Um, This X-Stitch-Braid Ponytail Is Ev-er-y-thing
I get it: Some people think ponytails are kinda a cop-out hairstyle—something you throw your hair into when you’re in a rush or you can’t even deal with your hair any longer. But IMO, there’s no hairstyle better than a ponytail, especially a braided one. They’re fierce and classic, and they look fire with any and every outfit. So this week on The Braid Up, our hair guru, Stasha Harris, is showing you how to create this X-stitch-braid ponytail. It’s so cute, you’re going to want to add it to your summer style rotation ASAP.
Interested in recreating this look? Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Use the feed-in method to braid your hair, i.e., when you add in hair extensions to your natural hair while braiding, giving it a more seamless look. Plus, it puts less tension on your natural hair (and less tension equals less opportunity for breakage, which is always a win).
2. Lay your baby hairs with an edge styler. Forget a toothbrush—an all-in-one styler is the only thing you need to slay your edges. Use the comb side to separate your baby hairs and then switch to the bristles to swoop your hair into any shape you want.
3. Smooth two or three pumps of mousse on top of your braids. This helps set your braids while also preventing frizz and flyaways from popping up. Work the mousse through your stitch braids, wrap it up, and then hit it with a blow dryer.
4. Dip your braided ends in hot water. Your stylist will do this once they’ve finished braiding, but it’s definitely worth doing a few weeks after your appointment too. Your braided ends usually look a little dull after a couple of weeks—re-dipping them in hot water is a great way to refresh your look.
Hair: Magic Fingers Studio; Beauty Assistant: Ama Kwarteng
Senior Director: Jason Ikeler; Producer: Amanda Kabbabe; Videographer: Josh Archer; Editor: Andrew Desgaines; Production Assistant: Jay Aguirre
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