Mini braids are definitely having a moment [3] right now — just ask Hailey Bieber [4] and Kendall Jenner, two of the many celebrities who were seen wearing the hairstyle at Coachella this year [5]. While I absolutely loved their looks, one thing I couldn't help but notice was the way they secured their mini braids. Although they opted for clear elastics to blend in with their hair, the rubber bands looked (in my personal opinion) clunky. Luckily, TikTok has a hack for that.
Last summer, I stumbled across a TikTok video by user Margot Lee [6] showcasing how to secure mini braids [7] without an elastic, and it's a trick I've been using ever since.
@margot.lee [8] how to get the most cutie fairy braids without a hair tie!! #whatitslike [9] #selftaught [10] 🧚🏼♂️
♬ The JUICE by MR FINGERS - Haaniyah Angus [11]
Once the warmer weather hits and I'm spending days by the beach or the pool, I usually let my hair air-dry and my natural waves take over. Adding in mini braids is the perfect way to elevate my look, and I don't need a single thing other than my hair and my fingers. The first time I tested it out, I was honestly shocked that it worked on my super-fine hair. It's so easy to master that I now use it all the time.
Here's how I make it happen: To start, after washing my hair, I run a brush through it while it's still wet. Next, I let my hair air-dry and form its natural wave. Then, I pick up the small, one-inch piece of hair I want to braid, divide it into three sections, and start to braid it as I normally would.
As I weave the three sections together, I make sure to let the hair at the bottom of the braid "catch" (meaning I don't run my hands through the braid as I form it). This allows the bottom section to form a second braid in addition to the one at the top. If it sounds complicated, don't worry. As soon as you start braiding, it will all make sense.
Once both plaits are as close to one another as possible, I create a tiny hole and flip the bottom portion through the hole, then pull it through. The end result is the perfect baby braid, sans the elastic.
I've used this hack countless times, and the end result is always a super-cute baby braid, minus the unsightly hair elastic. Plus, they always last all day — I've never had an issue with the style falling out or needing to redo it.
To take out the braid at the end of the day, all I have to do is carefully unbraid the hair starting from the bottom. It never leaves any knots or pulls out pieces of hair, which is one of my biggest pet peeves when using rubber hair elastics.
Overall, this is one of the most ingenious ways to achieve baby braids and keep your look sleek and chic. This hack is perfect for all hair types, so if you've been considering testing out the baby-braid trend, why not give this hack a go? It only takes a few minutes, and it makes all the difference.