Waterfall Twists into Mermaid Braid | Cute Hairstyles
May 12, 2013
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Many fans have emailed or tagged me in photos from Pinterest and Instagram asking me to film a mermaid braid tutorial.
To be honest, I haven’t loved the style enough to film one because I didn’t particularly like how the strands pulled into the braid from the front and sides.
Thinking about it for some weeks now, it hit me that we should create a hairstyle combination using the Waterfall Twists as a base for the style… and then use the falling strands of those twists as the “add-ins” for the Mermaid Braid!
If you love this photo, please feel free to pin it!
When I tried it out, as soon as I released the braid… it nearly took my breath away! We L-O-V-E-D it!!!
CGH#3 wanted to be my model knowing that today is Mother’s Day, and she asked to do the video introduction as well! Isn’t she adorable???
If you love this photo, please feel free to pin it!
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 small hair elastic, hairspray, and accessory {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 8-10 minutes
Skill Level: Hard
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Begin by brushing hair, and making a center part right down the head…
- Complete a waterfall twist on both sides of the head, beginning near the temples and ending at the back of the head…
- Take the ends of both twists {you should have 4 strands total} and create three strands from them {I do this by joining together two strands, one from each side, to create one strand}…
- Now begin a simple braid….
- After one complete stitch, pick up the nearest waterfall strand {the hair running through the twist} on the left side of the head and add it into your left-most braid strand…
- Now pick up the nearest waterfall strand on the right side of the head and add it into your right-most braid strand…
- Next, complete a regular braid stitch without adding in any hair {this will space out the stranding and create the mermaid braid look}..
- Repeat Steps 5-7 by adding in the waterfall strands until you run out…
- After all waterfall strands are included, finish the rest of the hair off into the simple braid…
- Secure with a hair elastic…
- Add any accessory or ribbon as desired.
Enjoy!
Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you think, and as always… feel free to share!
Happy Hairdoing!
* Note from Mindy: Google Reader will be shutting down on July 1st, so if you want to follow our blog… you can do so at BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader for women!
Feather Waterfall & Ladder Braid Combo | 2-in-1 Hairstyles
January 28, 2013
You are going to absolutely LOVE this hair tutorial because you’ll learn two amazing-looking hairstyles using essentially the same basic techniques!
This hairstyle also incorporates three braids… the Lace Braid, Feather Braid, and Ladder Braid. {If you are confused by any of these techniques, we have previous tutorials of each individual braid you can check out by clicking the links above.}
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The Feather Waterfall
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, 1 hair elastic.
Time Requirement: 5 minutes
Skill Level: Medium
**Bonus: If you have had a hard time in the past mastering the traditional Waterfall Braid, this is a great technique that looks nearly the same… but might be easier for beginners!
- Pick up a small section of hair near the front of the part line and divide it into three strands…
- Begin a regular braid by creating one stitch…
- Now, add in some hair ONLY to the top strand. {A Lace braid is when you only add hair to one side of the braid, unlike a traditional French/Dutch braid where you would add hair to both sides.}
- Once you’ve added in hair to the top strand, cross that piece over the middle strand…
- Then, pull a tiny section of hair off the bottom strand before crossing this strand over the middle. {This is called a Feather Braid, because the tiny pieces fall off the braid much like a feather with its spine.}
- Continue to add hair to the top strand, removing out tiny sections from the bottom strand, as you work your way around the head…
- When you get near the opposite ear, stop adding in/removing hair, and continue a normal braid down the strands and secure with an elastic.
You have now created the beautiful Feather Waterfall braid!
For a very gorgeous look, one that will certainly turn heads when you walk around, use this Feather Waterfall hairstyle as a base and continue below …
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Ladder Braid Combo
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, 2 hair elastics.
Time Requirement: 5-8 minutes.
Skill Level: Medium
For purposes of creating this hairstyle, you will need have the Feather Waterfall Braid done {see instructions above}…
- Take the first five feathers, or so, and flip them up and over the head to keep them out of the way while you begin your second braid…
- Pick up another small section of hair, 1-2 inches below the other braid, and begin a regular braid with one stitch…
- Now, add in hair from the top…which essentially creates another Lace Braid. {The difference is that you will only be adding in the “feather” strands from the first braid.}
- Continue braiding, adding in a feather strand into each top strand of the Lace Braid, as you go. This is creating a Ladder Braid, with the feather strands now becoming “rungs” on the ladder…
- As you braid, try to keep the braids about 1-2 inches apart to allow the ladder effect to remain…
- Continue ladder braiding as you work your way around the head.
- When you get near the opposite ear, stop adding in hair and finish off the strand into a normal braid…
- Secure with an elastic.
You have now created an unbelievable, eye-catching Ladder Braid Combo!
CGH#3 wore this hairstyle to the Kid History Episode #10 Premier this past Friday night, and women were commenting and taking pictures of it all night!
Here is the video tutorial…
If you liked this hairstyle, please do feel free to share! Happy Hairdoing!
* Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader!
Comment on this post »DIY Dutch Waterfall Braid | Cute Braided Hairstyles
December 09, 2012
Last week I showed you how to create the Dutch Waterfall Braid on my daughter…
Because it is a tricky braid to learn, and because so many fans are asking for it, this week’s tutorial will show you how to do it on your own hair {DIY}!
You can see that it is the exact exact same technique, but they key to mastering the braid is learning how to “feel” for the stranding in your own hands, and without being able to see the back of your head.
Trust me, this is a braid that everyone is going to comment on! Please do not get discouraged and give up if the braid does not turn out perfect the first time! ☺ {Practice always makes perfect!}
In last week’s tutorial, I ended my daughters Dutch Waterfall Braid with a simple braid and elastic band. In this tutorial, for a more mature look, I chose to end the braid behind my left ear using two bobby pins in a crossed pattern. Once you master the braid, you can pretty much end it in any creative way you wish!
