Elegant Crown Braids

If you have just learned how to braid hair, then maybe it would be a good idea to give this slightly complicated hairstyle a miss, till you have developed an expertise in basic braiding.

Crown braids are braid hairstyles that start from one end of your head, braiding your hair section wise, picking up sections to join the braid, following the contours of the head, covering it completely, to give it an appearance of a braided crown.

This hairstyle has many variations, the simple braid, the Dutch braid, the Swiss braid, etc, all of which are slightly different from each other. If you have short hair, then it would be a good idea to use hair extensions. Wet hair or hair that has not been washed for a day is the best type of hair to style in this manner.

These braids are perfect for parties with themes like the Victorian era. It is not a hairstyle that can be tied everyday as it requires a lot of time and precision to knot your hair into this type of braid. It would be a good idea to get a friend to help you out when you are braiding your hair, so that you do not miss out sections while knotting them. This style sits snugly against your head and can cause a little bit of pain due to all the pulling and knotting.

• Allow your hair to fall forwards by bending and then brush it all downwards. At the crown of your head, imagine a central point from which all the hair is falling forwards.
• Gather a section of your hair, from behind your left ear, picking it up from the central point and then divide it into three sections.

• Start making a French braid with this section of hair and let it sit tightly against your head.
• Now take another section of hair from the left and join it to the French braid you are making.

• Keep taking new sections of hair, French braiding it to curl around and across the back of your head till it reaches your left ear again.
• Ensure that the braid is tightly wound against your head so that it does not come off or look untidy.

• Now braid the remaining hair and tie it with an elastic band. Now wrap this braid around your head, either below or above the first layer of braid and use bobby pins to secure the braid in your hair.

Making these braids is an extremely painstaking and difficult process that will test your patience to the hilt. Most people find it easier to make this braid after dividing it into sections. Once you have mastered making crown braids, you can try braiding your hair into a Dutch braid.

Once you have learned and followed skillfully, the instructions to knot your hair into a simple crown braid, you can try a style of hair braiding that is slightly tougher. This is just one of the variations that you can try out.

Brush your hair and then part it in the center. Take the section of the hair on the left and brush it in front of your face.

Clip up the hair on the right side so that it does not interfere with the braiding.Bend forwards and divide a section of your hair into three parts and start braiding it, taking the left strand under the middle and then the right strand under the middle.

• Now take another section of hair, from the hair hanging loose and braid it with the braid you are making.

• Continue making this braid allowing it to sit tightly and snugly against the left side of your head. As you reach the forehead, curve it to follow the shape of your head. As you do this, you will need to take more sections of hair towards the hairline.

• Towards the center of the forehead, unclip the section of hair on the right side and braid across, taking new sections of hair from this side.

• Now braid your hair towards the right side of the head. As you reach the nape of your head, curve the braid upwards, following the shape of your head.

• Keep tightening the braid against your head so that it does not open up at any point of time. When all your hair has been braided, secure the ends with bobby pins or a hair elastic that can be hidden.
• Take the loose hair and braid it fastening it under the top layer, following the curves of the braid, and pin it up with bobby pins.

Tying your hair into a crown braid is a difficult process, especially knotting it in the traditional style. While it definitely makes the hairstyle more elegant, it takes a lot of effort, which is why many people prefer to stick to the normal techniques to style their hair, especially if the person is braiding their hair themselves.