the participating stores. It won’t cost you a cent more to use these links.
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[email protected] [email protected] for for more information.
D AY 3 - THE FRENCH SIDE PO PONYT NYTAIL AIL BRAID B RAID How to: 1. Make a deep side part part in your hair on the right side. 2. Take a one inch section of hair from your part to your ear and split into three. 3. French braid your hair, hair, adding in hair from both both sides as you braid. Tip: Tip: Brush your hair before you start. Knots make it harder to add in clean sections as you braid. 4. To create the angled braid, keep the hair tight in your right hand and bring it down to follow your hairline as you braid across to your left ear. 5. Stop braiding when you reach your left ear. ear. You You don’t need to have added all your hair into the braid. You can see I still have loose hair on the left side. 6. Tie all your hair into a ponytail ponytail and secure with a clear elastic. I’ve also added a metallic cuff to hide the hair band. 7. Gently pull at the braid to loosen it, starting at the ponytail and working up. Variations: You can use a curling iron to add some curls or waves to your ponytail. If you don’t have a hair cuff, take a small piece of hair from your ponytail and wrap it around your ponytail to cover your hair band. Use a bobby pin to pin the hair to your hair band underneath your ponytail.
D AY 4
D AY 4 - THE FRENC FRENCH FISHTAIL SIDE BRAID How to: 1. Make a deep side part in your hair on the right side. 2. Take a one inch section of hair upwards upwards from your part and angle it toward your left ear. ear. 3. Split the section into two and start to shtail braid. Full tutorial for shtail braids is on page 12. 12. 4. To French braid a shtail braid, simply add in small sections of hair from each side as you go. Tip: Tip: You may nd it easier to section off all the hair you want to braid at the front. Use a clip to keep the rest of your hair out of the way. 5. Once you reach just above your left ear, stop adding in hair and continue to shtail braid your hair. Finish the braid with a tiny clear elastic. 6. Gently pull at the sides of the shtail braid to loosen it. Tip: Tip: Fishtail braids don’t need to be perfect. Don’t worry about being too neat as they look better when they are loose and messy.
Variations: You can use a curling iron to add some curls or waves to your hair. You can add your fringe / bangs into this braid too. Turn this into a side ponytail hairstyle: 1. Gather all your loose hair into a ponytail below your left ear. ear. 2. Wrap the shtail braid over and around your ponytail. 3. Pin in place with bobby pins underneath to secure secure it.
D AY 5
D AY 5 - THE MINI TW TWIST BRAID How to: 1. Part your hair on the right, or where ever you like to part your hair. hair. 2. Take a one inch section of hair next to your part and do a basic braid. Secure the end with an elastic and stretch your braid out to make your hair look thicker by gently pulling at the sides of the braid. 3. Repeat with a one inch section below the rst braid. 4. Make a third braid below the second. You You should now have three braids at the front of your hair. Tip: Tip: You may want to clip the rest of your hair back so it doesn’t get in the way. 5. Twist the rst braid around the second braid to form a loop. Pin the end of the rst braid underneath. 6. Repeat with the second second braid, looping it around the third braid and pin in place underneath. 7. Twist and pin the third braid in place under the the other braids. Tip: Tip: Push your bobby pins through the hair elastics then secure them to the hair underneath. This will give you a stronger hold. Variations: This hairstyle looks complicated, but it is just 3 basic braids twisted together. If you want to try something more difcult, you could do three shtail braids and twist them together. Or try this with four or ve braids and see what design you can create. If you have long hair, hair, stick to three braids but twist them around more. You could create ower shapes with long hair pinned up like rosettes.
D AY 6
D AY 6 - TH THE DOUBLE DUTCH UPSTYLE How to: 1. Divide your hair into two two sections, from your part diagonally across to behind your left ear. Clip up the top section. 2. Begin a Dutch braid behind your right ear. ear. Keep the braid tight along your hairline on the nape of your neck. 3. When you reach the left side of your neck, nish the braid and secure the end with an elastic. 4. Unclip the top section. Start the second Dutch braid on the top of your head near your partline. Follow the line of your front hairline and add in the rest of your hair as you braid. Finish the section in a braid and secure the end with an elastic. 5. Gently stretch out the sides of both braids. 6. Twist the top braid around and pin it at to your head in a circle. 7. Repeat with the second second braid, twisting it up and pinning it in the same shape as the top braid. Tip: Tip: Tuck the ends of your braids underneath so you can’t see where they nish. Add in bobby pins to secure the braid if you think any sections are too loose.
Variations: For very long hair, you can loop your braids around again into fuller circles, or pin your braids in a gure-8 pattern.
D AY 7
D AY 7 - THE BRAID BRAIDED BUN How to: 1. Brush your hair up into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic. 2. Split your ponytail in two and make two two basic braids. Secure the ends with clear elastics. Tip: Tip: Don’t forget to stretch out your braids to make them look thicker. 3. Twist the braids around your ponytail in oppposite directions. directions. 4. Tuck the ends underneath the other braid and pin in place. 5. A spritz of hairspray will keep this looking smooth all day.
