So you’re a pro at basic braiding — you can criss cross your mane in a perfect fishtail, Dutch or French braid with your eyes closed. And now that you’ve nailed Braiding 101, it’s time to take your DIY hairstyling skills to the next level. That’s where this tutorial comes into play in a major way. We’re showing you eight different ways to turn your go-to braids into brand-new looks that are all photo-ready in just nine steps or less!
Headband Braid
1. Give yourself a heavy side part and let the hair fall on the opposite side of your head.
2. Starting two inches in from the side of your head with the part, braid a two-inch section of hair, adding a small elastic when you reach the end.
3. Gently separate the braid to create more volume.
4. Lift up a two-inch section of hair on the opposite side of your head. Then wrap the braid around your forehead and pin it underneath the lifted section.
5. Use bobby pins in a cross pin form to secure the braid in place, then drop the section of hair back over the pins to hide them.
Annnd that’s a wrap! :)
1. Part your hair in two sections and back comb each section with a wide tooth comb to create lots of messy texture and volume.
Messy Fishtails
2. Beginning at your cheekbones, gently fishtail braid both sections — be careful not to smooth down the texture too much while braiding.
3. Secure each end with a small elastic.
4. Gently separate the braid to loosen and even let some stray hairs stick out to get the pretty-messy look.
This style is a grown-up way to wear pigtails, that’s for sure!
1. Separate your hair into three sections.
Triple French Twist Bun
2. Braid each section.
3. Pull braids slightly apart to loosen.
4. Twist up the middle section into a bun and secure with bobby pins.
5. Pull apart the remaining braids a little more and twist them up one at a time on top of the original bun to create one big braided bun.
6. Once the braids are stacked, bobby pin any areas that feel loose.
We’re dazzled by this intricate ‘do, but DON’T let out the secret that it was sooo easy!
1. Gather three small sections at the top of your head and braid back from your temple towards your ear.
Waterfall Crown
2. When you get to the point where the braid is noticeable, drop the bottom section of the braid down into the hair and replace it with another same-sized section from underneath.
3. Continue this braiding all the way around your head.
4. Once you reach the other side, secure with a small elastic that’s easily hidden.
This might be the most effortless hairstyle of them all! Keep your locks in a down-do for the most etherial take on this look.
1. Section the center part of your hair into a triangle shape and pin up with a clip.
French Hawk
2. French braid both side sections and secure each braid at the nape of your neck with a small elastic.
3. Then pull the ponytails together and secure with a small elastic at the base of the triangle section.
4. Back comb the entire top section of hair.
5. Now twist up the ponytail and secure it with bobby pins.
6. Loosely French braid the top section of your hair working your way towards the back.
7. When you get about half way down, place in bobby pins to hold the shape.
8. Continue to the ends with a traditional braid and secure with a small elastic.
9. Wrap up the remaining braid and secure it at the base of your neck with bobby pins.
Unleash your inner rockstar with this edgy updo!
1. Part your hair down the center.
Dutch Crown
2. Begin the Dutch braid (remember: go underneath instead of over the top) into the top of one of the sections of your hair.
3. Continue on until you get to the nape of your neck and secure with a small elastic.
4. Repeat on the other side.
5. Loosen both braids on top to create a softer silhouette.
6. Braid both ponytails and secure at the ends with a small elastic.
7. Bring up one of the braids over the top of your head like a headband and gently weave it through the Dutch braids on top of your head.
8. Secure with a bobby pin.
9. Repeat on the other side and secure with a bobby pin.
You won’t have to worry about one single hair being out of place (or in your face!) with this all-over braided look.
1. Place a heavy side part into your hair.
Frenchie-Pony
2. Start a French braid on the heavier side of your hair.
3. When you get just past the side of your head, begin picking up sections of hair from underneath and continue on until you get to the end.
4. Place the braided section down for now and back comb the top portion of your hair behind the braid at the roots.
5. Pull back all of your hair along with the braided strand and tie off with an elastic that is strong enough to hold it all in place.
6. Re-braid the end of the French braided strand that is now in the ponytail.
7. Wrap the braid around the elastic to disguise it and pin it in place.
This hairdo is so dreamy it’s bridal-worthy, though it’s ready to rock any time you need to polish your pony.
1. Brush the front side section of your hair off to one side.
Braided Bun
2. Pull up the rest of your hair into a high ponytail.
3. Take one small section from the front portion of hair you left off to the side and two sections of hair from the ponytail and begin to braid in the center of the side of your head.
4. Continue pulling from the front section of hair as well as the pony to make the braid curve down and around towards the back of your head.
5. Continue braiding up and around into the other side of your head.
6. When you run out of hair to pick up from the front section and the ponytail, continue with a traditional braid down to the ends of your hair then secure with an elastic.
