5 Ways to Create Accent Braids (2024)

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Co-authored byNdeye Anta Niang

Last Updated: June 23, 2021References

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   Comb out your hair. Because you’ll be leaving your hair down, it’s important to brush your hair so it looks neat and smooth. Use your favorite brush or comb to remove any tangles and ready your hair for styling.^[1]

   • If your hair is curly, use a wide tooth comb if you need to detangle or remove knots. Using a brush can cause frizz for curly locks.
   • With curly hair, you have an easier time braiding the hair if it's damp. Style your hair before it's dried completely after you wash it or mist it lightly with water from a spray bottle if it's dry to start with.
   • If your hair is prone to frizz, you may want to work a smoothing serum or hair oil through it before styling.
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   Gather a small section of hair on one side of your hair. When you’re creating a simple accent braid, you can place it wherever you like. The most common spot for the braid is on one side of your hair, so gather a small section that’s approximately 1- to 2-inches wide (2.5- to 5-cm) in the area where you wish to place the braid.^[2]

   • You can gather a small section of hair right beside your face on either side or take a section that’s a little further back.
   • You don’t necessarily have to choose a section of hair from the side of your head. An accent braid can look great peeking out from the lower section of your hair at the back too.
   • You can make your accent braid as wide or narrow as you’d like. You may want to experiment with different sized braids to see what works best with your hair type and texture.
   • If you want your accent braid to really stand out, consider using color to spice it up. Before you braid the hair, color it with hair chalk. You can also add a small clip-on hair extension in a bold color and braid it instead of your own hair.
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   Braid the section and secure it with an elastic. Once you’ve chosen the location and size for the section of hair, create a three-strand braid. Divide the section of hair into three smaller sections, and cross the outside pieces over the center piece, alternating sides each time. Use a hair elastic that’s similar in color to your hair to secure the braid.^[3]

   • If you prefer, you can create a two strand braid by dividing the section into two smaller sections and crossing them over one another until you reach the end of the hair. Give the braid extra flair by twirling the two sections before starting the braid.
   • After you've created the braid, give it a spritz with hairspray to keep it in place all day.
   • If an elastic isn't strong enough to secure your braid, you can slip a bobby pin or two into the braid around the elastic to keep it in place.
   • You can also substitute a clip for the elastic if you prefer.

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   Curl your hair. When you’re creating a ponytail and accent braid combination, the style will look best if your hair has some texture. Use a curling iron, hot rollers, or your favorite method for curling your hair to add waves and texture before you style it.^[4]

   • Don’t worry about creating perfect curls. It’s okay if they’re a little messy as long as they add texture.
   • If your hair is naturally curly or wavy, you don’t need to add any texture.
   • If you prefer, you can leave your hair straight for a simpler look.
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   See Also

   20 Accent Braid Hairstyles for Different Occasions and Moods38 Quick and Easy Braided HairstylesHow to French Braid Your Hair - L'Oréal Paris57 Amazing Braided Hairstyles for Long Hair for Every Occasion

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   Part your hair on the side. After you’ve curled your hair, decide which side you want to part your hair. Next, use a comb to carefully part your hair on the chosen side, making sure that it looks as neat as possible.^[5]

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   Gather some hair from the side and braid. Once you’ve parted your hair, take a small section of hair from the side that you’ve parted it on. Aim for a section that’s approximately 1-inch (2.5-cm) wide, and create a simple three-strand braid with it. Secure the end of the braid with an elastic.^[6]

   • You can create a larger braid if you prefer. If you have thick, textured hair, a larger section can actually look best.
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   Pull all of your hair back into a ponytail. After you’ve braided the section of hair, gather up all of your hair, including the braid, and pull it back into a ponytail. Use a hair elastic or clip to secure the ponytail, and spray your hair with a flexible hold hairspray to keep it in place all day.^[7]

   • Once your hair is pulled back into the ponytail, you can remove the elastic from the end of the braid if you’d like.

