Tutorial: The Coolest Braided Updo for Short Hair

By

Updated on 01/19/20

woman with short braided updo — Paley Fairman

Whoever said short hair was limiting was just plain wrong. While it’s true the style options may vary, short-haired girls can have just as much fun as their long-haired counterparts. The one hairstyle that’s most often ruled out for short hair is braids, but it doesn’t need to be. In fact, all hair lengths can make not only braided looks but also braided updos work. To prove it (and to provide you with an amazing hairstyle), we dreamed up a braided, twisted bun worthy of pinning to your hair board. As with any hairstyle we recommend, it has to be just as doable as it is chic. That’s where professional hairstylist Anh Co Tran comes in. With his expert guidance and these step-by-step photos, you can nail this cool braided updo.

Scroll through to see the full tutorial!

Start with your hair parted deep to one side.

Select about a one- to two-inch section of hair and split it into three even pieces. Clip the rest of your hair back to keep it out of the way when you start braiding.

Start braiding either a french or dutch braid. We’re going dutch, weaving each new piece we grab under, rather than over (see our full, step-by-step tutorial on how to dutch-braid).

Pull the braid tight each time you add new hair (there’ll be time to muss it up later).

Finish your braid at the nape of your neck and secure it with a hair tie.

Now, braid the other side—same rules apply.

Once you get just below your ear, tie off your braid with an elastic. (We’re using these hairstylist-favorite clear elastics from Blax, $7).

Undo your first braid, and using a fine-tooth comb ($7), brush up the braid to mess it up. Lightly pull it apart with your fingers to loosen it, too.

Do the same thing to the other side.

Twist the tails of each braid back toward the nape of your neck, and pin each side back with bobby pins ($2).

Continue twisting the remaining hair into a low bun. This doesn’t have to be perfect—it will look a little disheveled—that’s what you what. Secure it all in place with bobby pins. Insert them down into the twisted bun.