by Sunny

follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps

There is nothing like the heat and humidity of summer to really put one’s hair styling products to the test.  Even with smoothing serums, conditioners, and heat protectants, my curly locks are unruly at best in the summer.  So I have perfected a couple of easy braided styles to keep my hair looking cool and cute.  Here is my side braid with bun that was a favorite of my family’s on vacation this year.

If you are braiding hair to get a wavy effect when you take it down, it is best to braid your hair when wet and with a styling product that will help hold in the texture. And it’s good to note that the wetter the hair, the tighter the braid will be. I prefer the look of braids with dry hair in order to achieve a looser, more “What? I just threw my hair up like this!” look.  Once dry, I use a little product such as John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Salt Spray or Garnier Fructis Texture Tease Finishing Spray to give hair extra hold.

Step One: Grasp a section of hair on one side of your head and  divide it into three horizontal even sections.  This will be a French braid, but instead of starting from the top of the head, you will start from the right or left side.

Step Two: Place the top section over the middle, then place the bottom section over the new middle section.  This time when moving the top section over the middle section, grab some hair near the top of your head to move as well.  When moving the bottom section over the middle, grab some hair near your neck to move with it.  Continue alternating between top and bottom sections until you make your way across your head to the opposite ear.

Step Three: Secure the braid with a ponytail holder.  Then randomly pin sections of the ponytail against your hair.  I like to leave some of the ends free.  If your hair is longer, you may want to wrap the ponytail around the ponytail holder to create a more traditional bun (see picture below).  Either way, I try to position the hair so that the ponytail holder doesn’t show.

Step Four: Decorate your masterpiece with sparkly pins or even some tropical flower clips.  If your braid feels too loose, spray it with hairspray.

Thanks to MJ for being the perfect hair model!