7. Wrap up the braid into a bun and secure it with bobby pins.
This chic updo should be your go-to look for every formal affair you RSVPed to this summer. Just make sure your +1 looks just as good ;)
Artist Dev Heyrana On How Bravery, Resilience and Sunshine Influence Her Work
Ever meet someone who you feel immediate kinship with on a deep almost spiritual level? That is legit every person's experience upon meeting Dev Heyrana, the star of this edition of Creative Crushin'. A fine artist, hip hop dance teacher and constant collaborator, Dev's particular brand of creativity is one-of-a-kind. She manages to be warm, welcoming and woke, with a focus on inclusivity, social justice and motherhood that comes through in every piece of art she creates.
Anjelika Temple here, co-founder of Brit + Co and one of many humans who has benefitted from Dev's boundless generosity and kindness. We first connected at a launch event, then I asked her if she and her family would like to model for a B+C shoot (they did!), then months later, I asked the IG universe if anyone would be down to co-parent with me for a day so I could speak at a conference. Dev said yes! And for those that know her, none of these serendipitous moments are surprising.
Now it's time to delve more into Dev's story, her creative inspiration, her thoughtful approach to parenting and what makes her more passionate than ever about bringing her point of view and artistic voice into the universe.
Anjelika Temple: First, foundations. Where did you grow up? What is your heritage? What did you study in school? Where do you live now?
Dev Heyrana: Born in The Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. when I was 9 years old. Me and my family are from the island of Cebu and I'm a proud Cebuana. My childhood in the Philippines felt like freedom. I had my swimsuit in my backpack for whenever we decided to swim and I biked everywhere.
Immigrating here at 9 yrs old was a transition, to say the least. My parents had big dreams but the move was heavy on them. It wasn't easy. I had to grow up fast. I took care of my sisters while my parents worked night shifts. By the age of 12 I would cook dinner and get my sisters ready for bed. Something I didn't realize was that kids my age didn't do those things until I got older. We would play these make-believe games to make, in hindsight, our hard situation brighter.
I think this is really when art played a big role in my life. It was something I could escape in and always felt healing.
I witnessed racism towards my family and didn't know how to make sense of it. These events left a mark. I was a quiet kid and observed everything and everyone around me. I think about my grandparents, Lolo Jose and Lola Rita, a lot as I walk through life. When I make decisions. As hard as it feels, you have two choices, do you let it take you down or take it one step at a time forward. I kept going and it really shaped me as to why I am the way I am today.
I studied Fine Arts at The Corcoran in DC. I owe that decision to my art teacher, Mr Giles, in High School. He was retiring and wore a Hawaiian shirt every day during my senior year. He was a curmudgeon and I felt incredibly special since out of everyone in the school he really believed in me. As grumpy as he seemed to the class, he would tell me things like "Go into the other studio and break some glass, then put it on a canvas." He's the reason why my abstract pieces have elements like clay and sand in them.
I've had incredible mentors and all were teachers. Mr. Giles in High School and Christine George in College. Christine was the one who told me to go either to New York or San Francisco because "D.C. is no place for an artist like you." She told me to not listen to anyone, how I can still paint, be a graphic designer, and, if I choose to, have a family. I've never had anyone tell me anything like that before.
I took a chance because of her. Moved and went to Design School in 2006 and I've stayed in the Bay Area ever since, raising two girls with the love of my life.
Anj: You are one of those magical human beings that has figured out how to be a full-time artist. What was your career path like before you were able to dive fully into your creative passions?
Dev: The most radical thing I could have done in my family, I did, I went to college for Fine Arts. A mix of being so young and having to do it on my own, I went with the school that gave me more scholarships. Even then I worked three jobs to be able to get through it. Hard work is ingrained in me.
With my sculpture background, I fell in love with Print and Packaging and why I came out here to San Francisco. I appreciated the security of having a career in Graphic Design. I also learned how to work with clients and the business side of things. Even then, I never stopped painting.
A few years ago I went through a pretty hard time with my health. I dealt with six surgeries in one year and I still have to do some follow-up ones. That experience almost broke me and what got me through was my family and painting in bed while I recovered.
When I finally got back on my feet, my heart just wasn't in Graphic Design anymore. So I made a two year plan. With a toddler and a mortgage, I wanted to make sure my steps were thought out. I put myself out there as an Artist while I still worked in Design. After a year I worked part time as a Graphic Designer and stepped down from my Creative Director position. I loved it, to be creative as an Artist and as a Designer. I looked at 2018 as my year to make the jump. If my work as an Artist balances out with my salary then I would quit in the Summer of 2019. And so here we are. I also am sharing a studio with my good friend, Naomi PQ, and I feel like my creative drive is just beginning.
Anj: What do you love about painting? How do you feel when you're in a creative flow state?
Dev: Like every part of me is free. Free to express myself through the stroke of my hand. How all of it leads back to my heart. These elements I use to paint have a mind of their own and how I need to respect the process.
It centers me and reminds me that the process is just like the life we lead. I know I still have so much more to learn but while I'm painting no matter how it's going, I'll embrace this moment.
