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How to Create a Romantic Braided Hairstyle

Braided Half-Up Tutorial

How to Create a Romantic Braided Hairstyle

July 22, 2013 by Kaitlyn Dreyling

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Warmer weather means it's time to whip out your braiding skills, which is why we headed to the braid bar at the John Barrett Salon in New York City for a whimsical half-up style that's easy to DIY with a combination of regular braids. Stylist Isabel Guillen showed us how to pull off this beautiful look. Just keep clicking for the step-by-step tutorial, which is also available in a downloadable, step-by-step format.

Photos by: Caroline Voagen Nelson

If you're starting off on straight hair (or just want the perfect beach waves), apply a flexible-hold hair spray to your layers before running a curling iron through your hair. This step helps your hair not only hold the style, but also helps with frizz.

Next, use a curling iron to create beach waves or to enhance your hair's natural texture. Guillen recommends using a smaller barrel for thinner hair, while thicker hair can use larger barrels.

Once the waves have set, run your fingers through them to get the optimal beachy texture to complement your braids.

Take a small section of hair that's slightly to the left of the center of the back of your head and create a loose regular braid.

Once you've secured the braid with a clear elastic, go back and pull sections of hair within the braid to create loops in the look.

Next, take another small section of hair that's next to the other braid (should be right in the center of your head) and begin a new braid. Be sure to loop random pieces of the new braid into the first one you created to join them together.

Continue to connect the braid all the way down and secure with another clear elastic. Be sure to also pull at the second braid to create even more texture.

Now you have to drape the braid to create a woven shape in the back of your head. Start off by pulling the dual-braid up and then bend the braid about four inches from your head.

Lay that bend in the braid to the right to create the half-up shape.

And then drape the tail over top to the left. This will create the woven shape. You can play around with the draping until you feel comfortable with the placement and shape.

Be certain to grab some hair from the right and pin it along with the braided shape to form a half-up style. Then, secure the braids into place.

As you can see, the braids are more concentrated on the left side of the head. To balance the look, take a small section from the right side and start a small braid.

You can create a small French braid that drapes down and connects to the larger braids, or just a regular small braid (as pictured here).

To hide the elastic at the end, wrap the hair around and tuck into the elastic. This will help make the finished look more seamless.

Drape the braid over to find the right placement.

Secure with bobby pins.

The final look is a great half-up braided hairstyle that looks far more complicated to create than it really is.

The fact that this look is made with regular braids makes it easy to do on your own.

With face-framing waves, the end result is the perfect combination of boho mixed with a romantic feel.
Like what you see? Be sure to get the downloadable tutorial to make it easier to re-create the style at home.

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