Chriselle Lim Shares 3 Chic Ways to Style Short Hair

These days, being a multihyphenate is practically a requirement for running a successful blog—but Chriselle Lim, creator of The Chriselle Factor, was one of the first. Stylist, trendsetter, outfit-inspirer, mom, lifestyle icon, and beauty authority (you may have seen her videos with Estée Lauder), Lim is an influencer in the ultimate sense of the word—which is exactly why we’re thrilled to have her on board as a Byrdie contributor. Each month, she’ll be sharing all of her beauty favorites—from the best beauty tips she picked up on her travels (and trust us, there’s a lot) to the new products she’s currently coveting. For her second column, she teamed up with 901Too salon to bring you three chic braid tutorials for short hair. You can check out all of her tutorials on her YouTube channel 

#1: Braided Topknot

The first style I want to share is the trending topknot—aka the man bun. This topknot hairstyle is a hairstyle that can make your look sportier and more masculine. But by adding a braid, you can make your man bun softer and more feminine!

Step 1: We started with my hair curled to give it more volume, but you guys can start with straight hair also! First, start by taking a section of hair from the top of your head and do an inverted French braid, also known as the Dutch braid. 

Step 2: After braiding the hair midway, you want to secure the braid with an elastic band. Tip: To give an illusion of a fuller bun, you want to tease the pony part of the braid.

(The reason I love Dutch braid is because it pops out more, and you can make the braid look thicker and fluffier by gently pulling the sides of the braid outward.)

Step 3: Loosely twist the ponytail into a bun and secure it with bobby pins. It’s okay if your bun looks a little messy because it adds to the more effortless look.

The finished look!

#2: Halfway to L.A.

The second style I want to share is called Halfway to L.A. This is a great hairstyle to wear to an upcoming holiday party or a dinner date because it is so feminine and fun. I think girls with short hair usually think that they can’t do a braid like this, but Denise totally proved me wrong. And I just love how full and thick my braid looks!

Step 1: Start your braid at your crown. Take small strands from each side like a French braid, but skip adding hair on the side facing down. 

Step 2: Repeat on the other side and tie the braids at the bottom with elastic bands. Tip: Using bobby pins throughout braiding will keep the stray hairs away and keep the look clean. You want the braids tight.

Step 3: After the braid is finished, you want to finish the look with a texturizing powder or spray. Denise used Unite's Expand Dust ($21).

Step 4: Gently pull each side of the braid outward to "fatten" them and give them a fuller look. But be careful because you don’t want to pull the braids apart!

Step 5: When you’re done with the braids, crisscross the ends of the braids, tuck them under one another, and secure them into the hair with few bobby pins.

(Make sure you pin upward and flip the grooved side toward your head. You can also spray your bobby pins with hair spray to give them a better grip, among other tips.)

Use as many bobby pins as you want to make sure your braid stays in place.

The finished look!

#3: The Braided Headband

The third style I want to share is called the deep side part braid—or a braided headband. This is the easiest and fastest to create when you are always on the go like me! I also love how subtle this look is, so it’s great for the more classic girl!

Step 1: Start by creating a thick Dutch braid from the top of your head.

Step 2: Secure the braid with an elastic band and hide the end by bobby-pinning it in the back.

Step 3: Gently pull the braid apart to make it look thicker and more voluminous.

Step 4: Tease your hair for volume and texture, but be careful of the braid!

The finished look!