Braid Your Hair for Weddings

A braid is a patterned structure resulting from 3 or more strands of intertwined material. Braids can be formed from any flexible material, but are commonly created from wire, textile fibers or human hair. Hair braids date back to the Egyptians in 4000 B.C., who took pride in braiding hair as an ancient art form. Today, braids are used to create popular hairstyles, particularly for formal occasions like parties and weddings. While the traditional 3-strand braid is the foundation for many braided wedding hairstyles, additional braiding techniques are growing in popularity. Use these tips to learn how to braid your hair for weddings.

Steps

Master a Bohemian Braid

  1. Consider a Bohemian braid, often called a Boho braid, as your wedding hairstyle. A Bohemian braid is a small braid with only a small portion of hair. The Boho braid typically starts at 1 side of your head and angles across your forehead to just behind your ear. It is an ideal wedding hairstyle because it is feminine and hides potentially greasy roots throughout your wedding day. It is also a versatile hairstyle because it enables you to wear the unbraided portion of your hair either up or down.
  2. Create a Bohemian braid.
    • Part your hair along 1 side of your head, preferably where the hairline naturally parts.
    • Divide the hair into 2 sections along the part, with 1 section near the front of the forehead and the other section right behind the front section.
    • Twist the 2 sections, so the back section is now in front.
    • Add more hair from the hairline to the front section, angling the braid along the side of the face.
    • Twist the 2 sections again.
    • Add more hair from the hairline along the forehead and twist again.
    • Continue adding hair and twisting until the braid reaches your ear.
    • Secure the braid with a rubber band or small hair elastic just behind the ear.
    • Use bobby pins to secure any loose hairs behind the ear.
  3. Style the remainder of your hair as desired. The Bohemian braid can be worn with hair left down in either curly or straight styles. It also is attractive paired with a loose updo, such as a bun.

Create a Side Braid

  1. Try a side braid as your wedding hairstyle. A side braid is best for long hair. A side braid can be created as ponytail with a braid or as braid along the side of your head. The side braid can be styled to look sleek and sophisticated or carefree and whimsical, depending on your personal preference.
  2. Create a side braid with a ponytail.
    • Gather the hair into a ponytail at the nape of your neck, and secure with an elastic along 1 side of your neck.
    • Separate the hair into 3 sections and braid them together by slipping 1 section between the other 2 sections in a traditional braid pattern.
    • Secure the end of the braid with a small hair elastic or rubber band.
  3. Create a side braid without a ponytail.
    • Gather your hair along the side of your neck.
    • Separate the hair into 3 sections and braid them together by slipping 1 section between the other 2 sections in a traditional braid pattern.
    • Secure the end of the braid with a small hair elastic or rubber band.
  4. Style as desired.
    • Keep hair in a tight braid for a sleek look. Mist the entire style with hair spray to keep hair in place and prevent flyaways.
    • Pull small strands of hair from the braid for a more carefree look. Focus on pulling strands along your forehead and ears to create a face-framing hairstyle. Using a curling iron, curl the loose strands to give texture to your style.

Create an Updo Braid

  1. Consider the updo braid, often called an Alice band braid, as a romantic hairstyle for weddings. It can be created with medium-length or long hair. The braid wraps along the head almost like a headband and continues along the back of the head. This is a more difficult braid hairstyle and may require some assistance.
  2. Create the headband braid.
    • Part your hair along the side, where you want the headband braid to begin.
    • Start the braid about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} back from your hairline along your part.
    • Separate the hair into 3 sections and create a traditional braid, staying close to the scalp as you braid.
    • Continue the braid to about your ear.
  3. Create the wraparound French bread.
    • Begin a French braid from the headband braid along 1 side of your head, wrapping the braid along the back of your head. You essentially will be braiding the headband braid into the French braid.
    • Separate 3 sections of hair like a traditional braid, but leave 2 extra sections of hair on each side of the braid. Use the remaining hair from the headband braid as 1 of the 3 starting French braid sections.
    • Begin braiding the 3 sections, keeping the braid close to the scalp and wrapping it around the back of the head. After a few knots, add in a few pieces from 1 of the extra sections to the braid.
    • Continue braiding 1 knot, and then add a few pieces from the other extra section.
    • Continue braiding and incorporating the extra sections of hair into the braid until you reach the end of your hair. Secure the braid with a rubber band or hair elastic.
    • Secure the French braid along the back of the head with bobby pins.
  4. Style the remaining hair.
    • Create a traditional braid along the other side of your head with the remaining loose hair or repeat the French braid on the other side.
    • Secure the braid with a rubber band or hair elastic.

