How to braid braids with elastic bands: hairstyle options for every day and for a special occasion

For both regular outfits and special occasions, braids are a chic and adaptable choice. Braids are given a contemporary twist by using elastic bands, which also makes them more secure and easier to style throughout the day.

There are numerous ways to play around with this technique, ranging from easy, quick braids for hectic mornings to sophisticated braided looks ideal for special occasions. In addition to keeping hair in place, elastic bands can create eye-catching accents with their vibrant colors and patterns.

This guide will show you how to create various braid styles using elastic bands, whether you want a more laid-back look or something more formal for a special occasion.

General characteristics

The hairstyle is typically applied to medium- to long-length hair. Nonetheless, people with reasonably short hairstyles can also play around with styling. This type of braid isn’t quite like a typical weave. Elastic bands are used to form the coils, which are the main component. You can add more lushness to the braid because the fasteners firmly secure it along its whole length. This will be especially appreciated by girls with thin hair.

Furthermore. Hairstyle frequently referred to as an openwork or voluminous braid that is made of ponytails or without weaving.

Who it suits

Elastic band braided pigtails look good most of the time. For a wedding, graduation, or other special occasion, a stylish, full braid looks stunning when accessorized with beads, headbands, tiaras, ribbons, and other accessories. More understated hairstyles are appropriate for daily wear, such as to work or school, on a date or just hanging out with friends, the movies, a concert, or any other event.

Elastic banded pigtails look great with evening and cocktail dresses, school uniforms, and formal suits, including trouser suits.

Stylists advise considering your physical features when selecting a particular style of hairdo. As an illustration:

1. Girls with an oval face can use a variety of options.
2. If you have a narrow forehead, avoid a straight parting and slicked-back hair.
3. Women with Round Faces Should Choose Hairstyles with Volume on the Crown. A clever trick will help to visually stretch the face. But additional splendor on the sides is inappropriate.
4. Volumetric styling based on braids is recommended for girls whose faces visually resemble a diamond or triangle. But combing your hair back is not advisable.
5. A voluminous hairstyle and smoothed curls that open the forehead are an unsuccessful choice for women with a square face.
6. If the oval is close to a rectangle, you should avoid volume in the crown area and a straight parting. You should not completely open your face.

Suggestions. Elastic band braids look great with all different kinds of partings and bangs. Choose a hairstyle that will enhance and accentuate your appearance to the fullest.

Recommendations for execution

Use these tips to handle styling at home brilliantly:

1. Wash your hair. Dirty strands will look unkempt.
2. Choose suitable fasteners. These can be thin silicone accessories that are sold in large quantities (up to 1000 pcs.).) or 1–2 Invisibobble springs. Also suitable are narrow terry fasteners of bright colors (for children) or elastic bands with beads.
3. The fasteners can contrast or match the shade of the hair. This depends on what role the elastic bands should play: only fix or also decorate the hairstyle.
4. Decide how you want to braid the braid: from the tail, all over the head (crown), from the crown, diagonally, etc. d. Study the diagram of the selected option.
5. Use 2 elastic bands if in the process of creating the hairstyle you are faced with the fact that the accessories are very thin and quickly break.
6. Remove the silicone fasteners by prying them with a thin and long tail of a comb. Or cut them by carefully lifting the elastic band on one side.
7. To prevent the hair from getting tangled or electrified during the process of creating the hairstyle, slightly moisten it with water or treat it with wax. You can smooth it out with an iron.
8. Keep the finished ponytails that will form the basis of the braiding away from the main mass of strands.
9. Add volume to thin hair using a bouffant or corrugation.
10. Do the styling in front of a dressing table or take 2 mirrors to monitor the neatness of the braid at the back.
11. Additionally fix the hairstyle with hairspray if you doubt the reliability of the fastening.

Furthermore. You will be able to create braids out of elastic bands on your own with some practice. One big benefit of this is that you’ll save money. Complex braiding in Moscow salons can cost up to 500 rubles, and that’s not the upper limit.

Elastic band braiding is a quick and easy method to create fashionable hairstyles for special occasions as well as daily wear. By combining different techniques and adding your own touch, this method makes it easy to achieve various styles, whether you’re going for a more elegant look or a more casual one. Using elastic bands adds extra hold and makes the process quick and manageable, even for beginners. It can be used for simple braids or more complex designs.

