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The Wraparound Side Braid

Hair, Style
By Rebecca Stice

Wraparound braid tutorial (click-through for the full tutorial)-1A simple side braid is probably my favorite hairstyle. It’s easy and does a great job of keeping hair out of your face and off your neck in summer – that is if your hair is long and you don’t have too many layers! I’ve been trimming off my damaged ends lately, which means my hair is long in some parts and short in others, and every time I do a side braid, I end up using a handful of bobby pins to try to keep it together! Quite the struggle bus for a style that was initially my favorite for being so easy. Lately though, I’ve started doing a wraparound side braid, which is a little harder at the start but works like a charm with my uneven layers! I highly recommend trying this style out for anyone with lots of layers who wants to keep their hair out of the way on a hot day!Wraparound braid tutorial (click-through for the full tutorial)Step One: Start with clean, brushed hair swept to one side. I like to sweep my hair to my right side and start the braid on my left.

Step Two: Take a small section of hair just above your ear and split that into three sections.

Step Three: You can make your braid a traditional French braid by crossing the sections over each other or a Dutch braid (as I did here) by crossing them under each other. Cross the furthest right strand under the middle, then the furthest left strand under that new middle strand.

Step Four: Add some hair to your furthest right strand and again cross it under the middle strand. Again cross the furthest left strand under the new middle strand. Unlike other braids where you add hair to both outer sections as you braid, this style works best if you only add hair on one side.

Step Five: Continue adding hair to one side and crossing your strands under as you move along the nape of your neck. Try to keep the braid low and tight.

Step Six: You should add your final section of hair to the braid when you reach just below your right ear. This will help your braid fall nicely on your shoulder. 

Step Seven: Finish braiding to the ends of your hair and tie off.

Wraparound braid tutorial (click-through for the full tutorial) -1That’s it! It looks like a simple side braid in the front, but has a little surprise in the back that is as functional as it is pretty! If you don’t have bangs (or have longer bangs), then you can also start your braid higher towards the front of your face and bring it all the way around the back. Another way I’ve loved wearing this style this summer is finished off with a hat; it works nicely with hats that sit a bit higher on your head. Cheers, Rebecca.

Credits//Author and Photography: Rebecca Stice. 

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