The no-braid braid – 5 pull-through braid tutorials

Struggling to braid your own hair? This pull through braid tutorial is your secret no-braid braid hairstyle. It gives you the look of a braid but without any braiding skills required.

Check out my original pull-through braid tutorial for this diagonal braided look.

If you can do a ponytail, you can do these styles.

Once you’ve got the hang of the basic steps, there are so many ways to wear these pull-through braids.

Here are 5 ways to style your hair with this easy faux-braid hairstyle cheat.

Pull-through braid tutorial 1 – Loose half-up hairstyle

What you need:

• 4 hair elastics
• Hair clip

Step-by-step tutorial:

1. Begin by brushing your hair to remove any knots. (Curly girls – avoid frizz and skip this step!)
2. Create your first ponytail. Take a section of hair right on top of your head and secure it with a small elastic.
3. Create a second ponytail under the first, picking up hair from either side of the first ponytail. Secure it with a clear elastic.
4. Divide the first ponytail in half, and clip the second ponytail up on top of your head.
5. Create your third ponytail including the two halves of the first ponytail. This is your first “braid” section. Include the sections from ponytail 1 and pick up more hair from the either side of your head. As you can see in pics 4 & 5 above, the second ponytail is now tied between ponytail 1 to ponytail 3. You’ll repeat these steps over again to continue the style.
6. Unclip ponytail 2, divide it in half and clip ponytail 3 up on top of your head. Pick up hair from behind your ears and combine it with the ends of ponytail 2 to create ponytail 4.
7. Secure your half-up faux braid. Release ponytail 3 and you’re done.

Styling tip:

• Stretch it out – make your hair look thicker by stretching out the sections of your “braid”.

Pull-through braid tutorial 2 – The faux braid ponytail

What you need:

• 7-10 hair elastics
• Hair clip

Step-by-step tutorial:

This style follows on from the first pull-through braid above, and includes all of your hair into a low ponytail.

1. Begin by brushing your hair to remove any knots. (Curly girls – avoid frizz and skip this step!)
2. Create your first ponytail. Take a section of hair right on top of your head and secure it with a small elastic.
3. Create a second ponytail under the first, picking up hair from either side of the first ponytail. Secure it with a clear elastic.
4. Divide the first ponytail in half, and clip the second ponytail up on top of your head.
5. Create your third ponytail including the two halves of the first ponytail. This is your first “braid” section. Include the sections from ponytail 1 and pick up more hair from the either side of your head. As you can see in pics 4 & 5 above, the second ponytail is now tied between ponytail 1 to ponytail 3. You’ll repeat these steps over again to continue the style.
6. Unclip ponytail 2, divide it in half and clip ponytail 3 up on top of your head. Pick up hair from behind your ears and combine it with the ends of ponytail 2 to create ponytail 4.
7. Repeat these steps until all of your hair is combined in the braid and you reach the nape of your neck.
8. Finish either with a regular braid or leave your ponytail loose.
9. Stretch out your braid. My fave step! Go back and tighten up the ponytails and stretch out the sides of each loop to make your braid look thicker.

Styling tip:

• Match your elastics to your hair – choose a small, clear hair elastic or match them to your hair colour. This will help them blend into the finished style and be inconspicuous.

Pull-through braid tutorial 3 – The low side twist

What you need:

• 6-8 hair elastics
• Hair clip

Step-by-step tutorial:

This version runs along the nape of your neck to create a unique side “braid”.

1. Begin by brushing your hair to remove any knots. (Curly girls – avoid frizz and skip this step!)
2. Create your first ponytail. Take a section of hair behind your left ear and secure it with a small elastic at your hairline on your neck.
3. Create a second ponytail next to the first, taking a vertical section of hair on the right of the first ponytail. Secure it with a clear elastic.
4. Divide the first ponytail in half, and clip the second ponytail to the left through the first ponytail.
5. Create your third ponytail including the two halves of the first ponytail. This is your first “braid” section. Include the sections from ponytail 1 and pick up another vertical section of hair next to the other ponytails at the nape of your neck.As you can see in pics 4 above, the second ponytail is now tied between ponytail 1 to ponytail 3. You’ll repeat these steps over again to continue the style.
6. Unclip ponytail 2, divide it in half and clip ponytail 3 to the left through ponytail 2. Pick up a vertical section of hair and combine it with the ends of ponytail 2 to create ponytail 4.
7. Repeat these steps until all of your hair is combined in the braid and you reach the right side of your neck.
8. Finish either with a regular braid or you can leave your ponytail loose.
9. Stretch out your braid. My fave step! Go back and tighten up the ponytails and stretch out the sides of each loop to make your braid look thicker.

