This is one pretty and practical hairstyle you can do with ease. It’s especially comfy in the summer, when long, loose hair tends to get stuck everywhere because of sweat. That leads to a lot of irritation, so it’s best to learn the Dutch braid crown to stay cool.
Summers, parties, classes or weddings — the Dutch braid crown combines the formal and casual look into one. You can make it as messy or as tight as you like to fit right in, no matter where you are. You can also adorn it with flowers and decorative hairpins, since the crown is sturdy and stable.
Dutch Braid Crown — Doing The Prep
Good hair prep means you can work quickly and without moving, which can easily undo everything you’ve done. Brushing your hair and getting rid of tangles and knots makes braiding much easier. If you have bobby pins, elastic hair bands and other doohickeys that can help you keep your hair in one place, use them.
Your hair should be dry and clean but don’t worry if it’s damp or messy. You can pull off any hairstyle as long as you put in a bit of effort and strut with confidence. If you have fluttery hair, use some dry shampoo or fixing spray or just dab it with a wet towel.
Obviously, smaller heads mean smaller braids and less work. If possible, practice this style on a patient little girl, such as your sister. If you braid your own hair, don’t work blind. Tilt your head and shift your body around until you can see what’s happening. Only try braiding your hair without looking if that keeps confusing you.
Keep in mind that, while the pros make the Dutch braid crown look simple, you’ll probably need some practice. Working around your head will make your arms tired while craning your neck will make it tense. Find whatever position feels the most relaxing and keep the tension in your body to a minimum. The goal is to make braiding feel and seem effortless.
Video Tutorial
What You Need To Know
To make a Dutch braid crown, you need to know two things:
- How to make a Dutch braid
- How to fix your braids into a crown
–How to make a Dutch braid
A Dutch braid is one of the staples of hair braiding, with another one being the French braid. They are almost identical, except the Dutch braid goes under while the French goes over. Don’t fret, it’s all going to become clear in just a second.
Take any amount of hair and split it in three even bunches. You can hold them any way you like but what matters is that you have three distinct bunches:
left
middle
right
You will now intertwine these bunches in a specific order. Take the left bunch, bring it over the middle one and the below the right one. Now take the right bunch, bring it over the left bunch and below the middle one. Got that?
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice the left and right bunches switched places. Also, the beautiful Dutch braid pattern started to emerge. Now you can keep taking new bunches of hair from nearby areas of the head and add them to the braid. There’s no limit to how many bunches you should use; it’s all down to your manual dexterity.
As you become faster and more agile, experiment more and add twists that make each braid unique. You can add flowers, hair pins or whatever else suits the personality of the braid wearer. Mind the hair color, though!
–How to make a crown
Here we come to the second part of the Dutch crown braid toolbox: making the crown. You will most often make the crown so it goes around the head. That means the crown looks like a halo around the hairline but there too you can make small adjustments.
For example, you can secure the crown with something strong but plain and then put an ornament to hide it. Bobby pins are your friends at this stage, so don’t be afraid to get them in the midst of things. You can put bows in the middle of the crown or make a bow out of the hair. If there’s enough hair, make 3–4 braids and join them around the head in any way you wish.
Add hair as you go around the head and keep everything tight at first. There is merit to having a messy, loose Dutch braid crown but you should first learn how to make it as tight as possible. The finer the bunches you add, the more delicate it will all look but will also take more time.
Dutch Braid Crown — Braid Crown Ideas
Floral Dutch braid crown
Start off with two Dutch braids, one on each side of the head. Circle them around the head, one near the hairline and the other near the top of the head. They can go all the way around or meet at the nape.
You can decorate this hairstyle with small flowers, such as roses, but do make sure it doesn’t clash with the hair or eye color.
Centered Dutch braid crown
When you’re feeling in the mood for a challenge, try this hairdo. It goes along the hairline but circles the head a bit closer to the nape of the neck. You can also do it halfway through and have it end in a ponytail.
Spiral Dutch braid crown
This one does a twist on the Dutch braid crown formula. Start off with a Dutch braid that goes from the side over the hairline and makes a crown. Then, the braid twists and turns before ending in a gorgeous spiral on the nape of the neck.
The spiral looks like a magnificent flower but you can add actual flowers to it as well. Put something shiny or colorful at the center of the spiral to complete the imagery. You could also add a bow in the form of a butterfly, making it a head-turner with very little investment.
