The French Bang Braid

April 21, 2013

If you’re anything like me, your daily goal is to get out of the house on time, and still look like you made an effort! Whether it’s clothes, makeup or hair, i’m always looking for ways to cut back on time while doubling up on style! When you have long hair (accompanied by overgrown or side swept bangs) some mornings you may be walking that fine line of embracing the chic ‘just rolled out of bed’ look or the just plain’ bed head’ look! A great way to control the overall appearance of your hair is to dress up your bangs! The style I’ll show you in this tutorial may look like it takes time, but in reality you can have your hair tamed and pulled off your face stylishly in under five minutes! So grab a brush, a couple of bobby pins and get your fingers ready to master the french braided bang!

Brush your hair to remove any knots or tangles.
Then section off the amount of hair you want included in your braid.
Secure the rest of your hair back with a clip or elastic to ensure it won’t be touching the hair we’re working with.
Grab a small section and divide it into three pieces and begin braiding your hair.
(If you’re new to french braiding, the key is to place each strand over the other, like in a traditional three strand braid, except before placing a strand over the other you gather a bit of hair and combine it in.)
Continue braiding until your braid has reached the desired size. It’s important to keep pulling each piece nice and tight so the braid is snug and looks neat!
Once you’re finished braiding, grab a bobby pin and slide it under the braid. With your second bobby pin, slide it in the opposite direction to form an X shape. This will ensure your braid will stay secure all day!
Un-clip the rest of your hair and strategically place it over the bobby pins for a nice finished look!

As soon as that second bobby pin is secure, you’re ready to hit the door! Voila! The great thing about this style is it looks great with any hair type! Whether you have pin straight strands or curly locks the braided detail will add a great finishing touch that will leave you looking trendy and well groomed while still allowing you to leave the house on time. What more could you ask for?

- Elizabeth Barkley