How To Braid Natural Short Hair

PSA: Just because y'all have brusk hair, doesn't mean you can't play in the braid puddle similar your longer-haired friends. Seriously, whether you've been dying to try that super-pretty crown complect for your wedding reception or that cool, slice-y waterfall complect for happy hour, there's no reason why you should feel limited in the manner department (or, like, experience pressured to get waist-length extensions). Nope, all you need is a footling product (encounter: thickening mousse or dry shampoo—both of which leave hair with a bit of grit needed to agree a complect), and one of these like shooting fish in a barrel-to-follow YouTube tutorials of the absolute all-time braids for brusque hair.

Braids for Brusque Hair #1 ✨ The Waterfall

Everything about this waterfall braid is cool AF (information technology'due south kinda the perfect eye ground between super refined and woke up like this, IMHO). Kick things off by diggings your roots with dry shampoo for texture and dust, and then part your hair to the side and become braiding (don't worry, YouTuber Milabu makes it super easy for you). A few of my personal fave dry shampoos, below:

Kristin Ess Style Reviving Dry out Shampoo

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo

Braids for Brusque Pilus #2 ✨ The Double Dutch

Fact: If yous can French complect, this double-Dutch hairstyle for short hair will feel like a walk in the park (a Dutch braid is basically an inside-out French complect). If you're going for a looser expect with enough of volume, make sure you start with a root powder (like Drybar Southern Belle Volume Boosting Powder or Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder). Then, afterward you've secured your braid with a hair tie, gently separate your pilus to loosen information technology up a bit.

Braids for Brusque Hair #3 ✨ The Double Puff

Perfect for putting off wash day a liiiiittle longer, this hairstyle for short hair leaves you with the cutest combination of braids. Before you lot queue upwardly the tutorial, make sure you've got a rat-tail rummage for separating each section, a scattering of clips, and a spray bottle with water. Beads are optional but 100 percent encouraged (I mean, how pretty is YouTuber Olive Chels' finished look?).

Braids for Short Hair #iv ✨ The Infinity

Pro tip: The easiest way to make sure your infinity braid (or any braid, for that matter) has shape and definition is by working with dirty hair. Ii- or 3-24-hour interval-old hair is platonic, since y'all'll have style more than texture than you would with freshly washed pilus, and can load upwardly on the dry out shampoo for even more grit. Got it? Good. At present ready to make your friends very jealous with this cute lil curt-hair complect.

Braids for Short Hair #5 ✨ The Half-Upwards Half-Down

It's no hush-hush that one-half-up hairstyles are a staple for anyone with short hair, and then why not take yours to the adjacent level with this braided fashion? A sleek complect effectually your hairline will add a little actress ~something~ to any average half-upward look, and this YouTube tutorial is proof. Is this the 2020 version of the crown braid? I hope and so.

Braids for Brusk Hair #6 ✨ The Headband

I won't lie, this isn't the easiest way if you're a newb—simply the terminal result is worth a chip of trial and error. The only tools yous need for this ane are a rat-tail comb, pilus clamps and a fiddling dry shampoo for added texture. Oh, and some patience.

Braids for Short Hair #vii ✨ The Side Complect

While vlogger Franchelli Rodriguez's pilus isn't super short, her method for side braids is a smashing solve for thicker, shorter textures. The side complect still allows you to go far on the trend without worrying about dealing with, you know, all of your hair.

Braids for Short Hair #8 ✨ The Fishtail

Attempt this await when you want to extend the life of a wavy bob, hide greasy roots, or, honestly, when you're feeling lazy every bit hell. Comb a pocket-sized dab of texture cream or paste through the section you lot're nigh to braid (this will give it extra hold), then rake through the rest of your hair for a sexy, slice-y result.

Braids for Curt Hair #nine ✨ The French Braid

The best things about braids on curly hair is that they actually aid stretch and elongate individual coils. To really "lock" in the braid, try styling it fresh out the shower on damp hair, massaging a dab of edge control gel along your edges to make sure they stay smooth while styling.

Braids for Short Pilus #10 ✨ The Remixed Cornrow

If this fashion looks familiar, it's probably because information technology is: Issa Rae has rocked a like braided look on her hit HBO show, Insecure, and it's consistently gorgeous. Protective styles, peculiarly cornrows, are a savior for curls, kinks, and coils, since they help lock in wet.

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Ruby Buddemeyer Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered dazzler across print and digital.