4 strand French / Dutch braid

When you've mastered the 4 strand braid, you can try adding in hair. You'll get a French / Dutch braid, because you're adding in hair and crossing it over on one side (like a French braid) and under on the other side (like a Dutch braid).
There's also a way to do a full Dutch braided version, but I'll explain that in another article.

The technique:
4 strand French / Dutch braid tutorial

Ideas:

The 4 strand French / Dutch braid, as explained in my tutorial. The French braided section is on the left, the Dutch braided section on the right.

A variation, in which not all of the hair has been added. Great to combine with a bun.

The same variation as above, only pancaked. The braid has been finished as a fishtail.

In this variation the strand you don't add hair to (the third strand, counted from the side where you start braiding) has been turned into a rope braid before doing the 4 strand French / Dutch braid. Of course, instead of a rope braid you can also use loads of different braiding techniques...

... like a 4 strand ribbon braid!

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.

How to: Dutch 3D round braid with 4 strand woven braid

Helpful tutorials:
Dutch 3D round braid

You'll need:
1 elastic
1 ribbon
1 small elastic
Topsy tail (if you wish to hide the elastic with hair - an alternative is to use a flower clip or bow)

How to do this hairstyle?

1. Attach the ribbon to the big elastic.
2. Part the hair off centre.
3. Take a small section of hair on the side with the most hair and divide this into four equal parts.
4. Start a Dutch 3D round braid with these four strands. Angel your braid towards the ear.
5. Continue until you've added in all of the hair. Finish on the side of the head.
6. Use your elastic with the ribbon attached to it to finish off your Dutch 3D round braid.
7. Take your topsy tail and put it point down through the elastic. Take a small strand of hair, wrap it around the elastic and then put the end of the strand through the opening of the topsy tail. Pull the topsy tail down. You've now done a hair wrapped ponytail, your elastic is hidden. You could also choose to hide your elastic with a flower clip or a bow. If you want to do that, skip this step and add the flower clip or bow once you've finished braiding.
8. Divide the hair from your ponytail into three equal strands. The ribbon is your fourth strands. The start position of the ribbon doesn't matter for the braid.
9. Now do a 4 strand woven braid: take the far left strand and cross it over the strand next to it, under the next strand and over the last strand (where 'strand' is written, you can also read 'ribbon').
10. Repeat step 9 all the way down the hair. Finish off with a small elastic.

Good luck!

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

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.

Chain link braid

This braid may seem complicated, but it's actually a combination of 2 twists (rope braids). Important is to remember how you're doing your twist as both twists need to be done the same way. Then you twist the two twists around each other. Keep your direction in mind here. If you've created your twists by twisting the strands to the right and then crossing the right strand over the left strand, then you first need to crosss your left twist over the right over. The other way around: if you've created your twists by twisting the strands to the left and then crossing the left strand over the right one, then now cross your right twists over the left one.
By twisting in the opposite way, your braid will start to look like a 'chain' - hence the name 'chain link braid'.

The technique:

Chain link braid tutorial (from CuteGirlsHairstyles)

Ideas:

A high ponytail with the chain link braid.

A side chain link braid.

A chain link braid also makes a cute accent braid.

The chain link braid was used here to create a bun by turning the braid around the elastic that created the starting ponytail and then pinning the braid into place.

A stacked braid made from a French braid and a chain link braid.

A fun variation: the chain link braid as accent braid with a Dutch braid, used together for a corset braid.

How to: Dutch braids with rainbow ribbons

Apologies for not posting much, but I'm in the middle of moving houses!

Helpful tutorials:
Dutch braid (continues as slide up braid)

You'll need:
3 small elastics
Ribbons in the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink and purple (each ribbon should be a little longer than the hair itself)
Topsy tail

How to do this hairstyle?

