Hello Beauties, can you believe that it’s almost Christmas and New Years Day- time for that hairstyle? How your hair looks is most probably the last thing on your mind right noew, but it will be once your bad hair day pictures get plastered all over Facebook by your friends. The heat and humidity right now, is crazy. So I personally feel the best styles for the season are upstyles and braids.

I started braiding my hair when I began growing it out. Most braided hair styles are also protective styles if done too tight or the bands that you use are not damaging. So it’s only appropriate that I chose two braided styles.
The Dutch Crown Braid

This braid is not as difficult as it looks, all you need is a bit of practice and honestly it looks better if it’s a bit messy. You don’t need long hair to pull it off, shoulder hair is long enough unless you have really short layers. It can be done with layers, it just might end up a bit messier or you’ll need to use a gel or serum to keep your hair in place for a neater look. Other than hairspray I don’t like using styling products on my hair.

To do this style you’ll need to brush your hair so that it falls right around your head. If you’ve got clumsy fingers such as myself, bend a bit forward so that your hair falls away from your face, it will help. Take a small section of hair on either your left or right side. This piece should either be just infront or behind your eye, it’s much easier to start from in front of your ear. Begin a basic dutch braid, as you continue to dutch braid only add hair from the inside. That means when you pick up hair you won’t be adding to your middle section and the section closest to your hairline. Follow the natural curve of your head until you’ve braided a complete circle. If your hair is long hair continue braiding your hair normally and tie with a small elastic. Use bobby pins to pin your tail in place as well as other loose parts of the braid. Gently tug on your hair to widen the braid and make it appear thicker. If you like you can pull some hair out to frame your face.

A messy, side French Fishtail Braid or Bun
Normal Dutch braids and French braids make your hair appear longer and the fishtail is one of the easiest and most beautiful braides ever. This French fishtail braid begins just above the ear. Normally fishtail braids are made with very thin pieces, but to create this look I took larger pieces. I also added two blue hair extensions to make this look fun. My camera is not that great so the extensions look a bit like ribbons.

To recreate this look, make a path on the opposite side on which you’d like your braid to be. If you’re going to use hair extensions seperate your hair just below the eye.

Clip your first extension near the ear. Make another path just above your eye and clip your second hair extension closer to the middle of your head. Begin the french fishtail braid with the hair that you have clipped up, add from the hair at the bottom as you would with a normal french braid. Once all the hair has been incorporated, continue with the fishtail braid normally. Once you’ve tied your braid gently pull the braid apart to make it appear thicker and messier. Et voila!

If you like you can leave the braid down, or turn it into a bun. Begin wrapping and pinning the bun at the base. Gently pull apart to ensure that it has the volume you desire and that your extenstions are showing. Now you have the perfect hairstyle.

Article By: Odette http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/o-so-inspired