Variations: For very long hair, or for a super big braided bun, just add in a little padding. Put a hair donut around your ponytail and do either a single braid or two braids. Wrap them around the padding and pin in place. Stretch out your braid to tuck over the padding so no-one can see your little hair secret.
D AY 8
D AY 8 - THE DUTCH BRAIDED PIG PI GTAILS How to: 1. Loosely split your hair in two equal bunches. 2. Take a 1-2 inch section near your part and start a Dutch braid along your hairline. 3. Continue down past your ear, ear, adding in hair to from both sides as you braid. 4. Then you’ll do a regular braid to nish the pigtail. Tip: Tip: Make the Dutch braid one section, and split the rest of your hair in two to make the other parts of the braid. This will make the Dutch braid look like it’s combined with the regular braid. 5. Use a clear elastic to secure the end of the braid. 6. Repeat on the other side. Tip: Tip: You can leave your fringe / bangs loose or add them in to the Dutch braid.
Variations: Pigtails not your thing? I don’t blame you, I found them hard to wear without feeling like a school girl. This pigtail hairstyle, however, is perfect for under hats. It’s one of my new favourite holiday hairstyles. You can easily convert this daytime hairstyle into a more sophisticated look by pinning up the pigtails. Fold and cross the pigtails up and pin them at the nape of your neck for an elegant upstyle.
D AY 9
D AY 9 - THE FISH FIS HTAIL HALF-CROWN HAL F-CROWN How to: 1. Curl the end of your hair with a curling wand. I’ve blowdried my my hair with a round brush to smoth my hair and to curl the ends. 2. Take a 1-2 inch section near your temple. 3. Split the section in two and start to shtail braid. Fishtail braid tutorial is here. 4. Once you have braided braided to the middle of your head, weave a bobby pin through the shtail and pin to the hair underneath. 5. Repeat the shtail braid on the opposite side. 6. To join the braids, twist the end of the right braid over and behind the left. Tuck the ends of the hair down and pin in place. Tip: Tip: Arrange the hair around the crown to disguise the ends of the braids.
Variations: If you are having trouble pinning the braids, you can tie them together with a clear hair elastic. Then tuck the ends under your hair to nish of the braid. If you’re still practicing the shtail, you can also do this style with a regular braid.
D AY 10
D AY 10 - THE FREN FRE NCH FRINGE BRAID How to: 1. Make a deep side part part on the right side of your hair. hair. 2. Section off a 1-2 inch section along your hairline. Clip the rest of your hair back out of the way. 3. Split the section in three and start to French braid. The full French braid tutorial is here. 4. Instead of adding hair in on both sides of the braid, braid, just add in from the front. This creates the braid shape and height so the rest of your hair sits next to it. 5. Continue to French braid down to your ear, then nish in a regular braid. 6. Angle the braid back behind behind your ear and pin in place with bobby pins. 7. Arrange your hair over over the top of the braid. Tip: Tip: If you have ne hair, you can lightly tease the top of your hair so that the end of the braid is hidden in your hair.
Variations: This style looks great in both curly and straight hair. See the curly variation on page 76. 76. If you have a fringe / bangs, you may have layers poking through like I did. See the last row of images for how I hide those ends. My tip: put tip: put the bobby pin on the end of your hair, then hide it behind the braid. This way you know you’ve caught all the ends in your pin, and just need to x them down to the rest of your hair.
D AY 11
D AY 11 - THE DOUBLE WA WATERFALL BRAIDED UPSTYLE How to: 1. This braid starts with a waterfall braid (see Day 2 for 2 for full instructions or Braid Basics – the Waterfall Braid for Braid for full details). 2. Start by doing a waterfall waterfall braid from the left side horizontally across until you reach your part on the right side and nish in a regular braid (as in Day 2). 2). 3. Next, starting on the left left hand side, do a French braid across the nape of your neck. 4. Start by taking a section section on the left and splitting it into three. As you braid, take in the loose pieces from the waterfall braid to make it look like the French braid below connects with the waterfall braid above. Tip: Don’t Tip: Don’t worry if you don’t get it exactly right. You can see I missed a piece. It’s hard to see when you’re doing your own hair. 5. French braid left to right along the nape of your neck neck and when you reach your right ear, nish braiding the rest of your hair in a regular braid. 6. Twist the regular braid up and around behind your right ear and pin in a at bun.
Variations: If you have a fringe or bangs, you can leave these loose or you can include them in the initial waterfall braid. If your hair is too long to pin up into a bun, nish this style in a side braid. It would also look lovely nished in a side ponytail too.
