Lace Dutch Ponytail Wrap

Sometimes you just need to look great in five minutes. Maybe you have an interview. Or a chemistry test. Or a tennis match that would just be better with fun hair. And you're a little busy at the moment with a million and one things that exclude the possibility of a long blow dry and hot rollers.

Or maybe there is no occasion at all. I put my hair up in this wrap today while my toddler snoozed (briefly!) in his crib, and enjoyed getting a compliment at the children's library afterwards. Great hair is for anytime! And besides, do any of us really have time to waste?

1. Start by doing a Dutch braid from your forehead back across one side of your hair. (Earlier video tutorial here.) In this case, I did a lace Dutch. Though lace looks complicated, it's easier than a basic Dutch. Instead of adding hair from both sides as I braided, I just added it from below. Half the work for a great look! Braid up about 1/3 of your overall hair, and braid it all the way to the ends and put in a rubber band.
2. Take the rest of your hair and put it into a low ponytail slightly to the side.

3. Pull the braid up around your ponytail, tucking the ends under the braid on the left and then up under the ponytail and around as far as they go.

4. Be sure to pin the ends all the way under the wrapped braid. Secure the wrap with four or five pins. Go a basketball game? Make it ten! 

5. Enjoy the finished look!

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Two ponytail ropes pinned together

1. Pull your hair into an upper ponytail and a lower one.

2. Rope braid each ponytail and tie off.

3. Pin the top one down and around the bottom one as if in a figure eight.

4. Pin the bottom one up along the side of the figure eight. 

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Accent Braid Loop-de-Loop

1. Braid two accent braids back from your face. One on each side.

2. Put the rest of your hair in a ponytail.

3. Pin one accent into a loop-de-loop, tucking the end down under the ponytail with a pin or two.

4. Wrap the other accent braid around the ponytail, hiding the first tucked accent ends and the ponytail holder. Pin it down under the ponytail as much as possible.

Just a reminder that The Daily Braid has its own Pinterest board. Follow along for inspiration and remember to pin your favorites to your own style and braiding boards!

Dutch Lace side into a Multi-Braid Braid (just two steps!)

1. Do a Dutch lace braid down from one side of your head, adding hair from below. Braid it all the way down.
2. Divide your other hair into two strands, and braid them in with the completed accent braid.

Loosened Milkmaid Braids

If you can braid, you can pin your hair up like this in just a few minutes. 

1. Make a ponytail above and a bit behind each ear. 

2. Braid each ponytail and rubber band the bottom.

3. Pull out the the rubber bands holding the two ponytail braids in place at the scalp for a looser milkmaid look.

4. Loosen the two braids a bit by pulling out on each section until the braids look wider/larger.

5. Pin one braid over the top and into the base of the other.

6. Repeat. Pin the two braids together on top of your head in a couple of places for added security.

Browse for more style inspiration and follow along with the fun on my Pinterest board, The Daily Braid. 

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Upside Down Dutch

1. Tip your head upside down and brush your hair toward the floor. Dutch braid down toward the floor (up the back of your head).
2. Dutch up as high as you dare and then add all remaining hair and finish the braid. Come back to right side up.
3. Pin the extra braid in a coil on top.

Crown Dutch braids around a Braided Bun