Step-by-step instructions

Ponytail braids like this are frequently referred to as an interpretation of traditional French styling. In actuality, though, it resembles a Dutch or inverted braid more—just without the braiding. Detailed explanation of the procedure:

• Comb your hair. Separate a small part on the crown, gather it into a ponytail.
• Throw it forward. If desired, fix it with a clip. Form an identical tail a little lower.
• Divide the first in two.
• Pull the second ponytail between these strands and wrap it up. Connect the divided halves of the hair.
• Add small curls to this part on both sides. Tie everything into a new ponytail.
• Do the same until you reach the back of the head. All the loose hair that you add on both sides should end by this point.
• At this stage, you can tie a low ponytail or continue braiding the braid using a similar technique, but without adding hair.
• To do this, divide the upper part in two and pass the lower strand between the resulting halves. Connect the divided curls and secure with an elastic band.
• Do the same to get a braid of the desired length.
• Combine all the parts and secure with an elastic band.
• Gently stretch the links along the entire braid with your fingers.
• Spray your hair with hairspray if necessary.

Suggestions. Once the first tail is formed, wrap a small strand of hair around the upper elastic band and secure with an invisible pin to hide it.

Various options

Once you have mastered the fundamental method, proceed to alternative styling choices. A few of them are pretty challenging to complete at home. You cannot braid every kind of rubber band braid by yourself. However, you can create similar hairstyles for your loved ones or friends. What matters most is that the length of the hair is appropriate for braiding.

Volumetric hairstyle

Appropriate for long and medium-length strands of any thickness. Made in just ten to fifteen minutes:

1. Comb all your hair back.
2. Having made a horizontal parting from ear to ear, separate a small part of the curls from the top and secure with a silicone accessory.
3. Slightly lower, make a similar ponytail, while capturing the previous one.
4. Make a small indentation behind the lower elastic band, through which you pull the tip of the tail. You need to turn it inside out, at the base along its axis. You can use a special hair loop for this purpose.
5. Continue to do the same: form the tails and turn them out.
6. At the end, secure the braid with an elastic band.
7. Stretch the curls with your fingers to make them more voluminous.

From a ponytail

There are various ways to braid, such as this one:

1. Comb your hair, put it in a ponytail. Low or high – it depends on your preferences. You can disguise the elastic band by wrapping it with a thin strand and fixing it with an invisible hairpin.
2. Form 2 strands from the ponytail, one under the other. Tie each with a thin elastic band. Place them at a short distance from the base of the ponytail.
3. Pull the lower strand through the upper one. Gently straighten, tighten the fasteners. Now the lower curl has become the upper one.
4. Continue to act according to the same pattern: put on elastic bands, pull the lower part through the upper one.
5. Having reached the end of the ponytail, secure the braiding with an elastic band.
6. Stretch the braid elements a little to make them more voluminous.
7. Decorate your hairstyle if desired.

Take note! Rubber bands should be fastened equally apart.

In the form of bows

An elegant haircut is appropriate for a formal, celebratory event. Here’s how to make one of these rubber band braids step-by-step:

1. Make a "malvinka": tie a ponytail in the crown area, taking a small part of the hair on the sides and top. Secure with an elastic band.
2. Group all the curls from the tail into 2 equal parts.
3. Pull one of them through the elastic band, but not all the way. Form half a bow this way.
4. Twist the elastic band crosswise and secure the second part of the bow with it, making it from the remaining strand.
5. For reliability, fix the hairstyle element with hairpins.
6. After a couple of centimeters, form a ponytail again.
7. Twist a bow out of it using the already familiar principle.
8. Follow the same steps to tie another bow on the back of the head. Do not forget that the elements will hold better and look more presentable with the help of hairpins.
9. Straighten the weaving with your hands.
10. Spray braid from rubber bands with hairspray.

Fishtail

The following formula will assist you in making this kind of braid:

1. Part your hair or comb it back.
2. Separate thin strands from both sides, from the temples.
3. Secure them with an elastic band, but not tightly.
4. Make a second similar ponytail, exactly under the first.
5. Tuck the edge of the lower element behind the upper one and form an inverted ponytail. Try not to catch the rest of the hair so that the styling comes out neat.
6. Separate new side strands and tie them with an elastic band.
7. Pull the edge through the fastening that holds the first ponytail.
8. Select strands according to the same pattern. Twist all the resulting ponytails through the first elastic band. As you braid the braid, lower this accessory, but be careful not to break it.
9. You don’t have to turn out the lower ponytails, but simply secure them with elastic bands in the center.
10. Having reached the end, fix the braid. Stretch its curls with your fingers to make it more voluminous.
11. Decorate your hairstyle if desired.