D AY 12
D AY 12 - THE FRENCH SIDE SW S WEEP BRAID How to: 1. Start by making a deep side part and brushing all your hair down so it’s smooth. 2. Take a one to two inch section section on the right hand side and split it into three just level with your right ear. 3. Add in hair from the top and the bottom as you French braid across the back of your head. As you can see from the picture, you stop the braid just on the left side of your neck and secure the braided section with with a hair elastic into a small ponytail. 4. Take a piece of loose hair and guide that over over the ponytail holder. holder. You You can use a bobby pin to hold that section in place to make sure you hide the ponytail. 5. Sweep the rest of your hair together over your left shoulder. shoulder. Tip: This is a great alternative to doing a side ponytail. It looks great if you want to keep all your hair side-swept and especially if you’re wearing a one-shouldered dress. Variations: This style looks great with straight or curly hair. Here, I’ve curled my hair and brushed it out to these soft waves before braiding. You could leave your hair straight, make it curlier, curlier, or just leave it with your natural texture.
D AY 13
D AY 13 - THE FRENCH RO ROLL TWIST & PIN BRAID How to: 1. Start by brushing all your hair back. You You can leave your your fringe or bangs loose or include them in the style. Take a section of hair running from about your temple back and secure with an elastic. 2. Next take a section section between your temple temple and your ear and pull pull that back to make another section. Secure with a hair elastic. Tip: Using clear elastics for this style is best as they don’t protrude from the nished style. 3. Pull back a third section section of hair just level with the back of your ears and gather all the rest of your hair into a ponytail directly underneath the other sections you have just made. 4. You should have four ponytails as in the picture. 5. Braid the top ponytail and secure with an elastic, then wrap this braid around itself and pin in place to make a little braided bun. 6. Repeat this with with the other three remaining ponytails. Tip: Stretch the braids in each section to make them look thicker. With so many sections, each one can look a bit thin on its own. Variations: This is a great variation on one of the most popular Hair Romance hairstyles: the French Roll Twist & Pin. Pin. By braiding the hair, this is perfect for those of you with longer or thicker hair. If you have shorter hair, hair, the original F rench Roll Twist & Pin is right for you.
D AY 14
D AY 14 - THE FISHTA FISHTAIL HEADBAND BRAID How to: 1. Start by brushing all your hair through and making a side part. 2. Clip your hair back and take a section of hair from behind your left ear. 3. Split the section into two and make a shtail braid. Take a little section from each side, crossing it over (full details for the Fishtail Braid are on page 12). 12). Finish the braid with a clear elastic. 4. Repeat this stage on the other side of your head and nish with another clear elastic. 5. Pull the braid over into a headband and pin in place on top of your hair. hair. 6. Cross the other braid over and tuck the ends under each each other to hide them and pin together. Tip: You Tip: You can take a small piece of hair from the front of each braid and pin it over the beginning of it so that the braids seem to appear from your hair. Variations: If you have very long hair that reaches across, you can just do one shtail braid across the top of your head. If you have shorter hair, by doing two braids, the headband will be fuller and have a more even width across your head. This style looks great with wavy or curly hair too. If you’re still trying to master the shtail braid and you’re getting frustrated, don’t worry! This still looks beautiful with a regular braid.
D AY 15
D AY 15 - THE LOOS LOO SE FRENCH BRAID How to: 1. This is a French braid that starts on your right temple and nishes at the nape of your neck on the left side. 2. Start by brushing all your hair back to remove any knots and making a side part on the right. 3. Take a section section of hair and split into three, crossing over into a French braid and adding in very large sections. 4. Gather all your hair and nish in a regular braid on the left hand side. 5. Stretch out your braid to make it look as thick as possible. 6. Roll the end of the regular braid under and pin in place underneath. Tip: this Tip: this style looks best in straight hair. You can see it in curly hair on page 76. 76. It still works in curly hair but the style does look best with a smoother nish. Variations: You could try this style with a very detailed small braid or a French shtail braid would look amazing. If your hair is very long, and you can’t roll and tuck it underneath, nish in a side braid or side ponytail.
D AY 16
D AY 16 - THE WATERF WATER FALL TWIST How to: This Waterfall Twist is a variation of the Waterfall Braid. Instead of three sections there are two sections from the front and the loose waterfall sections just travel between the two twisting pieces without combining with the actual braid at all. 1. Start by brushing all all your hair through through to remove any knots and catches. Then take a large section on the right hand side. Split this into two and twist the top section around the bottom section. 2. Take a section of hair from from above the twist and place itit between the two twisting pieces. It doesn’t connect, it just goes straight through. Tip: Be Tip: Be sure the sections you add to come through the twist are the same size. If the falling sections are different sizes, the braid won’t be uniform and will look uneven as it travels around your head. 3. Twist the two original pieces. Take Take another section section from above two twisting pieces and place it through again. Twist the two sections again and so on. You You should get about three to four sections on each side. 4. When you reach around the back of your head, head, twist the two sections around again and weave a bobby pin through to secure the braid to the back of your head. 5. Repeat on the other other side. side. Tip: As Tip: As you’re not really adding in any hair to this braid other than the two original sections, make sure you take a large enough section to twist. If the section is too small, you won’t be able to see the twist through your hair. 6. On the left side side of your head, head, keep twisting and and adding sections sections to fall through through the twist. When you reach the back of your head where the right braid nishes, add one more section through, twist together and pin in place underneath. Tip: When you pin the hair at the back of your head, you may want to just tease the hair a little and weave the bobby pin through so that it holds.
