How to Put a Hair Braid Up Around the Head

"Heidi braids" get their name from Johanna Spyri's story, "Heidi," about a girl from the Swiss Alps. There are many depictions of Heidi wearing braids like a crown around her head. They are popular with women wearing period costume but are also nice for those who have long hair that they want to wear out of their face. This look can be achieved with or without bangs. Although not difficult, braiding your hair and putting them around your head can take some practice to do nicely.

Things You'll Need

• Long hair
• Brush
• Two pony tail holders
• Bobby pins

Instructions

Braiding the Hair

1. Brush your hair smooth, using a comb or good brush.

2. Part your hair in the middle, starting at the crown and going all the way to the nape of the neck.

3. Keep one of the sections out of the way by using a clip or barrette.

4. Braid one section of hair, starting just above your ears. Make sure to pull the braid tightly as you cross the strands. When you reach the end of the hair, use an elastic pony tail holder to finish it off.

5. Repeat the braid for the other section, finishing it off with a pony tail holder as well.

Creating the Crown

1. Take one braid, generally the messiest one, and cross it over your head. You can put it up close to the forehead or further back on the crown of your head. Whatever looks best with your face shape is the best, so experiment with placement.

2. Pin the braid to your head using bobby pins that match your hair color, so as to hide them.

3. Bring the second braid over your head, on top of the first braid. Use bobby pins again to keep it in place. Pin them to your head, and also to the first braid.

4. Tuck the ends of the braids underneath to hide them. Hide the ends from the left braid underneath the right braid, and the ends of the right braid under the left braid.

Tips & Warnings

• Use jeweled bobby pins for a more elegant look, or decorate your hair using flowers or jewels.

• If your hair is too short, try starting the braid up a little higher above your ears.

• If you don't want to part your hair exactly down the middle, you can start it a little to the side. Just be sure to have a mostly equal amount of hair for each braid, as that makes it a little more symmetrical when it's up in the crown.

• You can create this look with either wet or dry hair. If you have dry hair, it is better on hair that was washed the day before and not newly clean hair.

References

• Hair Boutique: The Heidi Braid Is Hot
• Heidi Braids Tutorial