3 Updos With Just a Pair of Back Braids

Sometimes the things that look the most complicated are actually the simplest to do. I found that out the easy way when I got bored earlier today. Before I go on, I might add that I did both the hair and this post while watching an episode of AMC's Breaking Bad, so if I seem to be leaving out some ridiculously simple step or if the braids seem wonky you can blame that on the distraction that comes from watching a bunch of people pretend to be a completely different bunch of people who make crystal meth. Anyway, all disclaimers aside, I'll just get right to it.

You will need:

• Two mini hair elastics, preferably clear or close to your hair colour
• A bunch of bobby pins
• A couple of twist pins (optional)
• Hairspray (optional)

Start with hair. Seriously, this step is crucial. Make a center part down the back of your head and plait each half into a braid of any type, at the back of your head. The link sends you to all of the stand-alone braid tutorials I've made in the past and will in the future. I used fishtails here because they're my favourite and they stay flat to the head.

NOTE: I did these straight down because it was easiest; you might want to braid them sideways for some of these styles.

Style 1: The Double-Wrapped Bun

1. Take one of your braids and start rolling it from the end in. When it reaches your head, pin it in place. I used twist pins, but regular old bobbies work just as well.
2. Wrap the other braid around the roll and pin in place, as securely as possible.

Style 2: The Criss-Cross 

1. Fold the first braid in half underneath itself. Bring it across your head in the direction of the opposite ear, and pin in place.
2. Fold and pin the other in the same manner, this time across your first braid.

NOTE: I personally dislike this way of doing this style. You might want to fold the braids like this, but position one under the other as opposed to across.

Style 3: The Crown Braid

This one is my absolute favourite of the three. It looks so elegant but in truth takes almost no effort to make.

1. Wrap one braid under the other and over the top of your head. Pull it tight and pin in place.
2. Pull the other braid down over the base of the first, and over your head in the opposite direction. Tuck the ends of each braid under the other and pin. Lots and lots of pinning involved here.

That's all for today. As always, leave suggestions for tutorials in the comments or e-mail us at youngfamefashion@gmail.com.

-Scorpio

Braid series 8: How to do a round (3D) braid

The finished product

This takes some time to get the hang of, but the results are worth it. There are two methods. Read their descriptions and see which one is better for you.

Method 1. This is easier to explain but takes some time to get the hang of.

1. Brush hair and split it into equal sections 1, 2, 3 and 4.
2. Bring strand 1 under strands 2 and 3, and back around so it rests again between strands 2 and 3.
3. Bring strand 4 under strand 3 and the former strand 1, and back up and over strand 1 again, so it rests between strands 3 and 1.
4. Repeat the previous two steps to the end and tie off.

Method 2. This looks tough but is in fact very simple. The explanation may confuse you.

1. Brush hair and split it into equal sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, from left to right. This is very important.
2. Take sections 2 and 4 and pull them over strand 3 and to the right, twisting them right as you go. The order should now be 1, 3, 4, 2.
3. Now twist sections 1 and 3 to the right so the order is now 3, 1, 4, 2.
4. Rename the sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, accordingly.
5.  Now take the new strands 1 and 3 and pull them over strand 2 and to the left, twisting them left around each other as you go. The order should now be 3, 1, 2, 4.
6. Now twist sections 2 and 4 to the left so the order becomes 3, 1, 4, 2.
7. Rename the sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, accordingly.
8. Repeat steps 2 to 7 to the end. Remember: The two strands that seem to be below the others are the strands you have to twist over next.

Enjoy!

-Scorpio

Braid series 7: How to do a flat four-strand braid

The finished product

There are two ways of doing this style, and I'll cover them both here.

Method 1. This is slightly easier and to be used if you plan on making it French.

1. Divide hair into four even sections, making sure all of your hair is in one of the bunches. We'll call them, from left to right, strands 1 to 4.
2. Cross strand 1 over strand 2 and under strand 3.
3. Cross strand 4 under the former strand 1 and over strand 3.
4. Continue this, alternating sides and making sure that one side is strictly under-over and the other is strictly over-under, to the end and tie off.

Method 2. If you want a side French braid, this is best because hair can be added only on one side.

1. Divide hair into four even sections, making sure all of your hair is in one of the bunches. We'll call them, from left to right, strands 1 to 4.
2. Cross strand 1 over strand 2, under strand 3 and over strand 4.
3. Cross strand 2 over strand 3, under strand 4 and over strand 1.
4. Continue this left-to-right pattern to the end and tie off.

Enjoy!

-Scorpio

Braid series 6: How to do a five-strand braid

The finished product

This one looks hard enough but is actually unbelievably easy as long as you have enough fingers. If not, you might manage if you're careful or you can just get someone else to do it for you.

