Laced-Up and Elegant
Here's a style that's sure to attract attention from those individuals who like a smoothly finished style with lots of detail. It's perfect for those individuals with long hair who want a neatly finished updo. It's highly effective for individuals with lighter-colored hair as well as those with dark hair.
Creating the Style:
Step One: Creating this style requires straight hair, and works best if the hair has not been recently washed. If you naturally have straight hair (or only slight waves), you can simply flat iron your hair to make it smooth and proceed to step two.
Step Two: The hair should be parted in a straight line down the middle of the head. Choose the side you are working on first and clip the other side out of your way if it helps. Comb or brush the hair back from the face, leaving a small section down at the nape of the neck.
To create a French twist on one side that will rest at the center parting, use your comb or brush to backcomb the hair along the inside (the side facing the center part) 10-12 times. This adds structure and makes the twist more secure. Next, ensure that the outer side is still smooth and wind the hair into a French-style twist. Use large bobby pins crossed in an "X" shape at the scalp to anchor it in place. You may need to create two "X's" that slightly overlap. Finally, secure the twist completely with small bobby pins.
Repeat step two on the other side of the parting, remembering to leave the strand at the nape of the neck on this side as well. When you've completed the second twist, they should be positioned close enough to almost touch each other. Use the edge of your brush or comb to ensure the hair is smooth, and spray it with hairspray. Gently pat the hair to control any flyaway strands.
Step Three: Now it's time to work with the strands of hair that were left down at the nape of the neck. Select one of the strands and comb it to smooth it out if necessary. You can also apply a bit of hair smoothing product if desired. Lift the strand at an angle and lay it diagonally across the bottom point where the twists meet, as shown in the illustration.
Pin the strand in place to secure it at this point and let the end of it hang for a moment. Prepare the remaining strand in the same way as the first one, and lift it to lay across the original strand. Secure it in place as well.
Continue alternating between the first and second strands, working your way up the head along the center "seam". The effect should resemble shoelaces crossing each other in a zigzag pattern. When you reach the top of the twists, carefully tuck the ends of the strands into or under the twists. Apart from optional decoration, the style is now complete.
The method described here supposes that there are no bangs to deal with in the original style. Short bangs can be dealt with as you normally would, or curled in to large curls to hang on the forehead.
With long bangs, you can part them in the center and pull them to either side of the face, securing them with jeweled bobby pins or small barrettes. Even without bangs, you may choose (as shown in our illustration) to leave two strands at the center of the forehead, which can be swept into an S-curve and secured at the sides with a jeweled pin or barrette.
Decorative details are entirely up to you, but avoid adding decorations that would detract from the style itself. Keep adornments small and simple.
© Hairfinder.com
See also: More special occasion hairstyles