3D split braid

A 3D split braid is a fun and easy variation on the regular 3 strand braid. Before you cross your strand over another, you split the strand in two and then you cross one section over and one section under the next strand. This creates an almost square looking braid.
Up for a challenge by adding in hair? Make sure to check out the video tutorial linked below. Important: always first split the strand and cross it over and under the next strand before adding in hair. This new hair gets added to the middle strand, which is the strand you've just split.

The technique:
3D split braid tutorial (with adding in hair)

Ideas:

The Dutch 3D split braid, as explained in my tutorial.

A variation on the Dutch 3D split braid: Dutch braid a small part, then create a ponytail and braid the hair from this ponytail. Then turn it into a bun.

The regular 3D split braid, started in a ponytail.

The first 3D split braid I've ever done myself, started without a ponytail, with a flower accent braid in Christmas colors.

A variation on the regular 3D split braid: two small 3D split braids, brought together at the back of the head.

Box fishtail

A box fishtail is similair to a 3D split braid, only you're using a fishtail braiding technique instead of a regular braid. Divide the hair into two, take a small strand from one section, split this strand into two and cross one half over and one half under the section and add both halfs to the other sections. Keep repeating this to create your braid.
You can also add in hair for a hair Dutch version of this braid: then first do the splitting part (small strand, one half over, one half under, add both to the other section) and then add hair by crossing it under the section you took the strand from and adding it to the section you just added your halfs to as well.

The technique:
Box fishtail tutorial (By PrettyHairIsFun, starts at about 3.00)

Ideas:

A melting braid with a box fishtail - you can basically add a box fishtail to any ponytail or to an accent braid hairstyle!

A very messy version of the box fishtail - fun for an older girl!

A half up box fishtail

Another half up box fishtail, combined with a bun

The box fishtail as headband braid by adding in hair - check out the How to to learn how to do this exact hairstyle!

A slightly pancaked version of the box fishtail with hair added in

How to: Box fishtail headband braid with braided bun

Helpful tutorials:
Dutch 3D splitbraid (the technique is similair)
3 strand braid

You'll need:
2 small elastics
2 or 3 bigger elastics
Bobby pins
If desired, a flower or bow hair clip

How to do this hairstyle?

1. Part the hair just off center. Create a second part starting at the first part and going down to the ear, so you have a section of hair at the front of the head. Make sure to have this section on the side with the most hair.
2. Comb the rest of the hair backwards and tie it into a ponytail.
3. Now take a small strand of hair close to the part and divide this strand into two: a left strand (far away from the forehead) and a right strand (close to the forehead).
4. Take a small strand of hair from the left strand and divide it into two. Cross half over the left strand and cross half under the left strand. Then add both strands to the right strand.
5. Take a small strand of hair from the right strand and divide it into two. Cross half over the right strand and cross half under the right strand. Then add both strands to the left strand.
6. Repeat step 4.
7. Take some hair on the left side of the left strand, cross it under the left strand and add it to the right strand.
8. Repeat step 5.
9. Take some hair on the right side of the right strand, cross it under the right strand and add it to the left strand.
10. Repeat steps 6 through 9 until you've added in all of the hair.
11. Then repeat step 4 and 5 until you've gone past the ear and finish off with a small elastic.
12. Add the braid to the ponytail. You can do this by using another elastic or by lifting up the old ponytail elastic a little bit and pulling the end of the braid through.
13. Divide the hair from the ponytail (so including the end of the braid) into three and do a regular braid with this hair. Finish off with a small elastic.
14. Twist the braid around the ponytail elastic, so you'll get a bun. Put another elastic around the bun and use bobby pins to keep the bun in place.
15. If you like, you can hide the elastic from the braid with a flower or bow.

Good luck!

Autumn braids

With the weather changing from sunny to rainy and windy (here in the Netherlands at least) I always start thinking about autumn. For me, autumn is the leaves changing colors and of course Halloween at the end of the month. So why not add that to your braids?

Since Halloween is something different, I won't mention it anymore in this article. Instead, I would like to give you some ideas to add an autumn vibe to your hair.

The first and simplest idea is to add some decoration:

An autumn leave is a fun decoration in your hairstyle! I've done a double waterfall braid here and then added a Dutch braid on each side with the strands from the waterfall braid. I finished off the style with a regular 3 strand braid.

An autumn leave is definitely easy and fun, but it probably won't stay in during a long or active day. A bow is a great alternative:

This pumpkin bow has autumn feeling written all over it! I've done a waterfall braid and then added the waterfall strands to a ladder braid. I then took all of the hair together, tied it into a ponytail and braided that ponytail with a 3 strand braid. I then turned the braid into a bun and added the bow.

