Dream hair – Combo Dutch – fishtail side braid tutorial

Can’t decide which braid to wear today? Try a combo braid. This Dutch – fishtail side braid tutorial combines two of my favourite braids.

I’m kind of obsessed with my friend Sonia‘s hair. It’s gorgeous and she lets me play with her hair which is so much fun. Sadly we don’t live in the same state or you’d see her featured here all the time. When I was last in Adelaide, we shot a few tutorials together and this is one of my favourites.

This style is pretty much my dream hair. This style is made up of two Dutch braids that meet and become a fishtail side braid. If you have long hair, you’ll love this style. If not, grab a friend and practice in their hair!

Combo Dutch – fishtail side braid tutorial

What you need:

• Small hair elastic
• Hair clip
• Bobby pins (optional)

Step-by-step tutorial:

1. Brush your hair to remove any knots before you begin. Part your hair in a side part.
2. Start with the Dutch braid that runs along the back of your head. Take a section of hair by your part near your right ear. Split it into three and cross the left under the middle and then the right under the left. Add in hair from each side as you continue to braid.
3. Angle the back Dutch braid down along your hairline. Stop the braid once you reach the left side of your neck and hold it in place with a clip while you do the front braid.
4. Starting at your part, create a Dutch braid along your hairline. As with the back braid, split a section of hair by your part into three. Cross the left piece under the middle and then the right under the left. Add in hair from each side as you continue to braid following your hairline.
5. Continue braiding along your hairline until you pass your ear and reach level with the back braid. Combine the two braid together by taking a section from each braid and crossing it over into the other braid.
6. Begin to fishtail braid using each braid as one side of your fishtail braid. A fishtail braid crosses small pieces of hair from the outside of one section to the inside of the other. See my fishtail braid tutorial here for more detail.
7. Adjust your braids so that you’re happy with how they look. Stretch the sections to make them look thicker and then continue with the fishtail braid until you reach the end of your hair.
8. Hide your hair elastic by winding a small piece of hair around and use a bobby pin to hold it in place. Check out my bobby pin tricks for more details.

Styling tips

• Remember to stretch out your braids! This makes such a difference, especially if your hair isn’t as thick as Sonia’s gorgeous hair. Even fine hair can look thick once you stretch out your braids. I like to use a little volume powder on fine hair to help hold the style and make them stretch even further.
• Need extra hold? You can use a couple of bobby pins to hold the braids in place or finish with a spritz of hairspray.
• Switch up your combos! Why not try fishtail braids into a Dutch braid, or French braids into a four-strand braid. The only limit is your imagination. And the length of your hair 😉

Thanks again, Sonia, for lending me your gorgeous hair! Check out Sonia’s blog, Sonia Styling, for real life fashion, beauty and lifestyle inspiration and follow her on Instagram @soniastyling.

We’d love to know if you try this style! Tag us in your photo on Instagram and use #hairromance.

What’s your favourite braid combo?