Hello everyone!

I’m so honored to be posting on the anniversary of this lovely site! 😀 (In the U.S. it’s June 19 hehe!)  It has been such a pleasure to be a part of it.

Today, I’m very excited to be showing you all my go-to formal hairstyle. It is the hairstyle I have worn for countless formal occasions over the years.

If we ever met at a formal occasion of some sort (be it Church, parties, or other special events,) most likely I’d be wearing this look. It is fairly simple to do, but trust me, it looks harder than it is. (I always receive compliments whenever I wear it.) So let’s begin! 😉

Items needed: two small elastics (preferably your hair color,) several bobby-pins, comb, curling wand.

Difficulty: intermediate

Time needed: 10 minutes (excluding the curls)

1.) Curl hair to your liking. Clare has posted an awesome tutorial on how to curl your hair. The wand I used was a 2″ wand, since that gives me loose, relaxed curls.

2.) Part hair into a side part.

3.) Beginning on the thicker side of the part, begin a dutch braid. Keep adding hair from both sides, until you reach the crown of your head. Then add hair only from the front of your face. Stop adding hair once you reach the top of your ear, and do a three-strand all the way down.

4.) “Pancake” the braid by gently tugging at the edges of the braid. (My hair is long with some crazy short layers, so the braid will look really messy at first. Don’t worry, it’ll all work out in the end!)

5.) On the other side of your part line, begin a dutch braid, and repeat steps 3-4.

6.) Now that both of your braids are done, go back and pancake them a little more. The key to this whole look is that the braids are really full and large. Even if you have thinner hair, you can still get that look by tugging at the braid, gently.

7.) Grab one of the braids (I always choose the messier looking one,) and cross it diagonally across your head. (I like to place mine rather low.) Secure with bobby pins.

8.) Grab the other braid, and drape part of it over the ends of the first braid. Then, with the tail of the braid, loop it over and under the first braid. (If you’d like a simple visual of what I’m talking about, imagine  the braid looking like a ‘S’ on its side.) Secure with bobby pins.

…and there you have it! My go-to formal hairstyle.

I absolutely love this look, and even though I wear it for more formal occasions, it absolutely could be worn as an everyday look as well! 😀 Let me know what you think of it in the comments!

Catch ya later,

— Sophia