Step your hair game up this holiday season – Braided Updo Tutorial

I can’t believe that Christmas is in 5 days! Where has the time gone? If you subscribe to my newsletter (and seriously, why haven’t you? ;)) I promised several posts that will make your holiday easier and brighter.

If you haven’t already, make sure to check out my recent post on how I make homemade chicken stock. It will be a lifesaver as you’re doing your holiday cooking, or even just trying to get a quick meal on the stove (chili or chicken noodle soup anyone?).

Today, I’m thrilled to share with you a tutorial on how to do a really elegant, but boho updo style. If you remember a few months back, I did this hairstyle on Molly for her outdoor wedding. Molly was so nice to let me play with her hair again, so we recreated her wedding day do, just a little less polished.

This would be perfect for a Christmas party or New Year’s celebration.

Let’s get started!

1.) Start off with fully prepped hair. This style falls into place better if you begin with waves or curls. The braids have a little more grip to them. After curling your hair, spray it down with a dry texturizing spray or a little dry shampoo (Molly is also wearing several wefts of Luxy hair extensions to give her more volume and length).

2.) Section hair into four sections. First, place a finger behind one of your ears and trace to the front of your head. Secure with a clip. Do the same on the other side. Lastly, section off the hair at the top of your head, clipping it off. Leave the bottom section of your hair hanging free.

3.) Tie the remaining section of hair a the bottom into a low ponytail. You can add volume to this section by pinching sections of hair above the elastic, and gently pulling, one section at a time. This eliminates the need to tease.

4.) Split the hair in the ponytail into two sections (clipping one out of the way). Next, split the section you’re working on into two, and rope braid it (twist the two sections one direction, but twist them around each other going the opposite direction), tying off at the ends. Repeat this on the other section, so that you have two rope braids. I like to gently pull on each section to fluff it up and give more volume, kind of like pancaking. If you need a refresher, check out my Dutch Braid 101 tutorial.

5.) Next, take your first rope braid, and twist it into a bun shape at the nape of your neck, bobby pinning as you go. Repeat this step, wrapping the second rope braided around the outer edges of the first, pinning around the bun. At this point, if you want a messier look, carefully pull on the edges of the rope braids and pin as necessary.

6.) Take down the section of hair at the top of your head and smooth it down, getting it where you like. Then twist it together above the bun, pushing it forward on your head to create volume (if you’d rather tease, do this now). Pin up and into the twist to secure it.

7.) Now you’re done 🙂 Just kidding! Take the “tail” of the hair from the top section, and twist it. When you get to the bottom of the hair, gently pull on the twist (again, similar to pancaking a braid) to loosen it up. Wrap it around the rope braided bun, pinning as you go.

8.) Let down the hair that you’ve sectioned over one ear, and complete a french lace braid. Split hair into three sections and cross the right section over the middle, then the left section over the middle. Add a piece of hair from the hairline into the right section, and cross both over the middle, repeat on the left. Repeat those steps for two more stitches of the french braid. Then only bring in additional hair from the right (or the side next to your face) until you’ve brought in all hair, then braid to the end and tie off with a clear elastic. Repeat these steps on the other side of clipped away hair. Pancake the braids to create volume.

9.) Take one braid, drape across the top of the bun, the wrap around the bun, pinning as you go. Repeat this with the remaining braid. Make sure to tuck in the clear elastics.