New braid hairstyle tutorial – the twist braid updo

The twist braid updo is this week’s new braid hairstyle tutorial. It’s easier than it looks and is perfect for medium length hair.

In my recent Q&A video, Jordan asked me “If you could only do one hairstyle for the rest of your life, what would it be?”

I found it so hard to choose and tried to cheat and say Dutch braids. There are so many variations with Dutch braids that I could change my hair every day but still wear the same hairstyle.

Today’s Dutch braid tutorial has a simple twist. Instead of finishing in a bun, the braid twists up and the ends are pinned underneath. Read on for the full hairstyle tutorial plus more braid styling tips.

New braid hairstyle tutorial – the twist braid updo

What you need:

• Small clear hair elastic
• Bobby pins

Step-by-step tutorial:

1. Brush your hair to remove any knots before you begin to braid.
2. Start by taking a section of hair at the front of your head. I usually take a two-inch section from my natural part. Split this section in to three equal sections.
3. Begin a Dutch braid. This is the reverse of a French braid. Take the left section under the middle, and the right section under the left. Add in a small section of hair to the middle piece and bring that under the right section.
4. Continue braiding down the back of your head, adding in small sections of hair as you go. Always bring the hair underneath so that your braid sits on top of your hair.
5. Take a slight diagonal angle with your braid from the top left of your head to the bottom right. Once you reach the end of your hair, finish in a reverse braid and secure the end of your hair with a clear elastic.
6. Stretch out your braid to emphasize the shape of your hair. Gently pull at the sides of the braid to loosen it. This will make your hair look thicker.
7. Twist the end of your braid up and around to sit next to the first part of your braid. Pin in place with bobby pins and make sure to tuck the ends of your hair under your braid.

Styling tips

• Use a clear elastic – or make sure you tuck the ends of your hair right in under your braid! Lucky I used a small, clear elastic or it would really stand out in the finished style.
• Short hair variation: Dutch braids work well in short hair (check out these Dutch braids in short hair) and often hold better than French braids. If your hair is not long enough to twist around at the end, simple tuck the ends under and pin it at the nape of your neck.
• Long hair variation: If your hair is longer than mine then you may need to do more than one twist. Try twisting the end of your braid around and pinning it alongside the first part of your braid. If your reach the top then your hair must be really long! In this case, I’d create an s-shaped twist and pin your braid in place behind your left ear.
• Curly hair variation: This style looks great in curly hair (it’s similar to this curly hair Dutch braid tutorial). Just skip step one, unless you want a mane of frizz!

One final braiding tip – if, like me, you have layers in your hair, curl the ends of your hair under before you braid. This helps to minimise the layers as rather than sticking straight out of your braid they curve into the braid. You can use hairspray to hold any small layers down or use a bobby pin for larger sections.

Hope you liked this style and want to try it in your hair! You can share photos with me on Instagram using #hairromance.

PS. I’d love to know, if you could only do one hairstyle for the rest of your life, what would it be?