Anj: You reference your roots quite a bit in your work. Talk to me more about how your roots inspire your work.
Dev: One of my earliest memories is of my Lolo Jose teaching me how to water mango saplings. He converted to Buddhism when my mother was young, so he viewed the world with love and kindness. I didn't realize it then but watering those mango trees were life lessons. We need to take the time to nurture, practice patience, and respect all living things. I still imagine him walking beside me often, carrying his teachings as I find my way in this world.
Nature and the Sun drive my pieces. My abstract works are fragments of moments. Like the sunset I grew up with when I was seven years old in the Philippines, like how I saw the water in Cebu when I dove in as a young adult, and like when I saw the redwoods with my children for the first time.
I see earth in our skin and especially when I paint people. How our mango trees grew and blossomed because the dark earth was rich with nutrients. I imagine the Sun piercing through these women I depict. I paint their love and bravery because their resilience cannot be contained. I want to celebrate all of it.
This is the beauty of Art, I am able to paint exactly how I see it.
Anj: Motherhood and your daughters are also central themes in your work. How has motherhood changed your approach to creating artwork?
Dev: Everything. I was still deep in my Design Career and I would paint at home. One day Quinn, who was 3 years old at the time introduced me at the park to a mom. "This is my mom, she's an Artist." It struck me that my toddler knew who I was more than I knew myself. That's really when I really owned it. I am more fearless because of my girls.
I own my body, I thank people when they compliment me, and I am selective but fearless when I use my voice. I am more in tune how I speak about myself because of them. When I paint these women I want to celebrate them. I notice how I embrace myself is translated in my paintings.
Anj: What advice can you give to parents who are trying to tap into their kiddos' innate creativity?
Dev: I don't have a lot of guidelines set up. I'll say "Let's draw the biggest fish we can draw" or "how many silly lines can we make" and I let them lead me. They ask me questions, show me things, and I sit there with my coffee watching their eyes wide with excitement. Watching them in their creative process is pure joy for me. Those silly lines can turn into a dragon or waves and next thing we know, we're drawing a big beach scene. My advice would be that you can suggest something to start it off but be open to how they take it. It is such a beautiful window into their minds.
Anj: Shifting gears to HIP HOP DANCE! Talk to us about his component of your creative expression.
Dev: I loved the Hip Hop scene in DC and discovered how much fun the clubs were in college. My friends told me about this Hip Hop Crew I should try out for, I was so scared because I've never taken a dance class in my life. I got in and it was like having another family. We competed all over the East Coast, it was a blast!
I found hipline when I started my first Design Job and needed an outlet. It was exactly what I needed and one of the owners asked if I was interested to teach. I've been teaching there since 2009 and am still going strong. It's a wonderful community of women. Now we're virtual and reaching clients all over.
Anj: What does a typical [pandemic] day look like for you? How does it differ from your rhythm before COVID?
Dev: I've been practicing being kinder to myself lately. Both me and my husband work full time and so having the girls at home is a challenge. Some days we are amazed by how smooth it went and then there are others where if the girls are clean and bellies are full, it's a total win.
Now that we're on month 8 our rhythm before covid felt more chaotic to be honest. I felt like we were always rushing out the door while carrying so many bags. Now my husband and I try to have coffee together, if he has a break from his meeting, and we sit with Quinn before school to see what she has to do for the day. Rowan's preschool closed down but we were able to find a wonderful speech therapist for her and she has an Adventure Pod we go to two times a week.
The one thing we really try to do is go outside once a day. Have some magic in their childhood no matter how small. It could be just going up for a hike by our home and picking up leaves, riding our bikes, or watching the sunset from our window. Seeing how the girls' react to these adventures we have is pure magic.
Anj: When you get creatively blocked or burnt out, how do you reset? Do you have tips you can share?
Dev: I go outside. I go out for a hike or go to the beach. Even if it's 15 minutes, something about grounding yourself in Nature is really healing. I also do exercise where I doodle for two minutes because it feels doable. Judgment-free doodles, always opens the doorway to more.
Anj: I know firsthand that community-building is huge for you. Tell us more about what your support system and creative community looks like.
Dev: I feel a lot of love and strength when I think of my community. My relationship with my sister led the way what women supporting women looks like. It's listening, asking questions, remembering, cheering for all the wins, being there even if it's hard, and taking time to invest in them. The way me and my sister show up for each other is why I have these amazing women in my life. I can talk to them about my family, motherhood, and we're all trying to balance it all while sharing my most recent project. I feel really blessed especially looking back in my college years where I don't know where Art would take me.
Anj: When you need to give yourself a pep talk, what does it sound like?
Dev: I usually take a deep breath then say or think "One step forward". Most of the time, I'm scared (as shit) but the thought of not trying scares me more. That one step forward can be hard as hell and maybe even heartbreaking, but I have to try.
For more on this brilliant artist, mother and friend, follow Dev @_heyrana on Instagram and check out (and buy!) her artwork here.