5 Minute Styles Episode 1 Breakdown: Braided Up 'Do

Overview
For this style, I used a pre-curled wig, but this style does not require curling your hair first. It might make it easier to make the rolls at the end, but I will demonstrate straight hair styles in other videos. I welcome trying this hairstyle on any and all hair textures and would love to see what you create!

Not shown in the video is the time I spent detangling the hair. This wig tended to re-tangle no matter how much I brushed it out ahead of time, but some detangler or light use of hair oil should help prevent this for real hair.

I did not really use a mirror for the majority of this style, but feel free to when trying this out for the first time and checking your work to make sure no ends or weird bits stick out.

​If you are totally new to braiding, you may want to start off with more simple versions of this hairstyle or simply practice braiding for awhile before attempting this style. Keep an eye out for future videos to see a range of styles for more experience levels.

Here are the basic steps I will expand upon below covered in this episode:

1. Section your hair into 3 parts
2. Dutch braid down the center of the middle section until the nape of your neck
3. "Pancake" the braid
4. Wrap the end of the braid around your fingers and pin just off center at the nape of your neck
5. Individually, twist the left & right sections toward the center, wrap the ends around your fingers, and pin to either side of the braided section

Step 1: Section your hair into 3 parts
Every good hairstyle starts off with a plan, and sectioning is the best way to create a template for your plan. It helps you to stay organized and gives you a better idea for how much more you have left to do. It also helps prevent you from putting too much hair into your braid and not having enough to add more twists and rolls.

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Step 2: Dutch braid down the center of the middle section until the nape of your neck
I never braid until the end of my hair if I do not have to since it uses time for something that might not even show. If you have never done a Dutch braid before, it is like a French braid but instead of bringing the outside sections in over the braid, you bring them in under the braid. The result is a braid that sits on top of the hair instead of being folded inside of it.

​If you have never done either a Dutch or French braid before, the principle is the same, after the first 3 sections are braided, add in additional hair before braiding each new section. Ideally, each added section should be about the same size. It takes some practice to get used to this style of braiding, especially on yourself. If you are totally new to braiding, starting off with a simpler style to practice may be your best option before moving on to something like this.

Step 3: "Pancake" the braid
This is, quite possibly, ​my favorite phrase in all of hair styling. Yes, that is what it's called. Essentially, starting off at the bottom of the braid and working your way up, tug on the strands to flatten out the braid. This makes it appear wider and more voluminous. In more formal techniques, you might want to do this more slowly and methodically in order to get a more even spread, but in this challenge I just did not have time for, nor did I think it needed, perfection.

Step 4: Wrap the end of the braid around your fingers and pin just off center at the nape of your neck
This part will look cleaner if your hair is completely detangled beforehand and will be easier to do with curled hair. If you do not have time to curl your whole head, consider just curling the ends. Again, it's not necessary, but might give a better look at the end. 

I choose to do off center looks for these kinds of quick styles since I feel like it's easier than trying to find and style to the exact center of my head. Asymmetry is in fashion anyway, so you may as well go for it and do it on purpose.

Step 5: Individually, twist the left & right sections toward the center, wrap the ends around your fingers, and pin to either side of the braided section
​Each side is done on their own and again, we are not trying to achieve perfect symmetry, but it is important to twist toward the center of your head, away from your face. This will provide the best silhouette from the front. 

As with the middle section, wrapping the hair and pinning the roll to your head, would be easiest with curled and detangled hair but only the latter of this is totally necessary for a sleek look.

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That's all there is to it! Let me know if you have any questions or what other kinds of styles you might like to see.

​I look forward to seeing the versions you create!