Steps:
- I started by straightening my hair, but I really think this braid would be lovely on curly hair as well. I also teased the top of my hair to create a little extra volume {creating a more mature, softer look}…
- Begin by picking up a small section of hair where you want to start the braid {I started on the front, above the right eye}…
- Divide this small section into three strands…
- Begin a normal dutch braid. This means that the middle strand will always go OVER the outer strands {or you can say the outer strands will always go UNDER the middle strand}…
- Do one complete stitch by taking the middle strand over both outer edges once…
- You now drop the middle piece and let it fall out of the way…
- This is where it gets a little tricky… now pick up a small section of hair to add back into the braid and add it back as the MIDDLE piece. Do NOT add it as the bottom piece or the braid won’t work. You have basically just dropped the middle strand and replaced it with a new strand in the exact same location.
- Now take that middle strand and cross it over the outer bottom strand. This will create the outer edge that pops out of the braid…
- You then add hair to the top-outer strand {this is exactly what you would do with a regular Dutch braid) and cross the middle strand over that one…
- You have now just finished your second “stitch” at this point.
- Repeat steps 5-7 over and over again until you get to a point where you want to finish off the braid. I tried to create a diagnol line going from my right temple to my left ear.
- When you get about 2 inches behind your left ear, twist up a small section of hair up from the left side and clip it out of the way using an alligator clip. We will use this piece later to hide the bobby pins…
- Now take two bobby pins and pin the remainer of the braid right behind your ear {making sure to “cross” the bobby pins for added security}. Your ear will also help hide the bobby pins…
- Release the clipped hair from the clip and allow it to fall freely over the bobby pins.
- Now adjust the braid and the rest of your hair to your liking, and add hairspray {if desired}.
If you are looking to use this hairstyle to attend a wedding or school dance, you may choose to curl the falling strands with a wand!
Enjoy!
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, 2 bobby pins, 1 alligator clip, hairspray {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 5 minutes
Skill Level: Hard
Happy Hairdoing!
* Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader!
Comment on this post »Dutch Waterfall Braid | Cute Girls Hairstyles
December 05, 2012
We were contacted the other day by Intermountain Moms {mommy network on Facebook} to thank us for shouting out their page to our fans in a recent video. As part of that “Thank You” they are offering an exclusive giveaway to our US and International fans where you have a chance to win 1 of 5 Sephora $100 gift cards! Simply click the link, like their page, and let them know what you would use the gift card to buy! The giveaway ends on Dec 9th, 2012, at midnight, so be sure to enter!
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Many of you know how popular our Waterfall Braid has become! It has become the most searched, modern braid on the Internet. In fact, our Self Waterfall Braid tutorial is by far the most popular hairstyle tutorial on YouTube {at over 18,000,000 views}!
Since our first Waterfall Braid posting back in 2009, we promised to bring you beautiful variations of this braid and today’s promises to be another beautiful one!
Here we show you how to create the Waterfall Braid using the Dutch Braid instead of a French Braid. Yes, it can be done… and next week we will upload how to DIY {Do-It-Yourself} this braid!
What I particularly love about the Dutch version is that the braid really pops out, creating the perfect accent for the falling strands!
The stranding {or stitching, as we call it} for the Dutch Waterfall Braid can be quite difficult. I will explain the steps the best way I can, but please be sure to view the video to gain a complete understanding:
- Begin by picking up a small section of hair where you want to start the braid {I started on the front, above the right eye}…
- Divide this small section into three strands…
- Begin a normal dutch braid. This means that the middle strand will always go OVER the outer strands {or you can say the outer strands will always go UNDER the middle strand}…
- Do one complete stitch by taking the middle strand over both outer edges once…
- You now drop the middle piece and let it fall out of the way.
- This is where it gets a little tricky… now pick up a small section of hair to add back into the braid and add it back as the MIDDLE piece. Do NOT add it as the bottom piece or the braid won’t work. You have basically just dropped the middle strand and replaced it with a new strand in the exact same location.
- Now take that middle strand and cross it over the outer bottom strand. This will create the outer edge that pops out of the braid…
- You then add hair to the top-outer strand {this is exactly what you would do with a regular Dutch braid) and cross the middle strand over that one…
- You have now just finished your second “stitch” at this point.
- Repeat steps 5-7 over and over again until you get to a point where you want to finish off the braid.
- Using the three remaining strands, create a basic braid down the remainder of the hair and secure with an elastic.
- Add a ribbon or any accessory as desired.
You can see our other Waterfall Braid variations here:
- Self Waterfall Braid {over 18,000,000 views}
- Waterfall Braid {over 8,000,000 views}
- Waterfall Twist {over 3,000,000 views}
- Double Waterfall Braid
- Waterfall Braid with Spiral Curls
- Waterfall Braid with Crimped Strands
- Waterfall Combo {headband, ponytail, braid-wrapped bun, messy bun}
I am sure that this Dutch Waterfall Braid will be just as viral as the original Waterfall Braid, since everyone is wanting to learn the latter! You can be the first to master this, and be the envy of all the other girls wearing just the Waterfall Braid!
If you LOVE this hairstyle, please be feel free to blog about it, share it on Facebook, tweet it on Twitter, pin it on Pinterest, and add it on Instagram. For the first time ever, we will accept all video responses of you showing the Dutch Waterfall Braid on YouTube {just be sure you tag us as CuteGirlsHairstyles in the video title}!
Enjoy!
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 large hair elastic, bow and hairspray {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 5 minutes
Skill Level: Hard
Happy Hairdoing!
* Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader!
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