Holiday Hairstyles: Working With a Braided Headband

When it comes to my hair, I’m a creature of habit. I rarely mix it up. But there’s something about the holiday season that seems to give us a nudge toward glamour and experimentation. Are you looking for new holiday hairstyles? Perhaps something party-ready? I just found the most amazing hair tool – a braided headband! [Video tutorial above]

I spotted it on another gal and assumed it was her natural hair. It was so beautiful. She must have spent significant time braiding and styling, right? Imagine my surprise when she confessed it was a headband and took just a minute or two to pull together. I couldn’t wait to try it myself. And… I’m hooked!

These headbands from Madison Braids allow you to achieve gorgeous updos in a snap. Best of all, you don’t need skill to do it! I never learned how to French braid, nor am I particularly skilled with hair. So trust me when I say these styles are super easy. I’ve already worn my headbands to our neighborhood Christmas party… and I do more casual braided styles several times a week.

The headbands come in a wide-range of shades and have an adjustable elastic strap at the bottom to fit your head size. I found the “brunette” was a perfect match for my hair color. The company sent me its Lulu Two Strand braid to style for you guys. I loved it so much, I bought the Halo Braid (a thicker, chunkier style). Now, let’s dig into the styling…

Want to try one yourself? Madison Braids is having a huge holiday sale. Use my promo code (anchoredinelegance15) for 15 percent off! 

Holiday Hairstyles – Styling a Braided Headband

Don’t try to be too perfect! This is the key to making headband-based styles look natural. You want your style to be relaxed, loose, and flowing. Holiday hairstyles shouldn’t feel uptight. The goal is modern romance. My video tutorial is the easiest way to explain how to work with these headbands. It shares all the steps, plus 5 different styling options. But, basically…

• Step 1 – Style your hair as you normally would. I like soft waves created with a curling wand or hot rollers (full tutorial here).  
• Step 2 – Pull headband around your neck. Reserve two small sections of hair in the front. Pull headband up, then pin the remaining sections around the braid to blend it into your natural hair. 
• Step 3 – Style as desired. In these photos, I tried a fishtail and curly ponytail. Your hair will also look lovely down or tucked into a bun.

Questions? Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email. Always happy to help!