Master a Rope Braid

  1. Try a rope braid for a sophisticated wedding hairstyle. A rope braid can be styled from a long ponytail or twisted into an elaborate bun.
  2. Create a rope braid.
    • Gather hair into a ponytail and secure the ponytail with a hair elastic.
    • Part the ponytail into 2 sections. Hold the right section in your right hand and the left section in your left hand.
    • Twist the right section of hair, then cross it over the left section of hair. Twist the rightmost section, which was the left section prior to the crossover, and cross it over the other section.
    • Continue this process until the rope braid is the desired length.
    • Secure the rope braid with a hair elastic.
  3. Create a braided rope bun.
    • Wrap the completed rope braid around the ponytail holder, forming a circle around the ponytail holder. Depending on the length of your hair, you may need to wrap the rope braid around several times. This will create a twisted bun.
    • Tuck the end of the rope braid under the bun and secure with bobby pins.
    • Secure the bun with additional bobby pins.

Create a Pretzel Braid

  1. Consider a pretzel braid for a timeless, classic style. The pretzel braid looks elaborate, but the execution is not difficult. The hairstyle is idea for a wedding because it provides a romantic look, but will last throughout your wedding festivities.
  2. Fashion a pretzel braid.
    • Part your hair down the center.
    • Make 2 pigtails. Secure them with rubber bands along the back of your head, approximately {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} above the nape of your neck.
    • Braid the pigtails using a traditional braiding technique. Separate the hair into 3 sections and weave them together by slipping 1 section between the other 2 sections in a traditional braid pattern.
    • Secure each end with a rubber band or hair elastic.
    • Remove the rubber bands from the top of the pigtails.
    • Cross 1 braid over the other braid along the back of your head.
    • Create a curved C-shape with the braid that is on top. Pin it into place using bobby pins.
    • Repeat the curved C-shape with the other braid, curving it up and over the top of the braid you just secured. Pin it into place with bobby pins. The braids should look like a knot or pretzel shape.
    • Tuck both ends of the braids behind the knot, and secure with bobby pins.

Tips

  • To add interest to braided wedding hairstyles, consider incorporating ribbons into the braids, adding fresh flowers to the hairstyle or applying a jeweled hair clip.
  • Don't use office rubber bands on your hair. They will damage your hair.
  • Hair braids best if it is washed 1 or 2 nights before styling. Hair that is recently washed is too slippery to create tight braids. Just washed hair also is prone to flyaways, or frizzy strands of loose hair.
  • Use a hand mirror to evaluate the braided styles along the back of your head. If possible, have someone hold the mirror while you make adjustments to your style.
  • Smooth hair cuticles and prevent flyaways prior to braiding by blowing drying the hair with a round brush. This also will create more shine in your finished style.
  • If you have thin hair, apply a volumizing hair spray or styling mousse to your hair prior to braiding. This will add volume to your hair and help the braid stay in place.
  • If you do not have any bobby pins or can not put it in yourself you could use hair clips instead.

Warnings

  • While braids are possible to accomplish with shorter hair, most braided wedding hairstyles require hair to be at least shoulder length. If you would like to fashion a braided style for your wedding, plan ahead to grow your hair out or apply hair extensions.

Things You'll Need

  • Round brush
  • Blow dryer
  • Comb
  • Hair elastics or rubber bands
  • Bobby pins
  • Hand mirror

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Sources and Citations

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