SOFT & CHUNKY BRAIDED PONYTAIL TUTORIAL
‘Cos who doesn't love braids?!
This style works on hair of any texture, but best on medium to thick density. That means, the hair can be fine but it's great if you’ve got a lot of strands! We were inspired by the sport luxe trend that's everywhere right now, but there are so many variations you could try with this style.
For example, you could continue plaiting the ponytail all the way down or even wrap it up into a bun if you have shorter hair.
A basic knowledge of braiding is required for this look. You’ll see though as it's broken down into steps, it's not a fiddly or intricate style and you should only have to pick up hair a few times, you won’t be juggling lots of hair at once.
I find braiding is best on ‘second day hair’ (day after washing). Especially if your hair is naturally silky or shiny, as it can be hard to keep the sections from slipping out of your hands as you braid! It also works really well if you have re-growth. Grown-out colour adds a contrasting texture, which enhances the look!
Make sure you tag us on Instagram if you give this style a go; we'd love to see your creations! Use the hash tag #tutorialsbylaurenm and #ohhellohair. Good luck!
1. Start with natural, dry hair. Now is a good time to add any texture sprays if you feel like the hair is too soft or clean. A light hairspray will do the job too - just spray it through, all over and then brush it out. I used my old favourite, Bamboo Volume Uplifting Root Blast, because I love the dry texture it puts in the hair, giving me better grip.
2. If working with a part, put that in with a comb and then pick up a triangle section of hair at the very front, around 3CM wide. Use your hands to divide this triangular section into 3 sections.
3. Start plaiting with your 3 pieces, picking up a new section of hair around 2cm wide each time you cross them over each other, including it into your braid.
4. Remember with your braiding that you want to keep a gentle, but firm grip on the hair - you don't want to pull the hair too tight as this causes the hair to bump and bubble. You want this braid to look chunky and organic, so it helps if you don't hold your hands too high above the head as you braid, but more like you're letting the hair find its own path.
I opted for a soft diagonal direction but straight looks cute too!
5. Continue this process until you get to the nape of the hair, where you can tie it off with a hair elastic to create a low ponytail.
6. Now that your braid is secure, you can use your hands to create some softness in the style. I like to gently pull and loosen the front section to give some lift and height at the front, but depending on your face shape you may also want to loosen the sides a little too.
Another good trick is to use an old (but clean!) make up/bronzer style brush to swipe around the hairline to let out some baby hairs if you don't want it to look and feel too sleek.
7. Finally, to finish the look, I like to cover the hair elastic by wrapping a section of hair around the base of the ponytail. Take a shoelace-width piece of hair from the back of the ponytail and thread the ends through a bobby pin to secure it, wrap it over the top of the band until you're about to run out of hair, and then poke it in back in behind the ponytail to hide it out of the way. Voila!
8. And there you have it! A pretty twist on the classic ponytail, perfect for a casual look or special events.
