Sunday, September 1, 2013

The Summer Braid

In June, I was at a publishing convention in New York.  I saw an elegant woman with silver hair and I did not forget her braid.  She had her hair pulled up high on the side of her head, braided, and laid across the top of her head.




This has become my go-to hairstyle this summer.  It is simpler than the Heidi look (which I want to stop calling Heidi braids because it makes them sound quaint, costume-y, or childish). I've seen them called rainbow braids. I can do these braids (see the photos on this post), but it takes some energy and futzing.



This summer braid, however, is a snap.  I pull back the front part of my hair into a barrette to help anchor the braid, then I make the braid, secure its end with a tiny, clear elastic, and pin it in place with several bobby pins. (That's as close to a tutorial as I'm getting).  My hair is several inches below my shoulders, as a point of reference.  I love it off my neck in the summer, and this braid is my favorite way to do that.

13 comments:

Jennifer Jo said...

I do not follow. I need a tutorial. With step-by-step pictures. Thank you.

(And, please?)

Julian said...

Pretty!
Christina

beth said...

I need the tutorial as well. ;/

LOVE AND XXXX said...

I love your 'Swedish' braids especially because you have nice blonde highlights. Well done.

Unknown said...

Nice job! I used to french braid my hair when I was younger, but it was hard to keep it all even...

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Looks so lovely - flattering..love it!

jenny_o said...

This looks so very nice! Keeping hair off one's neck in the heat makes such a difference.

Since others have already asked for a tutorial, I will chime in ... I am looking for a third choice in summer beyond a ponytail or melting :) If you remember, could you tell us what kind of hair the silver-haired lady had? I can see this braid works for your hair, but I'm wondering if it works for hair with less wave/curl as well.

Beth said...

Super classy!
I don't have the patience to grow my hair past my chin, it seems, but if I did, I'd try this!

Margo said...

Guys. A tutorial? I don't know if I can pull that off. I tried three different times to photograph this braid, using 2 other photographers!

jenny_o, yes, I do remember the silver-haired lady. Her hair was much straighter and the whole hairstyle/braid was pulled tighter so you could really see the contrast of the braid against her smooth hair. Her braid was forward further on her head, so you could see it when you looked at her head on, like a coronet. Lovely. Good luck with your third choice!

Polly said...

I love this braid! Too bad I just got my hair hacked off this summer, or I'd try it out. My only question is (b/c I may try this w/ my little girlie)--is it just one braid that you twine 'round your head, or is it two braids that somehow meet each other? I am thinking the former due to your description, but in the photo it almost seems like it could be the latter.

Margo said...

Polly, it's one braid. Start up high, like a side ponytail, and lay the resulting braid over the top of her head, curling it around on itself if her hair is long enough. Hope you like it!

Deanna Beth said...

Gor! Geous! I wonder if the braid starts with a ponytail in an elastic? I don't SEE the elastic. Anyway, alas, because I just got seven inches cut off.

Margo said...

DB, thank you! No, the braid doesn't start with an elastic. I just pull up my hair to the side of my head and start braiding. I finish it with a tiny elastic and then lay it across the top of my head.
And wow, 7" is a lot of hair to cut off!