In the form of hearts

There are two ways to braid this kind of braid. The first example has voluminous styling:

1. Comb your hair back.
2. Separate 2 wide strands in the forehead area and form a ponytail from them. Turn it away from you through the hole behind the elastic.
3. Connect the end of the ponytail with two new strands that should be separated from the temple areas. Put on the elastic, stepping back 2-3 cm from the previous one.
4. Turn the resulting ponytail inside out again.
5. Repeat the same with the third pair of strands, in the back of the head.
6. Stretch the central parts of the weave, making them look like hearts.
7. If desired, form a similar element from the remaining hair or simply tie them into a ponytail.

The second approach:

1. Comb your hair back.
2. Form a ponytail from thin side strands like for a "malvinka".
3. Separate 2 more curls a little lower. They need to be thrown over the previous strands and make one circular turn each. How exactly the finished element should look – see the photo.
4. Connect the edges of the second pair of strands with the tail using an elastic band. You will get the first figure in the form of a heart.
5. Continue to form similar elements along the entire length of the hair.
6. Hide the edge of the last tail inside the styling and fix it with an invisible pin or leave it as is.

Twist braid

Original short hairstyle for medium-length hair:

1. Make a low tail.
2. Measure down a few centimeters and tie a new elastic band. It is advisable to choose accessories to match the color of your hair. Choose the interval between the elastic bands at your discretion. The main thing is that it is the same for all elements.
3. Divide the part of the hair between the elastic bands in half.
4. Pull the edge of the tail through the resulting hole and turn it out.
5. Step back the same gap as in the first case, and put the elastic band back on.
6. Form a similar inverted tail.
7. Continue weaving to the desired level.

Openwork weaving

For girls with thin hair or young fashionistas who wish to channel their inner Disney princess, a luxurious corrugated braid is recommended. The algorithm

1. Process your hair with a corrugator. It is more convenient to start from the bottom, temporarily removing the upper strands with hairpins.
2. Gather your hair into a ponytail on the top of your head.
3. Form 4 parts from it: 2 side, top and bottom.
4. Connect those on the sides with a silicone rubber band.
5. Stretch the braiding a little with your fingers. To do this, lightly pull the resulting element upwards.
6. Separate the side strands again and tie with an elastic band. Straighten in the same way as with the first curl.
7. Repeat these steps to get to the end of the tail.

For medium and short hair

The only difference in the hairstyle is that the short tails will be styled in a nearly identical manner to the long strands. The algorithm’s remaining steps are as follows:

1. Backcomb a thin strand near the forehead.
2. Tie an elastic band at the end to get a tail.
3. Make another one under it.
4. Divide the upper tail in two.
5. Insert the lower tail between the parts and temporarily remove it to the top.
6. Connect the separated strands, add a little hair to them on both sides and tie elastic band.
7. Place the edge that was tucked up in the center of this ponytail.
8. Repeat these steps as long as the length of your hair allows.
9. Stretch the curls slightly with your fingers to add volume.
10. Remove the lower ponytail with a hairpin or invisible hairpin.

Around the head

Because the techniques for braiding hair from elastic bands overlap, you can use them to create a lovely wreath:

1. Separate your hair with a side parting. It should start as close to one of the temples as possible.
2. Separate a strand and form a ponytail out of it. Slightly lower – another one.
3. In the first ponytail divided in half, put the second one and tie an elastic band behind it.
4. Move smoothly around the head until you run out of loose hair.
5. Put the remaining curls in the same way so that a small ponytail remains at the end.
6. Stretch all the elements of the braid so that the braid comes out voluminous.
7. Add splendor to the root zone, lifting and slightly pulling the strands with your fingers or a comb.
8. Wrap the edge of the braid around your head and disguise the tip with invisible hairpins, hairpins. Or make a bun.

Suggestions. There are more braided elements the thinner the strands used to form the ponytails, and vice versa.

Two braids

You can use any of the methods listed to create this kind of hairstyle. Make a center parting in your hair. First on one half of the ponytails, then the other, form braids. Using the lifesaver you already know, give the styling some volume by gently stretching the curls with your fingers.