1. Attach the ribbons to a small elastic.
2. Part just off centre. Take a small strand of hair above the ear on the side with the most hair and put the elastic with the ribbons around it. Then bring the ribbons to the side.
3. Do a Dutch braid on the side with the most hair. Do not braid the ribbons! Continue braiding all the way down to the end of the hair and finish off with a small elastic.
4. Now take your topsy tail and put it under the second stitch of your Dutch braid. Put the red ribbon through the eye of the topsy tail and pull the topsy tail away from the Dutch braid. Your red ribbon should now have gone under the Dutch braid.
5. Go down one braiding stitch and pull the orange ribbon under the Dutch braid with the help of your topsy tail.
6. Repeat step 5 with the yellow, green, blue, pink and purple ribbon. Each time go down one braiding stitch, so each ribbon is clearly visible.
7. Now use the loose hair to do a second Dutch braid. Add the ribbons one by one to your Dutch braid. Do this by taking just a tiny bit of hair on the inside of the braid and adding a ribbon instead.
8. When you've added all of the ribbons, continue braiding until the end of the hair. Finish off with a small elastic.

Good luck!

5 strand split braid

The regular 3D split braid is a super easy variation on the 3 strand braid. The 5 strand version isn't that much more difficult, it's mostly a matter of knowing how to do the technique.
You start by dividing the hair into 5 strands, I'm calling them (from the left to the right) A, B, C, D, E. Split strand A (the far left strand) into two and cross one section over strand B and one section under strand B. Then add your two sections together and cross them together over strand C. Then split strand E into two and cross one section over strand D and one section under strand D. Then add your two sections together and cross them over the middle strand. Keep repeating this.
In short: the outer strand always goes over and under and then over.
You can also add in hair, so you get a Dutch braided version of the braid. Pay attention, though: always split the outer strand first and cross it over and under. Then add hair to the strand you've just split and now brought together again. Using the letters from before: split strand A, cross the sections over and under strand B, grab new hair, cross it under strand B and add it to strand A. Then cross strand A, with the new hair, over strand C.

The technique:
5 strand split braid tutorial (From Flettemamma - English subtitles)

Ideas:

A high ponytail with the 5 strand split braid

A corset braid combined with a 5 strand split braid

A Dutch 3D split braid continuing into a 5 strand split braid

The Dutch version of the 5 strand split braid

A Dutch version with half of the hair

A headband braid version of the Dutch 5 strand split braid, combined with a Dutch fishtail

How to: Corset braid with faux fishtail

Helpful tutorials:
Dutch braid

You'll need:
1 long ribbon (about the length of the hair. Tip: it's better to use a ribbon that's too long than too short!)
Topsy tail or a big needle
Elastics (how much depends on the length of the hair)

How to do this hairstyle?

1. Part the hair down the middle. For the hairstyle in the photo, a diagonal part was used.
2. Do a Dutch braid on each side of the part. Finish off each braid with a temporary elastic.
3. When you've done both braids, bring them together and put an elastic around the braids together.
4. You can now either do the corset part of the braid first of the faux fishtail part. If you choose to first do the corset part, I'd advise creating the bow once you've done the faux fishtail part.
5. For the faux fishtail part:
• put an elastic around the hair, an inch or two below the first elastic. Now do a flip: create an opening and pull the hair through this opening.
• Now put another elastic around the hair, an inch or two below the previous elastic, and create a new flip. Keep repeating this until you've reached the end of the hair.
6. For the corset part:
• take the long ribbon and bring this with the help of a topsy tail or big needle below the left side of your right Dutch braid. Don't pull the ribbon completely through!
• Bring the other end of the ribbon under the right side of the left Dutch braid.
• Now pull on the ribbon so both ends are equally long.
• Use the topsy tail or needle to alternately cross the ribbon under the left and right Dutch braid. This works like you're putting a lace in your shoe. Try to make sure the ribbon doesn't twist.
• When you've reached the end of the Dutch braids, put the topsy tail / needle behind the elastic and pull the ends of the ribbon down.
• If you have enough ribbon left, you can wrap the ends around the elastic to create a bow.

Good luck!

How to: Dutch braid with ribbon accents and a 4 strand ribbon braid

Happy holidays!

Helpful tutorials:
Dutch braid
4 strand ribbon braid

You'll need:
1 small elastic with two ribbons attached to it (1 of the ribbons should be the same length as the hair, the other ribbon should be the length from the forehead to the bottom of the neck)
1 bigger elastic
1 small elastic
Topsy tail or a bigger needle

How to do this hairstyle?

