How to: a French Braid Around the Head

A wrap-around French braid is elegant yet simple.

The wrap-around French braid is a popular hairstyle worn by celebrities such as Lauren Conrad, Anne Hathaway and Diane Kruger. Although this style takes a little bit of practice, especially if you're not familiar with French braiding, it's easy to master and is perfect for those times when you want a casual but feminine look that can be finished in minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Hair elastic

Instructions

1. Grab a two-inch section of hair, starting on either side of your hair part, and divide it into three separate pieces, each held taut between your fingers.

2. Pull the top section of hair over the middle section of hair, and then pull the bottom piece of hair over what is now the middle piece, just as you would create a traditional braid. Keep in mind that you should be braiding your hair toward the back of your head rather than straight down toward your shoulder.

3. Take another smaller piece of hair closest to the top section of hair and combine the two as you pull the top section over the middle section. Repeat with the bottom section of hair, incorporating another small piece as you pull it over the middle section.

4. Continue braiding around the entire head, incorporating pieces of hair with each step. The braid can set low, near the back of your neck or high on your crown, but make sure to use all of the hair at the nape of the neck.

5. Finish the hairstyle by continuing to braid down and over your shoulder. As you cross to the opposite side of your head, you'll no longer be able to add pieces of hair to the bottom section, only to the top. Depending on the length of your hair, you'll also run out of hair to add to the top section as you near the end of the braid; at that point, simply create a traditional braid.

6. Secure the bottom of the braid with a hair elastic.

Tips & Warnings

• Freshly washed hair is slippery and may be harder to work with. Create grip by skipping a shampoo or working some texture cream into your hair before braiding.

References

• College Candy: CC Beauty Live: Wrap Around French Braid
• Beautylish: Wrap Around French Braid
• "Seventeen" Magazine: French Braids