Game of Thrones Hairstyle Tutorial: Daenerys's Braids
Get Daenerys's "Game of Thrones" Hairstyle With This Braid Tutorial
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We've long talked about our admiration for Daenerys Targaryen's braids, but this intricate "Game of Thrones" hairstyle truly deserves a throne of its own. Though the show ended, it's never too late to dress up as Daenerys for Halloween. While the entire cast serves up major hair inspiration, the Mother of Dragons' long platinum waves sit at the top of our envy list. One look that we particularly can't stop swooning over is her double, inside-out braids with loose curls at the end.
What Daenerys's Braids Mean on "Game of Thrones"
Daenerys's braided hairstyle is more than just a trendy beauty choice. Many believe the look holds significant meaning. Khal Drogo may have perished in the very first season of the show, but his spirit lives on through the "moon of his life," Daenerys, and people believe she's channeling her deceased boo with her hair.
On Reddit, a "Game of Thrones" enthusiast resurrected a scene from the first season in which Daenerys is speaking with her brother, Viserys, before he sells her off to be Drogo's wife. As they watch Drogo from afar, Viserys says, "Do you see how long his hair is? When Dothraki are defeated in combat they cut off their braid so the whole world can see their shame. Khal Drogo has never been defeated."
Clearly, Daenerys must have been taking notes because she has kept her hair super long since season one. Not only that, but she has also been sporting a similar hairstyle, although her braided variation is decidedly more intricate than Drogo's simple, segmented ponytail. Daenerys's decision to keep her hair long may be a nod to her own strength and resilience.
"Game of Thrones" Braid Tutorial
Hairstylist Dana Tizzio of Butterfly Studio Salon gave us a full tutorial on how to create this "Game of Thrones" hairstyle for Halloween. Trust us — you'll no longer want to hide away in exile once you master this look — the style demands to be seen (and respected).
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 1
After blow-drying your hair into soft waves, create a middle part and spray R+Co Reflective Shine Hairspray ($39) to add shine and eliminate flyaways.
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 2
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 3
Work a dollop of Shu Uemura Ishi Sculpt Texturizing & Sculpting Hair Paste ($42) through your hands. Then, rub each section of hair through your palms. This will help add hold to the braid. Do this until you have three separate sections of hair — you'll use these to create your french braid.
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 4
Create the inside-out french braid — aka dutch braid — by crossing each section under the center piece of hair, instead of over as you traditionally would. This makes the braid appear to be sitting on top of the head rather than embedding it within the hair.
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 5
"Keep your hands as close to the scalp as possible to keep the braid tight," says Tizzio. Also, gently pull the braid at an angle so the top sections stretch all the way to the edge of the braided zone, instead of allowing the hair to sit directly in the middle.
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 6
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 7
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 8
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 9
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 10
To hold this wrapped piece of hair in place, you can use a traditional bobby pin or try Tizzio's method to create a "liquid bobby pin." To do the latter, blast the ends of the wrapped hair with hairspray and lightly place a warm curling iron over it to seal it in place.
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 11
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 12
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 13
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 14
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 15
"Game of Thrones" Hairstyles Tutorial: Step 16
To hide this second elastic, take another small section of hair from underneath the ponytail, spritz it with hairspray, wrap it around the base, and give it a once-over with the curling iron again.
If you need to further reinforce this thicker wrapped ponytail, Tizzio recommends you use a traditional bobby pin on the underside of the hair.
