I don’t know about you, but I think the weather has been pretty crazy lately! One minute the sun is shining and the temperature is just right, and the next it’s pouring rain while the wind is practically blowing you away- all while you and you ‘do are like:
The hurdles don’t stop there, as we all know, right ladies? Humidity has become a common enemy for us all!
Our girl Monica definitely knows the struggle!
Although there’s nothing we can do to make sure that everyday is a perfect hairday, braids are amazing and chic ways to keep our do’s under control this summer! They are super versatile, stylish, and fun- perfect for the unpredicatble weather. They can be secured tightly to your head, kept loose for a effortlessly cool bed head look, or can be styled as headbands and incorporated into all kinds of gorgeous up do’s. For the beginner braider, there are two types of braids you should start with:
1) The French Braid (Or the Elsa Braid for you Frozen fanatics!)
When you’re looking at a braid, you can tell if its a French braid if it looks like it’s woven into the hair and not sitting on top of it. I would say this is the easiest kind of braid you can start off with, but I guess I’m biased since it’s the first one I ever learnt to do by myelf!
In a nutshell, you’ll have three strand of hair to work with. Beginning with the outside strand, you’ll want to weave it over the middle strand. After that, take the other outside strand and weave that over the new middle strand. Before you go over the middle strand for the third time, add some hair into the outer strand first. All that’s left for you to do is repeat and practice! You’ll be a pro in no time! Here’s a visual of my explanation:
The classic french braid at it’s finest! This style is perfect for a swim too! If you’re in the mood for some Queen Elsa swag, start your braid a bit lower, making sure that you leave the top of your hair a bit loose.
Now to the hairspiration! Here are some of the amazing things you can do with a bangin’ french braid!
The two section french braid is one of my all time faves! It’s perfect for the gym, or for running errands. You definitely won’t have to worry about the wind with this baby!
This type of braid is my go to method of curling my hard to curl hair, and I’ve been doing it for years! After you’ve washed your hair, air or towel dry it until it’s slightly moist and about 75% dry. Brush it out, divide it into two sections and french braid it like the picture above. Head to bed and don’t be afraid of it falling apart! When you wake up, check your hair to see if it’s dry. If it is, undo the braid and you’ll have waves for days! Give yourself a light spritz of hairspray and you’ll be good to go!
If you’d rather leave some hair down, then a french braid headband (left) is definitely for you! Doesn’t this style scream beach babe to you? On the right is a twist on your classic messy bun, and I am loving it!
2) The Dutch Braid
The Dutch braid has become super popular this year! To get a Dutch braid, you’ll want to weave the midde strand over the outer strands, instead of under (like the French braid). The result? A rockin’ braid that sits ontop of the hair instead of within it! Here’s a helpful pictorial:
Here are some examples of what you can do with a Dutch braid:
If you’ve got long hair, this style is for you! I mean, how amazing does this look?
Wondering what a Dutch braid headband looks like? Here you go!
Can see why these are popular? They are gorgeous! On the left is a dutch headband, which I think is super sleek and classy for a braid, one that can be casual and fancy at the same time! If you’re feeling like you want your hair in a high or low pony, dutch braids add a really pretty touch to a really simple look!
Whatever your plan is for the day, knowing how to do a french and dutch braid will definitely come in handy, especially through our long hot summers! With these babies, you’ll have all the bases covered. You’ll being having a great hairday everyday, all you have to do is practice!
Photo Sources:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/109282728431771368/
http://davidkanigan.com/tag/success/
https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/blogs/barefaced-beauty/honeymoon-hair–ho…
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/487233253409435388/
http://madokeki.blogspot.ca/2014/08/3-steps-no-heat-korean-style-wavy-ha…
http://www.missysue.com/2014/06/braid-11-half-up-french-braids/
http://www.missysue.com/2014/04/braid-14-triple-french-braid-double-wate…
http://article.wn.com/view/2015/06/19/Reda_Kateb_Takes_an_Oath_in_Hippoc…
http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2013/10/how-to-style-a-simple-dutch-braid….
http://pretty-hairstyles.com/cute-hairstyles/dutch-braids.html
http://www.missysue.com/2014/05/four-headband-braids/
http://www.polkadotted.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/dutch-braid-ponyta…