D AY 17
D AY 17 - THE DUTCH CROWN BRAID How to: 1. Start by making a part from a deep side side part on the right diagonally across the back of your head to the left side of your neck. Clip away the right section so that it’s out of the way. 2. Take a one inch section on the left side of the part and split into three. 3. Start to braid underneath to form a Dutch Braid following following your hairline but only add in sections from along the part line, not from your hairline. Tip: Angle Tip: Angle the braid as close as possible to your hairline. 4. Keep the Dutch braid going all the way round adding in sections from the crown of your head. 5. When you reach your neck, nish in a regular braid and secure with a clear elastic. 6. Repeat this Dutch braid on the other section on the other side of your part. Starting on the left hand side, braid all the way around your hairline. 7. Stretch the braids out to to make them appear thicker and so that they they sit right on your hairline. Tip: This Tip: This style is great if you don’t like to show your ears as you can pull this style right forward to sit over the top of them. 8. To nish the braid, pin the braids up and tuck the ends in under the opposite braid. Variations: This type of crown braid is perfect for very long hair; the regular braid that you nish with will be very long and you can pin this all the way round to create a double crown.
D AY 18
D AY 18 - THE TWIST & PIN SID SI DE BRAID How to: 1. Start by brushing all your hair and making a deep side part on the right. 2. Take a large section just above your your right ear and split into three. 3. Form a Dutch braid – braiding underneath – and only adding in hair from your lower hairline. 4. Brush the hair through under the braid and as you add in the sections on the underside. Tip: Make Tip: Make the braid as large as possible to get the best effect with this look. 5. Braid all the way along your lower hairline to your left hand side and and nish in a regular braid. 6. Twist the braid up and around to form a small bun on the left side of the nape of your neck. Tip: Stretch Tip: Stretch the main braid out by pulling it down in your hair. This way you’ll hide the actual shape of the braid and it will appear to look more like a twist than a regular braid. Remember, Remember, stretching it out and pulling the top of the braid downwards will create the twist. Variations: If you hair is very long, you can just leave this in a side braid or nish in a side ponytail. If you don’t want to leave your fringe or bangs out, you can also twist them back and pin them in place on the left hand side.
D AY 19
D AY 19 - THE FISHTAIL SIDE BRAID How to: 1. Start by taking a section section of hair behind your right ear and splitting it into into three and do a Dutch braid along your lower hairline. Tip: This Tip: This is my secret for catching all my layers that always fall out of side braid styles. A simple twist braid will help catch any short layers on this side and stop them falling out during the day. 2. Once you get to your left side, comb all your hair together and secure with a clear elastic. 3. Split the ponytail into two and start to sh-braid (full instructions for the shtail braid are on page 12). 12). Tip: Think Tip: Think of the shtail braid as two ponytails that you change a little piece of hair across to each side but always keeping one ponytail in each hand. Tip: Don’t Tip: Don’t worry about being too neat with a shtail. The messier the better. 4. Once you’ve braided all all the ponytail, secure the end with a small small clear elastic. Then, with a pair of scissors, very carefully cut out the original elastic at the top on the ponytail. 5. Stretch the shtail braid out, pulling it slightly to make it sit at. Tip: The Tip: The clear elastic at the top is a great way to hold your hair together while you’re braiding – as you become more practiced, you may be able to skip this step. Variations: Did you know I’m actually wearing extensions for this hairstyle? My hair isn’t quite long enough to reach a side braid, so I’m wearing clip-in hair extensions. I have inexpensive synthetic ones, but you can also buy human hair extensions that you can colour-match and heat style to match your own hair perfectly.
D AY 20
D AY 20 - THE TWIST BRAIDED UPSTY UPST YLE How to: 1. Start by making a loose part down the centre centre of your hair. hair. 2. Clip the left side out of the way. 3. Starting just above your right ear, ear, form a Dutch braid that runs just along the hairline behind your right ear and nish in a regular braid. 4. Repeat on the left hand side section. Tip: Don’t Tip: Don’t forget to stretch out your braids. This is key to helping this style. It will make the hair look thicker and prettier in these twisted styles. 5. Take the left side section rst and twist around. Twist anticlockwise, tucking the ends of the braid under and pinning in place. 6. Repeat on the right hand side, side, but twist the braid clockwise before tucking and pinning in place. Tip: You Tip: You may want to place a couple of pins between the two braids to make them sit at.
Variations: You don’t need a fringe / bangs for this hairstyle. I’ve left mine out, but you can just pull all your hair back for this upstyle. If your hair is very long your could wind your hair in a gure-8 shape to make a beautiful braided upstyle.
