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Braids and Beyond: Elevating Your Hair Game With Chic Styles

woman holding braid

If you’ve fallen into a hairstyling rut and have been looking for ways in which you can up your hair game, you’ve come to the right place. Read on as Nubi shares some of the chicest hairstyles to rock this season. Be warned…some may take a bit of practice, but the end result will be totally worth it!

The Braided Ponytail

Nubi Styling Spray

Let’s start with something simple; a braided ponytail. While a ponytail may not seem very exciting, a braided pony elevates this classic style. It adds texture and interest, giving your hair a sleek and intricate silhouette.

Even better, a braided ponytail is so easy to pull off. It doesn’t take too much longer than a regular ponytail, making this one of the best hairstyles for when you’re in a hurry.

To get started, tie your hair into a ponytail. While this style will work with all ponytails, a high pony will really showcase your locks. Then, to keep things simple, separate your ponytail into three sections and weave them into a simple three-strand braid. Tie your braid off at the end with an elastic band and then give your hair a spritz with a styling spray to lock your style in place.

If you’d like to add more complexity to this style, try experimenting with different types of braids. Each one will give this look a slightly different finish, meaning that you could sport a braided ponytail every day and it would still look unique. 

The Rope Ponytail

If you love the idea of a braided ponytail but can’t seem to master the braiding process, then the rope ponytail would be a worthy alternative to try. 

Again, just like with the braided pony, start by tying your hair into a high ponytail. Then, divide this down the center so that you have two even sections. Twist these sections around each other, moving clockwise. This will create the ‘rope’, which you can then tie off with an elastic band at the end.

If you’d like to elevate this look even more, try creating two high ponytails instead of just one, so that you have two pigtails. Then, twist each ponytail individually before twisting both of those ‘ropes’ together. This will create one larger weave that will look even more impressive! 

Another option would be to use your rope ponytail to create another style. From a chignon to a high bun, experiment with manipulating your ‘rope’ in various ways to see what you can create!

The Four-Strand Braid

There are so many hairstyles that you can create with a simple three-strand braid. However, if a three-strand braid is already a regular go-to for you, ramp things up with a four-strand braid instead. It looks more intricate than a three-strand braid yet it doesn’t require too much more expertise to form. 

A simple way to get started is to gather your hair into a low ponytail and then split that into four even sections. To make sure that they’re even, split your pony into two first, before splitting each of those sections into two again. Then, starting from the right-hand side, number each section from one to four. 

To create the braid, take hold of section one. Move this over section two, under section three, and then over section four. Now, re-number your sections so that the section on the right-hand side becomes number one. 

Keep repeating those steps, gently pulling your braid tight after each round to keep it taut. Once you reach the end, secure your braid with a clear elastic band. If you notice any unruly strands sticking out, smooth a hair serum or some hair putty over your braid to keep everything in place.

The Crown Braid

the set up teal

A crown braid is exactly what it sounds like – a braid that sits like a crown over your head. It’s elegant and feminine, making it perfect for a special occasion.

To create your crown, start by parting your hair down the middle and then separating it into two even sections. Braid each section regularly – you can use a simple three-strand braid for this, or elevate this look even further with a four-strand braid. Once you’ve tied your braids off at the end, use your fingers to lightly tug on the loops of each of your braids to widen them and give them a little more volume.

Then, flip both of your braids up and over your head. Use bobby pins to secure them. You’ll need to place a couple at the top of your head where the braids meet, and then a few more down the sides of each braid. 

Finally, pull a few strands of hair loose from the sides of your face to give you some face-framing layers that accentuate this intricate style even more. It can sometimes be helpful to use a curling wand to give those tendrils some extra shape, so that they perfectly fall around your face.

Braided Space Buns

Cute and fun, space buns are one of those hairstyles that will immediately add a playful element to your look. Braiding those space buns takes this style to a whole new level, giving it even more personality and texture.

Start by brushing your hair and parting it down the middle, splitting it into two sections. Tie each one off, so that you’re left with two pigtails. The height of these pigtails is completely up to you, so experiment to see what works best with your facial features.

Then, braid each of your pigtails and tie them off at the end. A three-strand braid is all you need but a rope braid will also work well.

Lift one braid and wrap it around the first elastic band that you used to secure your pigtails, so that it forms a bun. Tuck the end of the braid underneath the bun and then place another hair tie over the top of the bun to hold it in place. Repeat those steps with your other pigtail.

Finally, add in some bobby pins to ensure that your space buns feel sturdy and secure. A mist of hairspray can also help to lock everything in place!

Baby Braids

the set up purple

If you love hairstyles that have plenty of texture, then baby braids are exactly what you need. They’re tiny braids that frame the face, taking only a few minutes to create but completely changing your entire look.

To get started, part your hair in the middle. Then, starting from your part, separate a small strand of hair from either side of your face. Braid each section, starting your braid from as close to your roots as possible. Once you’re done, secure the ends of your braids with an elastic band.

While baby braids work well on all hair types, they look particularly stunning on wavy hair, thanks to the extra texture that the waves provide. If you’d like to give this a try, use a curling wand, such as the Nubi Sleek Curl clipless wand, to add some movement to the rest of your strands.

Ribbon Braids

A ribbon braid is a traditional Mexican style that was originally used to keep unruly strands in place while women were cooking and cleaning. However, it also happens to look stunning, making it a look worth replicating!

Unlike some of the other hairstyles that we’ve featured, this one is incredibly versatile, making it easy for you to put your own spin on it. 

Start by parting your hair. The placement of the part is completely up to you, although it can help to go with your regular part to ensure that your hair doesn’t end up looking skewed. 

Then, split your hair into three sections, just as you would when creating a regular three-strand braid. However, make sure that one section is slightly smaller than the other two. Place your ribbon along the smaller of the three sections. Use a bobby pin to clip it in place at the top of your head.

You’re now ready to start braiding. Again, do this as you normally would, keeping the ribbon as part of that smaller section of your hair. Once you reach the end, tie your braid off with an elastic band.

To elevate this style even more, experiment with different types of braids. From a French braid to a Dutch braid, a ribbon can be incorporated into just about every type of braid. You could also try adding in more than one ribbon, so that each section of your hair incorporates its own ribbon. This can look extremely striking, so long as you pick ribbon colors that match each other! 

The French Braid Ponytail

French braids are one of the best braided hairstyles for keeping hair away from the face. However, there’s no denying that they can sometimes take a while to create, especially if you haven’t had much practice doing so. Going with a French braid ponytail helps to cut that time in half while giving you a unique look that lends itself well to all occasions.

Begin by separating a section of your hair from the center of your forehead, running back toward your crown. Backcomb it to give it some volume and then split this into three sections. 

Start French braiding those three sections. If you’ve never done a French braid before, you’ll find several video tutorials online that will make this easier. 

Once your braid reaches ear-level, stop braiding and pull your hair into a ponytail, tying it off with an elastic band. Then, take a small section of hair from underneath your ponytail and pull it up and around your elastic band, so that the elastic band can no longer be seen. Once you’re done wrapping that strand around your elastic band, use a bobby pin to secure the end of that strand in place, pushing it into your ponytail to hide it from view.

Innovative Hairstyles From Nubi

At Nubi, we’re all about giving you the inspiration that you need to take the hairstyles that you create to the next level. Changing up your hair every now and again can really transform your entire look, so give the above hairstyles a try and see what works best for you!

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