Festival Braids

Bubble Braid
by Whitney Burkhart

Step 1: Prep hair with Puff.ME Light. This will also help give the hair extra grip and hold. I used Puff.ME Light because my model has fine hair. I suggest to start off with some
loose waves so the style has some lived in texture.

Step 2: Tease the crown.

Step 3: Gather hair from around the crown area for your first desired section. TIP: Leave a few hairs out around the bang area to curl later. Secure with elastic.

Step 4: Use a small section of hair from the ponytail to wrap around and hide the elastic. Secure with bobby pin underneath.

Step 5: Take another desired section underneath you’re previous ponytail and secure all the hair from first ponytail, in another elastic. *Both elastics should be placed two inches apart.

Step 6: Loosen the hair in-between elastics, in a uniform manor to create your first bubble braid. “Pinch and pull”.

Step 7: Repeat steps 5 & 6 until you run out of length.

Step 8: Curl any remaining pieces left out in the front.

Step 9: (optional) Add glitter of your choice. I decided to add glitter in the bands securing each elastic.

 

Dutch Braid
by Amy Shnayderman


Step 1: Apply a few pumps of Fab.ME to dry hair predominantly in the mids-ends, comb through until absorbed.

Step 2: Section away the top half of the head, taking 1-2 inch vertical sections, use a 1 inch - 1 1/4 inch curling iron or wand and wrap hair around the iron. Curl hair directionally away from the face. Leave about 1-2 inches of the ends straight. Separate curls with fingertips once cooled.

Step 3: Starting on one side of the hair, form 3 x 2-inch even sections at the crown.
Start braid with left section being passed under the middle one and over the right one, maintain good tension to keep pieces secure for control.

Step 4: Continue passing the sections from the underneath (as opposed to over in a classic french braid). Add hair in 2 inch additions from the remaining hair to add into
the braid.

Step 5: Continue until 4-5 inches of hair remains and secure with an elastic. (you will need extra length to pull on to thicken braid).

Step 6: Spray Puff.ME or Puff.ME light (finer hair) along the spine of the braid to add texture and grip.

Step 7: Blouse the braid by holding the secured tail, pinch and pull gently outward until desired thickness is achieved. Pull down a few shorter layers around the face and hairline for a softer effect.

Step 8: Get creative, add ribbon, twine or cord of choice tied in knots to break up the braid.

Step 9: Add glitter to the curves, tail, and sides of the braid spine using a clean paintbrush or makeup brush (mix glitter with a dollop of light, clear hair gel).

 

Double Fishtail
by Bailey Schiess


Step 1: Prep the hair by curling while leaving out the ends. Spray the crown with Puff Me and back comb to create volume at the base.

Step 2: Separate the hair in half, down the back of the head in a vertical parting. Then split the two sections in half again with a horizontal parting above the ear and below the ear. This will create four quadrants total.

Step 3: Place the bottom two quadrants into two topsy tails near the nape of the neck.

Step 4: Separate the right topsy tail ponytail into two sections. Begin a fishtail braid by taking the outside piece and crossing over to combine with the other section.

Step 5: Repeat this process always taking the outer piece left to right. Keep the braid tight and clean. Continue braiding until you get to a few inches from the bottom.

Step 6: Repeat step 4-5 on the left bottom quadrant, creating two long fishtail braids at the nape of the neck.

Step 7: Grab an inch in of hair from underneath and start braiding.

Step 8: Use Puff.ME Light at the root of the fringe. Tousle a bit to let powder settle in. After spraying, over direct the part so it creates a voluminous bang.

Step 9: Begin with the top left quadrant, leave out some hair around the hairline. Create a French fishtail braid by separating this quadrant into two sections.

Step 10: Make sure to take the outside piece and cross over to combine with the other section. Repeat this process always taking the outer piece from left to right.

Step 11: Continue repeating this process keeping the braid tight and clean until you reach the nape of the neck. Only Pancake this top section. Continue your fishtail
until you reach the end of the other elastic. Do not pancake the section. This will allow different dimension when layering the fishtail braids.

Step 12: Combine the top left braid and the bottom left braid by placing an elastic on the bottom connecting both fishtails. Hide the elastic with a small piece of hair from the bottom of the elastic. Weave a bobby pin between top and bottom fishtail braids in a few sections to ensure that the braids will stay connected. Back comb the ends of the braid to create fullness!

See all of the Design.ME festival braids in the Festival Braid Kit.

Photography: Courtesy of Design.ME