1. Brush all of the hair and comb it backwards.
2. Take a small strand of hair in the middle and bring this forward.
3. Take a smaller strand behind the forward strand and put the elastic with the ribbons attached to it around it.
4. Bring the ribbons to the front and keep them out of the way for now.
5. Take the forward strand, bring it backwards again and divide it into 3 strands. Start a Dutch braid.
6. Continue your Dutch braid until you've added all of the hair. Finish off with an elastic.
7. Now take the longest ribbons (in the photo the green ribbon) and your topsy tail / big needle.
8. Now start weaving: 
• Using a topsy tail? Weave the topsy tail on one side over/under the hair you've added in until you only have the eye of the topsy tail sticking out. Put the ribbon through the eye and pull the topsy tail down. Haven't reached the end of the braid yet? Weave the topsy tail again. When you've reached the end of the braid, put the topsy tail behind the elastic. Put the ribbon through the eye again and pull the topsy tail down so the ribbon has gone through the elastic.
• Using a big needle? Then put the ribbon through the eye of the needle. Then weave the needle on one side of the braid over/under the hair you've added in until you've reached the end of the braid. Finish off by putting the needle behind the elastic and pulling it down so the ribbon has gone through the elastic.
9. Repeat step 8 with the shorter ribbon on the other side of the braid.
10. If you like, you can wrap the left-over ribbon around the elastic (if you have enough). You can also use a flower or a bow.
11. Now divide the hair from the ponytail into three strands. Take the ribbon and arrange everything in the order hair-hair-ribbon-hair.
12. Start a 4 strand ribbon braid: cross the left strand under-over and the right strand over-under. Repeat this until you've reached the end of the hair. Finish off with a small elastic.

30 days new braids

June is always a special month on Instagram for the braiding community - it's the 30 days new braids month!

30 days new braids is a challenge for braiders to try and do as many different braiding techniques as possible. Each day of the month June is about a certain braiding technique. It's up to you to create a hairstyle using this technique. Of course there's loads of possibilities, because with a technique as (for example) French braiding, you can do a thousand different hairstyles.

The challenge is not so much about trying to join in every day, but about challenging yourself to try new braiding techniques. The challenge of course has the standard French and Dutch braid, but also techniques like space buns, crown braids, feathered braids and heart braids. The idea behind the challenge is to get you out of your comfort zone: as you braid more often, you often also find yourself doing the same kind of braid. 30 days new braids tries to show you there's so many more techniques than the ones you already do so often.

If you'd like to know more about the 30 days new braids challenge: Jenni Petänen is hosting the challenge this year on Instagram. She has taken over the challenge from Hair by Lori, who has loads of information and ideas on her website.

If you want to see my styles for this year's 30 days new braids challenge, then please head over to my Instagram account. The collage below is from two years ago, when I joined in every day.

Double Chinese staircase braid - Dutch version

Lately I've been totally in love with the Dutch version of the double Chinese staircase braid. The what?, I can hear you say. Yep, it's a long name, but it's also a really beautiful braid. It has a very unique look and the technique is actually really easy. The downside? The braid can take a while to do...

But let's recap first of all! The technique began as a regular Chinese staircase braid, which can be done loosely (as shown in the photo) or tighter. It's basically a knotted braid, where you take a small strand of hair, wrap it around the rest of the hair and then pull it through the opening where your strand began. You then add another small strand of hair to your first one and continue the braid. Nothing all too complicated yet.

Loose version of the Chinese staircase braid

Next, there was the reversed Chinese staircase braid. Instead of wrapping the small strand over the rest of the hair you now wrap it around by first going under the rest of the hair. Again, nothing too complicated yet.

Tight version of the reversed Chinese staircase braid

The third version of this braid is the one where it got a little more complicated: the double Chinese staircase braid. Instead of taking a strand of hair from the side you now have to take a strand from the middle and divide the rest of the hair into two sections. By going around the right and left section alternately you get a completely new and unique braid. 