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   Pull the top section of your hair back and secure. For a classic half up half down style, you need to pull back the top section of your hair. Gather the hair together and secure it in a ponytail at the back of your head with an elastic.^[8]

   • It’s a good idea to brush out your hair before pulling it back so there aren’t any tangles or knots. If your hair is curly, use a comb to detangle so you don't wind up with frizz.
   • You can take a small section, such as just the hair that will fall into your face if you left it down, or a larger piece, such as the entire top section of your hair.
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   Braid the pulled back section. For the boldest accent braid, create the braid from the pulled back section. Starting right at the elastic that's holding your hair back, make a simple 3-strand braid and secure the end with another elastic.^[9]

   • You can create a more elaborate braid, such as a fishtail, if you prefer.
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   Add a braid to the hair that’s left down. If you want a more subtle accent braid, gather a small section from the hair that you’ve left down instead of braiding the top section that you've pulled back. You can create a 3-strand braid on either side of your hair or put it directly in the back.^[10]

   • As with a simple accent braid, you can give the braid greater impact by coloring it with hair chalk so it really stands out.

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   Pull your hair back into a high ponytail. Use a comb or brush to brush your hair back into a ponytail. For maximum impact, place the pony fairly high up on your head and secure it with an elastic.^[11]

   • If you prefer a more subtle look, you can place the ponytail at the back of your head or even at the nape of your neck.
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   Separate a small section of hair from the ponytail. After you’ve secured the ponytail with an elastic, hold the end of it in your hand. Allow one small section to fall loose on one side of the pony so you have hair that you can create a braid with.^[12]

   • The section of hair that you separate should be fairly wide. It’s best to use a section that’s at least 1 ½-inches (4-cm) wide.
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   Curl the ponytail up into a bun without the section that you’ve removed. With the section of hair that you’ve separated hanging free, curl the rest of the ponytail around the base to form a bun. Use bobby pins to secure the bun in place.^[13]

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   Braid the loose section of hair. Once the bun is secure, create a three-strand braid from the section of hair that you separated from it. Secure the end of the braid with a thin hair elastic so it’s easy to hide.^[14]

   • You want the braid to be as thick as possible. If you have fine hair, pull on the sides of the braid gently after it’s secured to make it appear thicker.
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   Wrap the braid around the base of the bun and secure it. When you’ve finished braiding the section of hair, curl it around the base of the bun. Use a bobby pin or two to secure the braid.^[15]

   • If you want your hair to stay in place all day, spray your bun and braid with a flexible hold hairspray before heading out.

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   See Also

   30 Regal Halo Braids Hairstyles That Look Beautiful - Coils and Glory

1. 1

   Comb your hair. Because you’re leaving your hair down for this style, you want it to look neat and smooth. Brush through your hair with your favorite brush or comb to remove any tangles or knots.^[16]

   • This style looks pretty with curly or wavy hair, so you may want to use a curling iron or hot rollers before you begin braiding.
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   Take a section of hair from behind one ear and braid upward. When your hair is combed out, gather a small section of hair from behind one of your ears. Pull the hair upward and over to the center of your head, and start to create a three-strand braid.^[17]

   • You can make the braid a thick or thin as you’d like, depending on how prominent you want the headband to be.
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   Gather another section of hair from the area where you want the band to rest. When you’ve braided the section enough to reach the center of your head, take another section of hair from along the line where you want the headband to sit. It should be a slightly thinner section than the first one.^[18]

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   Connect the new hair with one of the sections in the braid and continue braiding. Once you’ve gathered a new section of hair from the center of your head, join it with one of the strands in the braid. Pull the hair tight, and continue braiding across your head.^[19]

   • Work slowly to ensure that the braid stays as neat as possible.
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   Add a section of hair from the opposite side of the head and continue braiding. When you reach the other side of your head, take another section of hair along the line of the headband. Connect it to one of the strands in the braid, and continue braiding.^[20]

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   Work in a section of hair from behind the other ear and finish the braid. Once you reach the end of the braid, gather a section of hair from behind your other ear. Work it into the braid to finish it, and secure the end with a small elastic.^[21]

   • Spray your hair with a flexible hold hairspray to make sure that the braided headband stays in place.

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