Styling tip:

1. Keep it level – Keep all of your ponytails level along your lower hairline to create the twisting look for this “braid”.

Pull-through braid tutorial 4 – The faux-braid updo

What you need:

• 6-8 hair elastics
• Bobby pins
• Hair clip

Step-by-step tutorial:

This “braid” updo continues on from the side twist style above. Instead of leaving your hair out, you twist it around to create a chic updo.

1. Begin by brushing your hair to remove any knots. (Curly girls – avoid frizz and skip this step!)
2. Create your first ponytail. Take a section of hair behind your left ear and secure it with a small elastic at your hairline on your neck.
3. Create a second ponytail next to the first, taking a vertical section of hair on the right of the first ponytail. Secure it with a clear elastic.
4. Divide the first ponytail in half, and clip the second ponytail to the left through the first ponytail.
5. Create your third ponytail including the two halves of the first ponytail. This is your first “braid” section. Include the sections from ponytail 1 and pick up another vertical section of hair next to the other ponytails at the nape of your neck.As you can see in pics 4 above, the second ponytail is now tied between ponytail 1 to ponytail 3. You’ll repeat these steps over again to continue the style.
6. Unclip ponytail 2, divide it in half and clip ponytail 3 to the left through ponytail 2. Pick up a vertical section of hair and combine it with the ends of ponytail 2 to create ponytail 4.
7. Repeat these steps until all of your hair is combined in the braid and you reach the right side of your neck.
8. Finish either with a regular braid or you can leave your ponytail loose.
9. Stretch out your braid. My fave step! Go back and tighten up the ponytails and stretch out the sides of each loop to make your braid look thicker.
10. Twist the end of your “braid” around and pin it underneath. Tuck the ends of your hair underneath and use bobby pins to hold it in place.

Styling tip:

• Long hair variation – You can twist your hair into two loops to hide it under the “braid” at the nape of your neck. Alternatively, you can twist it into a bun behind your right ear.

Pull-through braid tutorial 5 – The half-up side twist braid

What you need:

• 6-8 hair elastics
• Hair clip

Step-by-step tutorial:

1. Begin by brushing your hair to remove any knots. (Curly girls – avoid frizz and skip this step!)
2. Create your first ponytail. Take a section of hair at the top of your head by your part and secure it with a small elastic.
3. Create a second ponytail under the first, picking up hair from underneath the first ponytail. Secure it with a clear elastic.
4. Divide the first ponytail in half, and clip the second ponytail up on top of your head.
5. Create your third ponytail including the two halves of the first ponytail. This is your first “braid” section. Include the sections from ponytail 1 and pick up more hair from the top of your head. As you can see in pics 3 & 4 above, the second ponytail is now tied between ponytail 1 to ponytail 3. You’ll repeat these steps over again to continue the style.
6. Unclip ponytail 2, divide it in half and clip ponytail 3 up on top of your head. Pick up hair from your part to your braid and combine it with the ends of ponytail 2 to create ponytail 4.
7. Repeat these steps adding in hair from the top of your head and curving the braid around your head.
8. Secure your half-up faux braid. After completing around 5-6 sections of the pull through braid, you can stop adding in hair and finish in a regular 3-strand braid. Then pick up a piece of hair from the right side of your head. Join this with your braid to secure the half-up hairstyle.
9. Stretch out your braid. My fave step! Go back and tighten up the ponytails and stretch out the sides of each loop to make your braid look thicker.

Styling tip:

• Fringe benefits – If you have a fringe (bangs) you can leave them out or include them in the first “braid” sections. I like to leave some layers out around my face to soften the style.

Which look is your fave? Which pull-through braid tutorial will you try first?