Another fun way to add an autumn feeling to your braids is adding ribbon. Orange is usually a real autumn color, but red and yellow can work as well. The fun thing about ribbon braids is that you can use as many or as little strands in your braid as you like: a 3 strand braid can already be turned into a ribbon braid by replacing one of the strands with a ribbon. Add 1 ribbon or 2... the possibilities are almost endless!

Autumn ribbon colors in these flower braids! I've done three 4 strand braids with a single ribbon and then turned them into flowers.

I hope you have some ideas how to give your hairstyles a little extra autumn feeling. If not, here's a few more ideas!

A 6 strand braid with 3 ribbons, one of the ribbons being orange. For me, this hairstyle isn't even that much about autumn, but the background really gives me that feeling.

(Note: the YouTube video link is a 6 strand braid with micro braids, but just replace the micro braids with ribbons for this hairstyle)

If one piece of decoration isn't enough, then why not add two? I've used my pumpkin bow on top of the ponytail, that is an intricate 5 strand braid. I've used three regular strands and two braided sections: each braided section is a 3 strand braid with one of the strands being an orange ribbon.

This background just screams autumn (apart from the parked cars of course! :P). The hairstyle is a 5 strand Dutch ribbon braid. I've stopped adding in hair when I was at the ears, but I did continue the 5 strand ribbon braid all the way down. With the leftover hair, I've done two 3 strand pancaked braids. At the end, I tied all of the braids together with an elastic.

Younger and older hairstyles

There are so many braid techniques and hairstyles that it's possible to do a fun, beautiful hairstyles for everyone. However, some hairstyles seem to fit younger girls better, while other hairstyles fit older girls or women better. The hairstyle on the photo below might better suit an older girl or a woman for example.

The twisted star ending in pigtails below, however, might better suit a younger girl.

Sometimes hairstyles can suit both, though. The braided headband below, for example, looks nicely for an older girl or a woman, but it would look cute on a younger girl as well.

And then there are hairstyles that - with a little change - can suit both younger and older girls. Take a look at the hairstyles below for example. Two line braids were done in both photos. The first photo has the line braids ending in pigtails. Great for a younger girl! In the second photo, the two line braids end in a single ponytail. Great for an older girl!

So you see: braids are great for both younger and older girls. Sometimes hairstyles can suit both, sometimes you can adjust the style a little. But that's the lovely thing about braiding, I think: it's great for everyone!

3 strand braid

The 3 strand braid is the base of all braided hairstyles. The left strand over the middle one, the right strand over the middle one and repeat this until the end. Or - as alternative - the left strand under the middle one and the right strand under the middle one.
This is a technique you absolutely must master before trying other braiding techniques. And is this technique all you can manage to do? No worries, even with just a 3 strand braid you can create enough fun and beautiful hairstyles!

The technique:
3 strand braid tutorial

Ideas:

Bundled braids, which means: create a ponytail, do six 3 strand braids (or more or fewer) and fold them up!

A regular 3 strand braid with one of the strands being a small 3 strand braid.

A braided bun: create a ponytail, create three 3 strand braids in that ponytail and pin them into place with bobby pins.

A 3 strand braid with two micro 3 strand braids crossed around it.

Four crossed 3 strand braids, pulled through a twist (rope braid).

Create a knot out of two strands of hair and create a 3 strand braid in each strand. Use bobby pins to secure the knot. Here a fishtail has been done first.

Started as four 3 strand braids, crossed and combined into two. Below a bubble ponytail has been done.

Suspended infinity braid + zipper braid

The suspended infinity braid is a braid that's very similair to a zipper braid, a braid that looks like a zipper on a jacket or sweater. The difference between these two braids is that the suspended infinity braid is slightly easier and looks more like a Dutch braided braid, while the zipper braid is a little trickier to do and looks more like a French braided braid.
On my YouTube channel you can find a tutorial on the Suspended infinity braid, done as a lace braid - making it more of a half suspended infinity braid. You can find the link below under 'The technique'. I've also linked to a Suspended infinity braid and a Zipper braid tutorial that aren't from my own channel.

The technique:
Lace suspended infinity braid tutorial
Suspended infinity braid tutorial (from HairNailsInspiration)
Zipper braid tutorial (from YiyaYellow)

Ideas:

The lace suspended infinity braid, as explained in my tutorial.

A full suspended infinity braid

This braid looks like a suspended infinity braid, but has been done with the zipper braid technique. Combined with a fishtail braid.

Another zipper braid, now combined with a donut bun.

The zipper braid with a braided bun.

An advanced version: a zipper braid with two ribbons!

For questions about this technique: feel free to leave a comment below or write me a message on the Facebook page Miriam's Vlecht Lessen or on Instagram - @miriamtogether!