D AY 21
D AY 21 - THE WATERFALL BRAIDED BUN How to: 1. Part your hair and starting on the right hand side, you want to make three sections and start to form a waterfall braid (full instructions on how to do a waterfall braid are on page 13). 13). Tip: The difference with this waterfall waterfall braid is that you want to angle it diagonally from the top right of your head down towards the lower left side. This style looks great with larger sections as I have shown or you could do a very ne waterfall braid across as well. 2. Once you’ve reached the lower left side, pull your hair into a ponytail but leave the waterfall sections loose. 3. Gently scoop up the waterfall sections and twist them into the ponytail. Tip: You want to leave the waterfall sections a little bit loose so it looks like they’re curling under. 4. With the shorter layers on the rst few waterfall sections, I’ve used bobby pins to secure them in place as they wouldn’t reach the ponytail on my hair. 5. Gently tease or backcomb backcomb the ponytail and pin into a messy bun. Tip: You can stretch out your waterfall braid and pull it down to make it look more diagonal.
Variations: If your hair is very long, you can also braid the ponytail and pin it round into a braided bun. This style also works really well in short hair and you can either just do a short ponytail or fold the ends over into a small chignon.
D AY 22
D AY 22 - THE DU DUTCH RING BRAID How to: 1. The Dutch ring braid begins above above your right ear and goes across the top of your head on your hairline all the way around to nish behind your right ear. 2. Start by brushing all your hair through. Split a large section above your right ear into three and start to braid underneath to form a Dutch braid. 3. You want to pull your your hair up and across your your head and keep adding in sections from both sides of the Dutch braid from your hairline and from the crown of your head. 4. Angle the braid low along your hairline over your ear. ear. Tip - where to place your hands: I hands: I keep my left hand coming around the front, following around the edge of my face. My right hand goes around the top and from the back of my head. As I curve the braid around the back of my head, my hands follow a natural line and stay on the left and right sides of the braid. 5. Once you reach the nape of your neck, you’ll probably nd that you’ve incorporated all of your hair by this point. Finish in a regular braid and secure the end with an elastic. 6. Stretch out the braid and then pin the end of it up, tucking the ends in underneath. Mine pins from the top of my head and almost reaches around back to the start.
Variations: If your hair is longer, you’ll be able to have a longer crown, almost a double crown, and just tuck the ends under the braid to hide them.
D AY 23
D AY 23 - THE POLKA DO D OT PIGTAILS How to: I’ve used a large rectangular scarf for this style. If you have a square scarf, fold on the diagonal into about a two-inch wide piece to make this work. 1. Start by placing the scarf around the back of your neck, bringing bringing it up like a headband. Twist it round to for a turban style knot. 2. Bring the ends of your scarf down on either either side and make sure sure they’re about the same length as your hair. 3. Loosely part your hair in two and secure one side with a hair elastic so you can keep the tension in the scarf and so that the knot won’t move as you do the rst braid. 4. The scarf will form one of the three sections sections of the regular braid. Split the rest of your hair into two and use the scarf as the centre section. Then just do a regular braid. 5. Repeat on the other side and secure with a clear elastic.
Variations: If your hair is very long, you may not need to put the scarf around the back of your head to do the rst headband piece. You could just tie a turban style knot in the centre and have the scarf trail down on either side as part of the pigtails. Pigtails not your thing? This style looks gorgeous with the braids pinned up behind. Fold the braid up, tucking the ends under and pin in place. Pin the second braid over the top of the rst for a beautiful braided up-do.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS T HANK YOU 30
Thank you so much for purchasing Hair Romance’s second ebook - 30 Braids in 30 Days. I hope you nd it full of hair-spiration and useful tips and tricks to help you to create fabulous braided hairstyles in your own hair at home. I believe your hair is your best accessory, and you should have fun with your hair. If I can create these styles in my o wn hair, I know you can too.
I’m not a hairdresser and I don’t have any special training. I h ave, however, however, practiced a lot. Please don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it straight away. Keep trying and you’ll nd all the styles become quicker and easier. I hope you enjoy the 30 hairstyles I have created in this book. They are all modelled in my own hair, but there are notes on each look for how to vary the style to suit your hair. I’d love you to share photos of these styles in your hair. Use the hashtag #30braids30days so I can see your braids. I welcome your feedback and if you have any questions or comments, please contact me at
[email protected] [email protected].. You can also tweet me @hairromance.
Christin� © Hair RomanceTM / Christina Butcher 2012 All hair photographs and content are copyright Hair RomanceTM / Christina Butcher 2012 and cannot be reproduced without permission. Prole photo © Xiaohan Xiaohan Shen.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS CONTENT S 30
Visual contents page page - Click on the braid on page 3 to go straight to the how-to
3
It’s all in the preparation
5
Which brush do I use?
