Tag Archives: want

New way to braid your hair: The Beach Braid

The Beach Braid

This sexy, textured take on the classic waterfall braid has tousled appeal, without looking too messy or unkempt.

Start with wavy hair. Take a dab of styling balm and emulsify it in your hands, then run it over your hair to tame flyaways and give your locks that second-day look. Starting on the left side of your head, divide hair into three sections, and begin a French braid.

After you’ve created that first full cross-over, grab a section of hair right next to the braid and incorporate it into the plait, from the top. After you braid this piece in, leave behind the last section, so it’s no longer a part of the braid. Replace that strand with the piece of hair that is between your two remaining strands, adding it into the braid. Grab another adjacent section and weave it into the plait, continuing the pattern of adding in-between sections and leaving behind back pieces. This is what creates the waterfall effect.

Continue braiding in this pattern all the way around the top of the head, pulling the hair tighter on the left side as you go. This will help direct the braid up and around your head, rather than just going straight down.

When you reach your temple on the opposite side of your head, stop pulling in extra strands and just continue braiding downward with the hair you still have in your hands.

Finish the braid, then secure with a clear elastic. Grab a small piece of hair from the end and wrap it tightly around the elastic to conceal it. Once you’ve wrapped all the way around, take the loose end and tuck it into the braid to secure.

Take that front section from the right side of your head, then take the first two loose sections from your original waterfall braid and start a new braid, heading in the opposite direction from the first.

Use the same pattern you used for your first one, adding in strands in and leaving others behind.
Continue braiding the hair around the head in this pattern, making sure this second plait falls directly below your first one.
When you reach your ear, finish off the braid with your remaining hair, secure with an elastic, then wrap a loose piece of hair around it to hide.
This look gives you the best of both worlds: beachy waves…
… and a beautiful, cascading crown of braids. So gorgeous, and so low-maintenance once you’ve put it together. This look could easily last you two or three days — the mussed-up texture from sleeping on it and frolicking at the beach will only add to the sexiness.
Source: Refinery 29