Today’s tutorial is a twisting braid and it came about by accident.
I’m often asked where I find inspiration for new hairstyles and this is the perfect example of just playing and discovering a new look.
Recently I went to a beautiful beach wedding and my friend Sam asked if I could do her hair. She said there would be champagne and I was there in a flash. I braided my hair in a half-up half-out style and I shot a tutorial while I was getting ready.
I wasn’t sure how to style Sam’s hair. Her only request was no ponytails and so I just started braided and ended up creating this style.
My instagram was flooded with requests for a tutorial so here it is! This was the first time I tried it in my own hair and it is quite complicated so it may be better to practice first in someone else’s hair.
This style really works with Sam’s hair colour so I think this would look beautiful in highlighted hair.
Twisting Braid Hairstyle Tutorial
Step-by-step
This Dutch braid snakes across the back of your head, twisting and turning, to create this updo.
It’s a fairly complicated style and you will need a mirror to see the back of your head when doing this for the first time. I’m sure you’ll find a friend willing for you to practice in her hair 😉
If you have very straight hair you may want to curl the ends of your hair under first. This will stop any layers from sticking out straight from the braid.
- Start your braid at the top left side of your head. Split your section into three and start a Dutch lace braid.
- Start your Dutch lace braid. A Dutch braid is the reverse of a French braid where you bring the sections under instead of over. With a lace braid you only add in hair on one side of the braid. For this style you always add in hair on the top side only so that you leave enough hair underneath for the rest of the braid. Start the braid by bringing the right section under the middle, then the left under the right. Add in hair as you bring the next section on the right under the middle. Don’t add in hair on the left side.
- To turn the braid – curve the braid around and switch the lace braid to the other side of the braid. You’ll keep adding in hair from the top side only, but now that your braid has turned 180 degrees, it’s now being added to the other side.
- Keep the braid close to the first row. Follow the line of the first braid and keep them close together so they look like one giant braid. My second row is a little far from the first row as I couldn’t see it when I was braiding. Practising helps, as does a mirror.
- Keep the braid tight on the corners. It can be tricky to turn the braid so make sure you keep the tension in your hair so the corners don’t become too loose. Switching the side that you add the hair too forces the braid to turn.
- How to finish the braid. On your final turn (or when you run out of hair) continue braiding in a normal braid to the end of your hair and secure the ends with a small hair elastic. Fold the braid up and pin it at the nape of your neck to finish the updo. You can also use bobby pins to secure the braid in place or if you have any layers sticking out.
- Stretch it out! My favourite step is always stretching out your braid. This always makes your hair look thicker and can help cover up any joins or layers that are poking through.
- Spritz it with hairspray. Finish with a little hairspray to keep it all in place. I like to leave a few wispy layers of hair around the face to soften the look.
Variations
The twisted braid is best suited to medium length hair – anything from a lob to armpit-length hair. If your hair is much longer it becomes tricky to hide the ends of the braid.
Vary this braid for long hair by finishing the braid and leaving it out as a side braid over your shoulder.
Another option is to secure the braid at the nape of your neck and make a ponytail. This would look beautiful in long hair. You could even curl the ponytail for a more formal style.
I hope you’ll give this a try and I’d love to see a picture of the twisting braid in your hair, or your friend’s hair.
It looks amazing…my only question is how does it look from the front??
it’s really simple, it just has all your hair pulled back off your face. I like to leave a few pieces around the face to soften the look x
This looks so amazing on the bride, love it! very brave of you not to decide what you were doing til you go there as well! I tried this on myself and it wasn’t too bad but without a mirror it was hard to turn the corners and I always switch back to French braiding halfway through when I am Dutch braiding, hand memory I suppose lol. I will need to practice on someone else first 🙂
Thanks Steph! Sam was another guest at the wedding, not the bride. I would be too nervous to wing it doing a bride’s hair! Like you, I found this tricky to remember where my hands were with all the direction changes. I’ve had lots of offers from friends who would like me to practice, I’m sure you will too 😉
That braid looks amazing!!
Whoa this is cray awesome. Also your tatas look AMAZING in that top. Just sayin’.
hahaha thanks babe xx
Wowzers! That looks amazing – you are so clever to do that on yourself! Thank you for braiding my hair so beautifully it was my best hair day…EVER! Xx
Thanks for letting me do your hair Sammie! xx
All i have to say is–wow!! That braid looks amazing!! I wish i could do adequate braids, but how do you stop your arms getting tired before you finish?
Thanks yojo! This was one a bit of a stretch for me, but I think the change of direction with this braid helps mix it up so my arms aren’t in the same position the whole time. I sometimes take a little rest and put my elbows on the bench for a minute too 😉