6
The ultimate hair pin guide
7
Braid Basics: Regular braid (three strand)
8
Braid Basics: French braid
9
Braid Basics: Dutch braid
11
Braid Basics: Fishtail braid
12
Braid Basics: Waterfall braid
13
Braid Basics: The Twist & Pin
14
30 Braids in 30 Days tutorials
15
Tips for braiding curly hair
75
Tips for braiding ne hair
77
Braid troubleshooting guide
78
Hair links
79
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS
30
D AY 1 - THE BRAID-HAWK D AY 2 - THE WATERFALL BRAID D AY 3 - THE FRENCH SIDE PONYTAIL BRAID D AY 4 - THE FRENCH FISHTAIL SIDE BRAID D AY 5 - THE MINI TWIST BRAID D AY 6 - THE DOUBLE DUTCH UPSTYLE D AY 7 - THE BRAIDED BUN D AY 8 - THE DUTCH BRAIDED PIGTAILS D AY 9 - THE FISHTAIL HALF CROWN D AY 10 - THE FRENCH FRINGE BRAID D AY 11 - THE DOUBLE WATERFALL BRAIDED UPSTYLE D AY 12 - THE FRENCH SIDE SWEEP BRAID D AY 13 - THE FRENCH ROLL TWIST & PIN BRAID D AY 14 - THE FISHTAIL HEADBAND BRAID D AY 15 - THE LOOSE FRENCH BRAID
D AY 16 - THE WATERFALL TWIST D AY 17 - THE DUTCH CROWN BRAID D AY 18 - THE TWIST & PIN SIDE BRAID D AY 19 - THE FISHTAIL SIDE BRAID D AY 20 - THE TWIST BRAIDED UPSTYLE D AY 21 - THE WATERFALL BRAIDED BUN D AY 22 - THE DUTCH RING BRAID D AY 23 - THE POLKA DOT PIGTAILS D AY 24 - THE MESSY BRAIDED UPSTYLE D AY 25 - THE DOUBLE DUTCH DIAGONAL BRAIDS D AY 26 - THE FRENCH LACE FRINGE BRAID D AY 27 - THE FAUX UNDERCUT - CORNROW COMBOVER D AY 28 - THE FRENCH CROWN BRAID D AY 29 - THE S-CURVE BRAID D AY 30 - THE CROWN BRAID
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS
30
I T’S ALL IN THE PREPARATION HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HAIR FOR BRAIDING Braids are your perfect answer to bad hair days. One of the reasons I love braids so much is that they work even better in hair that is a little dirty or messed up. Braids are perfect in “second-day hair”, that is, the day after you wash your hair. By the second day, you hair has a little more texture and this helps to hold the braids in place. Need to fake second-day hair? Here are some products that will help your braids stay in place: • Dry shampoo: Not only great for soaking up any oily roots, spray some dry shampoo on the midlengths and ends of your hair to add light texture. Hair Romance’s favourites include Klorane, Batiste and Oscar Blandi. • Sea salt sprays: These beachy products not only remind me of the sea, but give hair that just out of the water texture. Try O&M Surf Bomb, KMS California Sea Salt Spray, David Babaii Bohemian Beach Spray or make your own salty cocktail at home. • Texture sprays: Take the texture one step further with specialist texture sprays. Hair Romance loves evo Mr Fantastic, Redken QuickTease 15 and Aveda Pure Abundance. • Styling powders: These are a must for ne hair but are great in all hair types. Never white like dry shampoo, you only need a tiny amount to add maximum volume to your hair. Try Schwarzkopf (or Got2B), Osis Dust It or Aveda Pure Abundance. For the styles in this book I have blowdried my curls straight so that you can see the braids better. I always use a heat protector and like ghd heat protector . For creating soft waves I use a curling iron and use ghd curl hold spray.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS
30
B RUSH DO I USE?
WHICH
PADDLE BRUSH
ROUND BRUSH
MASON PEARSON
DENMAN
TANGLE TEEZER
TAIL COMB
WIDE COMB
Versatile brush for detangling and blowdrying long hair.
Used to create volume, curl and waves when blowdrying.
The ultimate hairbrush. Expensive, but no comparison. Use on dry hair to smooth and shape hair.
Traditional salon-quality brush for blowdrying and styling hair.
New detanglling brush that can be used on wet or dry hair, and safe for hair extensions too.
Use the tail to section hair and create neat part lines.
Detangling comb, use in shower to comb through conditioner.
Also can be used for teasing hair.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS THE U LTIMATE HAIR PIN GUIDE 30
Bobby Pins
Contoured Pins
Spin or Twist Pins
Fringe pins
Also known as hair pins or hair grips.
These are bobby pins which have a curved design.
I recommend professional quality pins. They are much stronger than consumer quality pins.
They are supposed to mimic the shape of your head.
These helix-shaped metal pins claim to do the work of 20 bobby pins.
These pins are fantastic for chignon and french roll styles, and securing braids, especially if your hair is thick.
They are great for securing buns and in thick hair.
