This double-braided updo is a fun and unique hairstyle that isn't too tough to do (even on your own hair). I braided my own hair here and it only took about 10 minutes to complete. The hairstyle is versatile and can be used as a fancy hairstyle or just something to keep the hair up and away during the hot summer days! If you can french braid, you should be able to understand how to do this updo. Let's get started!

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Step 1: Starting the First Braid

The first thing you'll want to do is brush or comb your hair thoroughly. Then, make a part going across your head basically from ear-to-ear a couple inches wide (be sure to leave enough room to do this again for the 2nd braid). Then put the rest of the hair back and away and tie it with a hair band. Start at the left side, grab a small section of hair and separate the hair into three pieces. This is the same way you would start a french braid.

Step 2: Waterfall Braiding

If you've ever done a waterfall braid, then this should be super easy for you. If not, basically you begin french braiding across as you normally would. But, every time you get to the section of hair near the back of your head (when you would normally just pull some hair to add to the section), instead you need to drop that hair fully.

Then, pick up a new section of hair from underneath or near there and use that as a replacement section to continue your braid. The results of dropping and picking up new hair to complete the braid are evident in the photos. The rest of the french braiding that you will do in this first braid is just the same as you normally would. Don't worry too much if the braid seems loose due to the loose sections of hair you're leaving with the waterfall braid. This will be alleviated in the next step when you do your final braid.

Once you get to the end of your braid in the front, you might notice the section of hair is a bit thin - but don't worry. Just braid it down a little bit and secure it with a hair pin or hairband.

Step 3: Second Braid for Updo & Finishing It Up

Now that you're done with the first braid, you are ready to complete the hairstyle. You need to make another part across your head with a comb. You also need to leave another small section of hair down in the back of your head. The excess hair should be secured with a hair band (please see image). Please also refer to the graphics if needed - sorry they look pretty horrible but I just wanted to be sure it was understandable. I took most of these photos of myself while doing this hairstyle so it was hard to get all the best angles.

For this braid, you will begin it just like any other french braid, but you will take hair from the waterfall braid area and also from the hair that is in the ponytail. So you start your braid, then you are ready to pull some hair in to add to it like any other french braid and you take it from the excess waterfall braid hair. Then once you get to the other side of your current braiding and need to grab hair, just pull a small section of hair from the ponytail and use that.

Continue braiding this way until you get to the area near your ear and where your first braid ended. Then, you will need to pull that first braided piece into your second one as you continue on braiding. If you're doing this on your own hair, it can get a bit tough to do in the back but just go as far as possible and until you run out of hair from the ponytail. Once that happens, finish off your braid and secure it with a small hair band.

To finish off the hairstyle, I took the tail end of the braid and pushed it into the area underneath the ponytail and I used some bobby pins to hold it in place. You can also pull a little bit on the ponytail hair to pull it over to cover up the end of the braid and pin that in place too. I hope these instructions make sense and I hope you enjoy your new hair style! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will try to clarify!