I have been training my hair since I was a kid.
By training, I mean increasing the days between washing my hair. I can go a comfortable three days without washing it by just keeping it dry when I shower, sometimes making it to four or five days with the right styling. Those last one or two days are when my hair will no longer remain down. I resort to tying it up or braiding it.
I used to put my hair into plain Dutch or French braids on those days. But as I get used to wearing it up more, I’ve moved on to more interesting styles—and not just slick back ponytails.
Layered Braids
One of my favorite styles to do this summer was a layered braid. When seen from behind, it looks like only one braid down the back, but it is actually two. To achieve this style, the hair must be first sectioned into the top and bottom half. I typically part it on the line of my eyebrows. Then, I clip the top half up and braid the bottom in a normal three-strand braid. Once the bottom braid is secured with an elastic, I braid the top section in the same fashion. All that’s left to do is to pull on the sides of the braids to fluff them out and to make sure they end at the same length. I like to do this style of braid rather than a singular braid because the sectioning helps keep my hair in place.
Crossed Braids
I love a double-braid look, but I hate feeling like Pippi Longstocking. This style is the perfect middle ground. Though it is complicated to explain, it’s not hard at all. I start by splitting my hair in two down the middle. Then, I split each of those sections into three, as one would do for a normal two-braid look. Here’s the tricky part: the front section from the right side has to be braided with the middle and back sections from the left side. So, I take the front right section and cross it over the back left section to start my braid. Then, I just braid those pieces as normal. The same is repeated with the front left section and the middle and back sections of the right. This crossing of the front sections makes the style intricate-looking. I like doing my double braids like this since they are at the back of my head, rather than the sides. The best way to finish this look is with ribbons at the bottom of the braids.
Knotted Bun
My final favorite style is a knotted bun. I always start this with a slick-back ponytail at the back of my head, wherever I want the center of the bun to be. Once I have my ponytail, I split the hair in two. Then, I tie a knot between those pieces. I tie about four knots between those sections in total. I wrap the string of knots around the base of the ponytail like a normal bun and secure it with mini claw clips. I use these clips wherever I want the bun to stick to my head. While tying my hair in knots scared me initially, the sections are so big and loose that my hair comes out easily when I want it to.
While I love wearing my hair down, I look forward to the day before I wash it when I can wear it in these newfound styles.