When securing bun: Gently hook a bit of hair from your bun, then turn the pin outwards and grab some hair outside the bun, pivot the pin inwards and push under the bun catching more hair underneath.
I use Goriki brand, available from hairdressing supply stores, or ask your stylist. Pins can be crossed over in an X shape for a stronger hold.
This shape stays in place better when pinning sections of hair close to your head. As always, professional quality pins are best.
Twist them into your bun to secure it. Place one pin underneath and one at the top but don’t cross these pins or you may never get them out of your hair.
You can also weave them through your hair. Squeeze the sides a little when inserting the pins so they spring into place with extra hold.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: BRAID BASICS R EGULAR - THREE STRAND BRAID
30
How to: This braid, also known as a plait, is the main building block you’ll use for all braiding styles. It involves weaving three strands of hair over each other. 1. Start by taking a section of hair and splitting into three equal pieces. 2. Take the piece on the right and cross it over into the middle; and then take the piece on the left and cross it over the right piece. You’ll start to see the braid forming. 3. Take the section now on the right and cross it over the middle and then repeat again bringing the left over the right. 4. As you continue down, bringing each outer piece into the middle, you will continue to form the braid. 5. When it’s nished, secure it with an elastic. Tip: Using small clear elastics will help when creating braided hairstyles as the hair band won’t show through the nished upstyle.
Ways to wear the regular braid: Well, that’s what this whole book about isn’t it? There are so many things you can do with this basic braiding technique! This technique features in Day 5, Day 7, Day 8, Day 13, Day 23 and Day 24.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: BRAID BASICS THE F RENCH BRAID
30
How to: 1. Start by taking a section of hair at the top of your head and splitting it into three equal pieces. In the same way you form a regular braid, you bring the right section over into the middle and your left over the right. 2. When it comes to doing the third piece, when you bring your right into the middle again, you want to grab a little extra section of hair from the right side of your head and combine it with that piece and bring that into the middle. 3. Then on the left side bring that piece into the middle and add in another section of hair from the left hand side. This way you keep forming a regular braid but you keep adding in sections of hair as you go. Tip: I start with the basic braid technique, taking three sections and crossing the right side to the middle then the left side to the middle. This gives the French braid a good foundation. Then I add hair to the right section then bring it into the middle. Then I add hair to the left side and add the whole thing into the middle and so on.
Ways to wear the French braid: The French braid features in Day 3, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 15, Day 26, Day 28 and Day 29.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: BRAID BASICS THE F RENCH BRAID
30
The problem a lot of people have is getting muddled with their ngers – which section do I have where? To add hair from the left, I keep the right section safe down the length of my palm of my right hand gripping it either with my little nger or ring nger. The middle section, I hold secure between my forenger and middle nger. The left section I want to combine the added-in hair with lies over my thumb or loosely gripped between my forenger and thumb. So all my braid so far is in different parts of my right hand. This means I can use my left hand just to section off and add more hair to the braid. The transition right to left and right again is tricky to follow: once I’ve combined the added-in section from the left side of my head to the section lying over my right thumb, I take the whole section in my left hand, gripping it with my little nger and the rest held down the length of my palm. I keep the middle section in my right hand between my forenger and my middle nger. The right section is also in my right hand, held in my little nger and down the length of my palm (the same as on the left side now). With my left hand, I reach over with my forenger and grab the right-side section (the piece that I’m holding with my little nger of my right hand) and pull it into the middle position with my left forenger and hold it between the forenger and middle nger of my left hand. At the same time, I allow the section between my forenger and middle nger on my right hand to transfer onto the thumb of my left hand. From there I can take a section to add in from the right side of my head using my right hand, combine it with the section over the thumb of my left hand, then hold that with the little nger of my right hand, leaving it to hang down the length of my right palm. With my forenger of my right hand, I hook the section out of my little nger on my left hand and pull it over. Again, I take the middle section so it hangs over my right thumb. Phew! It’s easier in reality than writing it down.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: BRAID BASICS THE D UTCH BRAID
30
How to: Now that we’ve practiced doing a regular braid and a French braid, the Dutch braid is just the reverse of the French braid. It’s sometimes called an inside out braid or reverse braid. Instead of bringing the pieces over into the middle, you bring them under and into the middle. Doing this lets it sit proud on top so you can see the exact shape of the braid, instead of keeping the shape of the braid hidden under all the hair you bring in from the sides. 1. You start by splitting a section at the top into three and then you take the left under the middle and the right under the left. 2. Bring the middle section again left – under and add in some hair. 3. You continue again on the right hand side, bringing in and adding in hair underneath. 4. This one just takes practice but you’ll actually nd it will usually stay in easier and longer than a French braid because the layers of your hair don’t need to reach over the top. By going in under, they are held in a little bit rmer. 5. This braid works best when you stretch it out because you can really see the shape and it really gives you a thicker braid. Ways to wear the Dutch braid: The Dutch braid features in Day 1, Day 6, Day 8, Day 17, Day 18, Day 20, Day 22, Day 25, Day 27 and Day 30.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: BRAID BASICS THE F ISHTAIL BRAID
