DIY This Festive Braided Ponytail For Your Next Holiday Party

Joseph Rivera
Joseph Rivera
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If you can't decide between a ponytail or braid, we've got a festive alternative for you — the asymmetrical braided ponytail. This easy-to-DIY hybrid was inspired by a style our hair crush Jessica Alba sported a while back. The off-center part prevents the style from looking too casual or straight out of a yoga class. Hairstylist and owner of New York-based Dop Dop Salon, Jo Blackwell-Preston provided us with a hands-on lesson that includes just six simple steps that anyone with even the smallest of braiding skills can master.

Step 1
Joseph Rivera

Step 1

Using your finger (or a comb), create a diagonal part starting at the right side of the head and finishing at the left side of the nape of the neck.

Step 2
Joseph Rivera

Step 2

Apply a dollop of nondrying cream, such as Kérastase Touché Perfection Replenishing Balm ($35), to the right section of hair. "It smooths the strands and adds a grip that's ideal for braiding," says Blackwell-Preston. Then create a three-strand french braid along the right side of the head, finishing at the nape of the neck.

Step 3
Joseph Rivera

Step 3

Separate the remaining hair into two sections. Gather about two inches of hair in the center, brush it smooth, and then secure in a ponytail with a clear elastic.

Step 4
Joseph Rivera

Step 4

Combine the ponytail with the braid. After taking the elastics off both sections, add the ponytail to the left piece of the braid and secure with an elastic. Now you'll just have one braid.

Step 5
Joseph Rivera

Step 5

Curl the loose section of hair and ponytail with a 1-1/2-inch curling iron to add subtle texture. With such a large iron, Blackwell-Preston recommends holding the hair around the wand for only five to 10 seconds.

Step 6
Joseph Rivera

Step 6

Pin the loose section of hair around the elastic and pin underneath the ponytail. "Let the hair drape along the ear since the other is exposed to create a more asymmetrical look."

The Final Look
Joseph Rivera

The Final Look

The Final Look
Joseph Rivera

The Final Look

The Makeup
Joseph Rivera

The Makeup

To complete the look, makeup artist Andrea Laug paired a soft gold eye with a matte fuchsia lip. For the perfect amount of gold shimmer (without going too bold), she used Clinique Lid Smoothie Antioxidant 8-Hour Eye Colour in Bit O'Honey ($20). Then she applied Mirabella Rose Velvet Lip Pencil ($23) using a lip brush to guarantee a perfect line. To mattify the bright pink, she dabbed a matching blush on top. "While a translucent powder dulls the color, the blush mattifies the lipstick without sacrificing the rich pigment."