Double Chinese staircase braid

After this third version of the braid it got kinda quiet around the Chinese staircase braid. But then PrettyHairIsFun did a tutorial on the French braided version of the Chinese staircase braid and of course one had to be created for the double Chinese staircase braid. I immediately fell in love with it as - like I said before - it's such a beautiful braid. I first did a version ending a ponytail, but I also did a half up version, which I also love. 

Dutch version of the double Chinese staircase braid, ending in a ponytail

Half up version of the Dutch double Chinese staircase braid

Please let me know what you think about this braid, I'd love to know! And if you have done this braid yourself and would like to share it with me, you can do so on the Facebook page of Miriam's Vlecht Lessen - I love seeing your styles!

Oh, and of course if you haven't tried out the braid yet, here are some helpful tutorials!

Ponytail version of the Chinese staircase braid - From CuteGirlsHairstyles

Ponytail version of the reversed Chinese staircase braid - From HolsterBrands

Ponytail version of the double Chinese staircase braid - From HolsterBrands

French braided version of the Chinese staircase braid - From PrettyHairIsFun

Dutch braided version of the double Chinese staircase braid - From SweetHeartsHair

Good luck and have fun with this braid!

How to: feathered 5 strand braid with French braids and bun

How to: feathered 5 strand braid with French braids and bun

Helpful tutorials:
5 strand Dutch braid tutorial
French braid tutorial
3 strand braid tutorial

You'll need:
Elastics
Bobby pins
Flower pins if desired

How to do this hairstyle?

1. Divide the hair into three parts by parting the hair left off centre and right off centre.
2. Put an elastic around the left and right part to keep it out of the way. You can now start braiding the middle part.
3. Start a  5 strand Dutch braid with this and add hair once.
4. Before adding hair for the second time, slice off a small section of hair. Do this on both sides.
5. Repeat step 4 twice, so you have 3 loose strands. Of course you could do more, but make sure you have the same amount of loose strands on both sides. 
6. Finish off the 5 strand Dutch braid at the neck and add an elastic.
7. Now start a French braid on the left side. Use the loose strands from the left side of your 5 strand Dutch braid to add in. Finish off the braid near the neck with an elastic.
8. Repeat step 7 on the right side.
9. Now take all 3 braids together and put an elastic around them.
10. Use the hair from the ponytail to create a 3 strand braid. Finish off with an elastic.
11. Turn your braid into a bun and pin it into place with bobby pins. If you like, you can add some flower pins or other decorations.

Good luck!

Variation tips: instead of French braids you could also do Dutch braids and instead of a regular braid you could of course use another braiding technique for your bun.

Headband braids inspiration

Headband braids are great hairstyles on school mornings as they are quick and often easy - a French braid, a Dutch braid or a lace braid. A twist braided headband is also a great idea and for those of you with longer hair, a simple 3 strand braid wrapped around the head (photo below) is perfect as well.

But why not try using a different technique for your headband braids? I have a tutorial on the 5 strand headband braid and you could also use ribbons in your headband braid. A little while I tried out a completely different technique - a 4 strand fishtail headband braid. I really love how this headband braid turned out as it's so different from any other headband braid and it doesn't even take that long (once you've mastered the 4 strand fishtail of course). If you'd like to practice the 4 strand fishtail braid first of all, there's a tutorial on my YouTube channel Miriam's Vlecht Lessen.

Simple 3 strand headband braid for longer hair

4 strand fishtail headband braid

Good luck trying out different techniques! I'd love to know which techniques you've tried - please leave a comment below telling me which technique you've used!

Inspiration idea: stacked braid variation

On my YouTube channel Miriam's Vlecht Lessen you can find a tutorial on the stacked braid. In this tutorial I'm using the Dutch braid and rope twist as braids for the stacked braid, but of course there's a lot of other possibilities. Almost every technique is suitable for the stacked braid. For the bottom braid I'd suggest choosing braids you can easily pancake (such as Dutch braids or pull through braids), while the top braid should be a smaller braid (like a fishtail braid or a regular 3 strand braid).

For this variation I've used a Dutch braid as bottom braid and a round 3D braid as top braid. Have you got fun variation tips? Then let them know in a comment below!