I feel like I'm always looking for fun, new ways to wear my hair only to wind up falling back on the same one or two go-to looks. In my case, my hair is always worn down, either straight or curly, and parted to the side. Boring! But now that we're in the middle of spring and with summer on its way, I'm definitely looking to finally shake things up. So I thought I'd finally cough up the courage to try that gorgeous braided headband updoZoe Saldana wore at the 2010 Glamour Women of The Year Awards, that's still totally in style by the way.
What I love the most about this vintage-inspired milkmaid braid is that it works on almost all hair textures–straight, wavy, or curly. Zoe chose to blow out her strands straight to give the look more of a polished look, but if you're going for something easy and care-free, it would look just as stylish with waves or curls. Check out a few of my tips below to help you replicate this super cool braided hairstyle!
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Step 1: Begin by parting your hair down the middle and separating it into two sections, the way you would if you were planning to do two ponytails. Then bring all the hair forward to your shoulders. If your hair is curly or wavy, make sure it's completely air-dried and add a little bit of a leave-in conditioner, likeL'Oréal Paris EverCurl Hydracharge Leave-in Cream ($9), to help smooth it out. For straight hair, a pea-sized amount of a shine serum will keep your strands looking sleek and shiny. I love Sebastin Professional Liquid Gloss Drops ($20).
Step 2: Now take one of the sections and divide it into three equal parts to create a tight braid. If you have bangs or short layers in the front, you might want to leave a few pieces out. This will add a soft, feminine touch to your look. Then start braiding one side of your head and make sure it's super tight so that it winds up looking polished. Secure the ends with an elastic. Do the exact same thing to the other side.
Step 3: Now flip one of the braids over the top of your head, gently press it down and bring it forward so that the braid is wrapped around your head like a headband. Grab a few bobby pins to hold the braid in place and prevent any stray hairs from sticking out.
Step 4: Take the other braid and also flatten it against your head, sliding it under the orginial braid that's already pinned down. You want the original braid to lie on top of the second braid. Then go in with your bobby pins and secure it.
Step 5: Take a little bit of a hair serum to smooth away flyways. Retouch the bangs or short hairs in the front with a curling iron to give them a little more texture and definition. If your hair is straight, use a 1.5-inch claspless curling iron to create just a little bit of a wave. Spray a strong but flexible hold hairspray, like L'Oréal ParisElnett Satin Extra Hold Hairspray in Unscented ($15), to hold your look.
Now go show off your super cool hairstyle for the world to see!
Image via Getty Images
