How to Create a Beautiful Crown Braid

Romantic, intricate, and seemingly straight out of a fairytale—what’s not to love about a crown braid hairstyle? This updo is one you’ve likely seen circulating your Pinterest feed, earning spots on wedding hairstyle lists and included in festival beauty lookbooks. There’s just something about braided crown hairstyles that instantly catch the eye. Want to know how to recreate this magical style for yourself? Keep reading for a step-by-step tutorial on how to do a crown braid hairstyle for a beauty look that’s totally royal. (P.S. Have short hair? Read till the end for tips on creating a crown braid for short hair, too!)

HOW TO DO A CROWN BRAID

Ready to get down to business? We promise it’s not too difficult! Here’s the breakdown.

What you’ll need:

Hair brush

Clear elastic

Bobby pins

L’Oréal Paris Elnett Precious Oil Satin Hairspray

Get the look:

STEP #1: PART YOUR HAIR

Start by parting your hair to one side. Ideally, part your hair to the side that coordinates with your dominant hand to make starting your crown braid a little easier. If you’re right-handed, part your hair to the right side. If you’re left-handed, part it to the left side. Make sure to brush out any tangles to make the braiding process go smoothly.

STEP #2: START YOUR BRAID

Grab a section that’s about one-inch wide starting at your hairline. Separate that section into three equally-sized pieces. This will be the start of your crown braid! Typically, when you think of a crown braid, what comes to mind is actually a Dutch braid crown. This is because Dutch braiding creates the illusion of a braid that really pops out! You can totally use any braiding technique you like, but we’ll be sticking with the Dutch braid for this tutorial. But before you break out your Dutch braid skills, anchor your braid as you would a traditional three-strand braid.

STEP #3: BRAID, BRAID, BRAID

Start Dutch braiding your hair down the side of your head, making sure to pick up more hair and add it to each strand as you continue to braid. When you near the nape of your neck, slowly start to curve your Dutch braid around your head.

Editor’s tip: Rusty on how to Dutch braid? We cover the essentials in our article, How to Dutch Braid Your Hair.

STEP #4: FINISH YOUR BRAID

Once you get to the front of your head on the opposite side, you’ll realize you’ve run out of hair to add to the braid. No worries! Simply continue to braid a traditional three-strand braid down the length of your hair. Secure your braid with a clear elastic.

STEP #5: SECURE YOUR CROWN

To finish your crown braid, tuck the ends of your hair into the braid and bobby pin it in place! Before you move on to creating an equally whimsical makeup look, don’t forget to set your style with some hair spray.

HOW TO DO A CROWN BRAID ON SHORT HAIR

Have short hair? No problem! If you have short locks, you can rock this style with just a few tweaks. Here are three options for creating a crown braid for short hair.

OPTION #1: ADD EXTENSIONS

The easiest way to create a crown braid on short hair is to add hair extensions into the mix. This will give you the full effect of a thick, beautiful braid. Simply clip them in and follow the steps above! Try attaching the clips in an upward fashion to make it easier to incorporate them into your braid.

OPTION #2: TWIST IT UP

Braids aren’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to crown hairstyles—you can also create a crown twist! Follow the steps above but instead of Dutch braiding, weave a two-strand twist around your head, adding hair in as you go. This requires less hair, making it easier to achieve with short strands.

OPTION #3: CREATE A BRAIDED HEADBAND

Another option is to create a braided headband. This hairstyle differs only in the back, as the braid goes from ear to ear instead of weaving around your entire head. This is a great option for those with hair that isn’t drastically short but also isn’t long enough to create a braid that wraps all the way around. Head on over to our article, How to Get a Braided Headband Hairstyle, for a full tutorial.

Want more braided hairstyles to try? Check out our article, 30 Braided Ponytail Hairstyles You're About to Be Obsessed With, for plenty of inspo.