Upside-Down French Braids for Weddings
Braiding is a form of traditional hair decoration, being popular for weddings when brides often like to wear styles that have been handed-down. Upside-down French braids work for weddings and elegant ensembles that reflect tradition. This braid style looks striking, whether contemporary or formal. Upside down French braids start from the nape of the neck, or the bottom of the hairline, and work up towards the crown. With each section, a new strand of hair is incorporated into a French braid, so that it sits close to the head with a structured appearance.
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Up-Dos
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Upside-down French braids make the basis for elegant wedding up-dos. You style the front and crown of hair with bangs, pulled back or combed into a side-part. Braid hair from the nape of the neck straight up to the crown, forming a tidy decorative back. Long hair looks formal when braided right to the tip then wound and pinned into a bun on the top of the head. Instead of a braided bun, try fastening the end of the French braid, where it leaves the scalp, to form a ponytail. Wound around a bun-ring, this makes a large, smooth bun, which tends to go well with a veil. Curl the ends of the ponytail with tongs and clip them so that they hang down at the sides of the head in ringlets.
Hairband
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An upside-down French braid worn as a hairband.
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Fix a reverse French braid at the front of hair to give a decorative hair-band effect. A contemporary look, this involves starting the braid at the side. This could be near the ear, at the front of the hairline, or even at the nape of the neck. The braid runs along from the side and across the front of the head. The braided end is fastened behind the opposite ear. A hair-band braid can be styled to look both youthful and sophisticated. Leave the remaining hair to tumble down around the back and shoulders, either straight or curled, for a girly look. Or you could smooth remaining hair into an up-do, such as a French pleat or bun.
Decoration
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Fresh flowers echo the natural glamour of braiding and can be wired onto a hair-band or clip by a florist. A single upside-down French braid is simple enough to team with a single eye-catching flower spray. Choose a few leaves and tea roses to lend a classical look to an up-do, or try a single spray of Lavender for an Irish bridal theme. Large, fragrant tropical blooms dress-up braids for a contemporary feel.
Emphasize the formality of a French-braid up-do by decorating your style with tiny pearls or crystals. An upside-down braid along the back, leaves the nape of the neck clean, so is ideal to team with a decorative necklace or slinky, modern evening wedding gown.
Tips
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Braiding choppy layered cuts and fine hair can be problematic because the ends stick out and sometimes there is not enough hair to scoop up with each new section. For a wedding, fix in a hair-piece, to make the braid chunkier. This highlights the decorative structure of an upside-down French braid. For a wedding day, you need a hairdresser to style your braid to ensure that it lasts the day and sits correctly. Make sure you have a hair-trial before your big day, to test out this look.
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