The simple steps to create the perfect double Dutch braid
ADVERTORIAL: It’s braiding made simple
It’s braiding made simple
You need only to Google the biggest hair trends of 2017 to see how popular braided hairstyles are. And ever since celebs like Kim Kardashian (and the rest of her family) and Olivia Munn showed off the sporty-meets chic double Dutch braid, women across the globe have been tirelessly practicing recreating the style. The problem with the double Dutch braid, it seems, is how fiddly it’s perceived to be.
If you fall into the category of women who deem the braided style too hard to even try, then Hair Director for Priceline Pharamacy, Kenneth Stoddart is here to help.
To start, Stoddart recommends avoiding trying this style on clean hair. “Doing your Dutch braid on clean hair is possible, but the hair will be slippy and may not sit as tight to the head. Instead, create your braids the day after washing your hair. This helps keep the braids tighter as the natural oils help to hold the hair together,” he says.
Now, read on to learn Stoddart’s five top tips for mastering the popular double Dutch braid.
1
Prep your hair
Before you begin your braid it’s important to prep your hair to not only make the process of braiding a lot easier, but to also ensure the chic style holds as it should.
First, Stoddart suggests brushing your hair to remove any tangles and knots before applying a small amount of hair gel throughout the lengths. The gel will help keep your strands smooth for the braiding process, as well as tick that box of long-lasting hold.
2
Part down the centre
Next, create a centre part with a tail comb, separating you hair all the way down to the nape of your neck. Make sure both sections of hair are even before tying one half into a low ponytail – this will help keep half your hair out of the way as you braid the other half.
3
Begin your braid
Take a small section of hair and split it into three even strands. Then start by crossing the right strand under the middle strand, and then the left strand under the middle strand.
4
Add hair into the braid
Keep repeating this motion, but as you continue down towards the nap of your neck, incorporate the rest of your hair into your braid. Add small sections of hair from the part line or hair line into to the strand you’re about to cross under the middle strand.
“The hair that you pull in from the sides shouldn’t be any thicker than the middle strand. You must always pull hair in from each side as you go, but make sure that the amount you pull in is the same on both sides to keep the symmetry of the braid,” says Stoddart.
5
Tie and repeat
Once you’ve completed your Dutch braid, secure it with a hair tie, and repeat the entire process on the other half of your hair.
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6
Spray for hold
To ensure your braid stays in place, Stoddart recommends finishing with hairspray to give control and shine.
Want to see the double Dutch braiding technique in action? Watch the video above to see how easily it can be done. Or check out more how to videos here
Do you love to braid hair? Tell us your favourite braided look in the comments below.
Image credit: Getty
Kate started working for BEAUTYcrew in early 2016, first as a contributor, and was then named Beauty Writer in 2017. She loves picking the brains of the industry's top experts to get to the bottom of beauty's toughest questions. Bronze eyeshadow palettes are her weakness and she's forever on the hunt for the perfect nude nail polish to suit her fair skin. Her words can also be found in Men's Health magazine, and she now works in PR.
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