30
How to: 1. Put your hair in a ponytail. Once you’re more practiced, you can skip this step, but it’s a must to keep this braid in place, especially if you have layers cut in your hair. 2. Split your ponytail in two. Hold one side in each hand and keep these separate as you braid. 3. Cross a small section from the left to the right. Take a small piece of hair from the left side of the left ponytail and put it in the right ponytail.. 4. Repeat on the right. Take a small piece of hair from the right side of the right ponytail and put it in the left ponytail.. 5. Repeat this process all the way down the ponytails. Each time, cross a small piece of hair from one ponytail to the other side. As you move down the ponytail they cross over, forming the shtail braid. 6. Tie the end and stretch it out. Secure the end of your shtail braid with a small, clear elastic. Gently pull at the sides of the braid to stretch it out. This makes your hair look thicker and fuller, and emphasizes the shape of the braid. Tip: Fishtail braids look harder than normal braids, but if you think of them as two ponytails it’s really simple to do. Ways to wear the fshtail:
French shtail braid uses exactly the same technique but you add in small sections of hair from each side as you braid. The shtail braid features in Day 4, Day 9, Day 14 and Day 19.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: BRAID BASICS THE W ATERFALL FRENCH BRAID
30
1
2 3
How to: 1. Brush all your hair back, away from your face. If you have a fringe or bangs, you can leave them out. 2. To start, take a 1-2 inch section of hair on the left side and split into three. 3. Braid together, cross 1 over 2, then 3 over 1, then 2 over 3. Add in hair from the top of your head into section 2. 4. Instead of using section 1 to cross over 2, you drop 1 out and pick up a new piece of hair behind it. This crosses over 2 and continues the braid. 5. Add in hair only from the top and drop out the bottom piece and pick up a new piece just behind it. 6. When you reach the right side, stop adding in hair and nish the waterfall with a regular braid and secure with a clear elastic. 7. Gently pull at the braid to loosen it and arrange it so that it sits straight. Tip: So that you can keep the braid going around your head, it’s important to reach your right arm over your head as you start. Ways to wear the waterfall: The waterfall braid features in Day 2, Day 11, and Day 21. There’s also a twist on this braid in Day 16.
B RAIDS IN 30 D AYS: BRAID BASICS THE T WIST & PIN 30
This is the Hair Romance signature hairstyle technique. With the Twist & Pin you can create an innite number of styles. You can nd 30 different styles in the 30 Days of Twist & Pin Hairstyles ebook .
Twist two sections together, and weave a bobby pin through underneath.
Take sections of your hair and twist it. Then loop it over your other nger and use a bobby pin to pin in place.
Tip: Used repeately it forms a kind of twisted braid.
Tip: Put bobby pins through more than one twist to ensure they stay in place.
D AY 1
D AY 1 - THE BRAID-HAWK How to: 1. Brush all your hair back, away from your face. If you have a fringe or bangs, you can leave them out. 2. Braid your hair with a Dutch braid, starting with a small section at the top of your head. See Braid basics - The Dutch braid for more details. 3. Add in hair from both sides as you braid. Braid as tightly as you can, as it will be stretched out later. 4. Secure the end of your braid with a clear elastic. 5. Stretch out just the left side of your braid. Gently pull at the left side to loosen the hair and create height. Tip: You can tease the left side of your braid for more height, and use bobby pins to hold any shorter layers in place. 6. Roll and tuck the end of the braid under and pin in place. 7. Finish with hairspray to keep your braid-hawk in place.
Variation: You can use clip in extensions to create a more voluminous look for this style. If your hair is very long, you can leave your braid loose, or even change it to a messy ponytail at the base of your braid-hawk.
D AY 2
D AY 2 - THE WATERFALL BRAID How to:
1 2 3
1. Brush all your hair back, away from your face. If you have a fringe or bangs, you can leave them out. 2. The Waterfall is also shown on page 12. To start, take a 1-2 inch section of hair on the left side and split into three. 3. Braid together, cross 1 over 2, then 3 over 1, then 2 over 3. Add in hair from the top of your head into section 2. 4. Instead of using section 1 to cross over 2, you drop 1 out and pick up a new piece of hair behind it. This crosses over 2 and continues the braid. 5. Add in hair only from the top and drop out the bottom piece and pick up a new piece just behind it. 6. When you reach the right side, stop adding in hair and nish the waterfall with a regular braid and secure with a clear elastic. 7. Curl the ends of your hair with a curling wand and gently pull at the braid to loosen it. Tip: So that you can keep the braid going around your head, it’s important to reach your right arm over your head as you start.
Variations: You can start from the left or right, depending on which side you prefer to part your hair. See Day 11 for how you can work this braid into a second look and Day 21 is another upstyle using this type of braid. For a twist on this look see Day 16 - The Waterfall Twist.
D AY 3
