How To Do 3 New Chic AF Braid Styles

#BraidGoals2016

21 March, 2018
How To Do 3 New Chic AF Braid Styles

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What do you get when braid master and celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa gets her hands on the hair of Crowded's Miranda Cosgrove? Three crazy-cool braids that are perfect for brunch and beyond.

Here, Sarah shows you how to execute these three Pinterest-worthy styles.

The ​Five-Strand Braid

[youtube ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLY7fxCd5dU" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="">​

To copy this cool braid:

1. Grab five equal sections of hair at your hairline (to the left of your part) by running your fingers through your hair (see below). Then, label them in your head one through five, starting from left to right. 

2. Start crossing the sections under one another (rather than over one another) to create that 3D Dutch braid effect. Start with 1, cross it under 2, and then over 3. Next, pass 5 under 4, and then over 3. Then, you take 4 and cross it under 1, and then over 2 and under 5. From there, start repeating the process, crossing 1 under 2, and then over 3, etc.

3. Continue braiding as you're moving down along the side of your head and around the nape of your neck. (You might need a friend to help you when you get to the back of your head). 

4. Finish braiding on the right side of your head, ending the look in a side braid. If your hair isn't long enough for this look, you can also end it at the nape of your neck or pop in extensions before you begin (if your hair is shorter) for a longer look.

Halo Snake Braid

[youtube ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDmCPZNdAi0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="">​

To recreate the look:

1. Braid one of the sections of your hair into a traditional three-strand braid. Keep braiding almost all the way down, leaving about 1 inch of hair unbraided at the ends. Be careful not to braid the hair too tightly, as it will make the next step more difficult to pull off.

2. Holding the middle strand of the braid still, push the rest of the braid toward your roots. Pinch and hold the end of the middle strand of the braid between your index finger and thumb, and pull it away from your head to create tension. Then, using your index finger and thumb on the opposite hand, slide the rest of the braid all the way up toward your scalp.

3. Slowly slide the scrunched-up part of the braid back down toward the ends of your hair. Slide the braid back down until you see the "S" formation, which creates the snake effect. Secure the end with an elastic and pin it into your hair to hide the ends. Repeat on the other side to create the halo effect.

Half-Up Boxed Bun

[youtube ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1peAeAXwjk" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="">​

To create your own half-up boxed braid:

1. Pull your hair half up and separate the ponytail into two sections.

2. Start fishtail braiding. Take a small section from the right, separate it into two pieces and send one piece over the top and add it to the left. Then, send the other piece under and add it to the left section.

3. Continue braiding to create the boxed fishtail. Take a small section from the left, separate it into two and send one piece over the top and add it to the right. Send the other piece under and add it to the right section. Continue to repeat all the way down for a 3-D fishtail box braid. 

4. Pull the braid apart a bit to make it thicker and larger AND more textured. Then, wrap it around the base of the ponytail and pin it into place.

Boom: Three new braid styles you can make all your girlfriends have hair envy over.

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Credit: Cosmopolitan
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