1. Brush your hair and separate it into five approximately equal-sized sections at the back of your head, keeping each section between your fingers as is comfortable.
2. Cross the rightmost strand (I always start with right, do what seems easiest) over the second-rightmost and under the middle. Hold all of the strands tightly in this position.
3. Now cross the leftmost strand over the second-to-left and under the new middle, formerly the right strand.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3, keeping the braid tight, to the end and tie off.

Enjoy!

-Scorpio

Braid Series 5: How to do a rope braid

The finished product

This braid is not usually used the way it is in the picture, better as an adornment or a method of half-up style, the way I'll be teaching it, but you can do your hair like the picture if you so desire.

1. Take a section of hair and split it into two pieces. Put the rest of your hair in a ponytail so it doesn't pull and add to the braid. Split the hair in two halves.
2. Take one half of the section and twist it, turning it over and over until you're at the end of the hair and the whole thing is one tight twist. Pin this down, get someone to hold it, or grip it in your teeth 
3. Twist the other half in the same direction until it has about the same amount of twist.
4. Take the other half and hold the two tightly together, making sure they're pointed in the direction you want them to go. Tie them together with an elastic.
5. Let go and pull on the ends slightly as they twist together to make it more uniform. Make sure to carefully sweep your hand under the braid to remove any stray hairs that might cling onto it as it twists.

Enjoy!

-Scorpio

Braid Series 4: How to do a fishtail braid

The finished product

This is probably my favourite braid overall; it takes some time to make but is rather fun (if that makes sense) and the finished product is beautiful. You can wear just one at the back of your head or make two adorable pigtails over your shoulders. This is only the most basic way to make one; experiment as you please.

1. Brush your hair and split it in half, pulling a part over each shoulder.
2. Take a tiny piece from the outside of the right strand and cross it over, adding it to the inside-bottom of the left section.
3. Holding the left section together, new strand included, take a new small piece from the outside and add it to the inside of the right piece.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to the end and tie off.

WARNING! Do not bring the braid over your shoulder to finish too early, and be extremely careful when you do. If you ignore this, the braid will become warped on the opposite side.

Other than that, enjoy!
-Scorpio

Braid Series 3: How to do a dutch braid

The finished product

My third braid is extremely similar to the French braid; one could even say it's just an upside down version (it is). This is just a quick know-how on how to do this beautiful 3D braid.

1. Gather three small sections of hair at the top of your hairline and get in position to do a normal braid.
2. Instead of your usual right-over-middle, left-over-middle routine, cross the right strand under the center and cross the left strand under the new center.
3. Add a small piece of hair to the new right strand before crossing it under this time, and do the same for the left.
4. Repeat step 3 until you have no more hair to add, then finish the upside-down braid, pulling it over your shoulder to make it easier when it gets long enough. Remember: you're crossing the strands under, not over.
5. When you're done, secure with an elastic and wrap a small piece of hair around to hide it.

Enjoy!

-Scorpio

Braid Series 2: How to do a french braid

The finished product

Braid 2 in my series is the classic French braid. It can look a bit daunting but is extremely easy to do if you practice the technique enough.

1. Gather three small sections of hair at the top of your hairline and start braiding it back with only a couple crossovers, then stop there.
2. Before crossing the next strand over the middle, add a small section of hair to it and smooth it out, then cross it over the center.
3. Add another small section of hair to the next strand and cross it over the new middle, keeping the previously crossed strand tight.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3, adding another small strand every time you add another section to your braid until you run out of hair.
5. Once all of your hair has been added to the braid, simply continue braiding down and tie it off at the end.

Enjoy!

-Scorpio

Braid series 1: How to do a normal braid

The finished product

All right, I know how easy it is to do and how you probably know how to already, but seeing as it's the base for our future braids I'll just go over the steps.

1. Gather all of your hair into one area at the nape of your neck, or however high you want it to be. You can secure it with a hairtie, but I prefer not to. It's mainly recommended for anyone with lots of layers.
2. Separate the hair into three sections. I recommend keeping one section between the thumb and index fingers of each hand, and the other lying between the hands.
3. Cross the rightmost strand over the center one and pull tight, rearranging the three strands back into the original position. The former right strand is now the center strand.
4. Do the same with the left strand and rearrange the strands again.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to the end of your hair, and tie the braid off with a hairtie. If you have enough you can pull a small strand of hair out of the tie and wrap it around the elastic, pinning in place.

Enjoy!

-Scorpio

Braid series

Over the next while I plan on posting a series about different kinds of braids and how to make them, and, more importantly, different hairstyles that can be made out of them. This will be in part to aid in the making of my soon-to-be-made Game of Thrones hair tutorials, and will start with the easiest and go to the hardest. I'll start the moment I can find the time to do so.

-Scorpio