3D braiding

This braid has a particularly full appearance. Looks opulent when worn in long hair:

1. Separate a small part of the curls on top.
2. Tie with an elastic band and throw forward, towards the face.
3. Form the second tail strictly under the first.
4. Divide the top into 3 strands. Lower the side ones down, do not touch the central one yet.
5. Divide the lower tail in half. Place the middle strand from the top ponytail between these parts.
6. Move the lower ponytail elements up.
7. Connect all three strands of the upper ponytail, adding loose hair on the sides. Tie with a silicone elastic.
8. Stretch the resulting element a little with your fingers.
9. Repeat similar actions, adding wide parts of hair on both sides.
10. When the loose curls run out, continue braiding without them.
11. Secure the braid at the bottom with an elastic band.

With beads

Prepare the accessories first for this festive option. A bead or pretty pearl should be placed on the silicone elastic. Loops should be put into loops and tightened. As many pieces as necessary to complete the hairstyle should be made. Then, using the method of your choice, braid the braid starting from the tail and working your way up the head. Verify that the bead is precisely in the middle.

Suggestions. You can purchase pre-made elastic bands with beads in their place. But compared to the elegant silicone ones, they are denser and wider.

With a spring

Two Invisibobble elastic bands create a remarkable styling that resembles a mermaid’s tail. To carry out this:

1. Divide your hair into two roughly equal parts using a horizontal parting.
2. Put 2 Invisibobble hair ties on the bottom, but not from the very back of your head, wrapping each one 3 times. Place them at some distance from each other.
3. Pull out the hair between the turns slightly with your fingers. This will make the tail loose, slightly careless.
4. Untie the top hair. Put it into a light Dutch braid.
5. When the extra strands on the sides run out, continue braiding without them.
6. Pull the braid through the top spring elastic and the first turn of the bottom.
7. Secure the edge of the braid by threading it through the last turn of the second Invisibobble.
8. Straighten all the sections with your fingers.

Original "malvinka"

Ideal for a young woman who desires to command attention:

1. Comb your hair. If desired, curl it a little at the ends.
2. Separate the top part, as for a "malvinka".
3. Slightly above the temples, select strips 2-3 cm wide. There should be a fairly wide part left in the center between them.
4. Braid them into thin pigtails, picking up loose hair. When the extra strands run out, finish braiding with a classic spikelet.
5. Tie the edges with elastic bands.
6. Tie the entire upper part, together with the braids, into a ponytail. If desired, wrap a thin strand around its base to hide the fastening.
7. Separate 2 curls from the tail on the sides, connect with an elastic band.
8. Slightly lower, form a second ponytail, including the braids.
9. Style according to the already familiar pattern. Pull the lower tail through the upper one. You will see that the elements with and without braids alternate. Do not grab the side strands.
10. Straighten the coils to make them voluminous.

Pros and cons

Benefits of using elastic bands in braids:

• a variety of design options;
• the ability to do at home;
• no age restrictions;
• versatility – suitable for any occasion;
• fashionable;
• durability – does not need correction during the day;
• preservation of the original hair length, which is not typical for classic braids.

Drawbacks:

• thin elastic bands cause inconvenience when removing;
• tight weaves provoke hair loss.

Star examples

Although they enjoy looking beautiful, celebrities aren’t always eager to share the details of their hairstyles. Another thing are bloggers who painstakingly demonstrate how to create stylish hairstyles. For instance, this is what Christina, a girl with over 67 thousand Instagram subscribers, does with her hairromance account. Given that the blogger goes into great detail about her hair experiments, it is likely that the majority of them are women of various ages. Specifically, there’s a comprehensive master class on rubber band braiding.

The original styling’s concepts can be found on Melissa Cook’s @missysueblog account. There are braids made with elastic bands as well.

Additionally, Hollywood actresses Blake Lively and Olivia Wilde play around with a high ponytail-inspired hairstyle.

Blake Lively and Olivia Wilde

Elastic band hairstyles are a win-win situation for mom and daughter. To wow people with a unique hairstyle, pick your favorite braiding technique and replicate it on your own hair.

In selecting a hairstyle and haircut, the shape of the face should also be taken into account:

• suitable options for a rectangular face;
• for a pear-shaped and trapezoidal shape;
• for an oval face;
• for a triangular face type;
• for a round face;
• for diamond shape.

Hairstyle Option	Description
Simple Ponytail Braid	Start with a high ponytail and divide it into three sections. Braid them together and secure with another elastic band.
Double Braided Pigtails	Divide hair into two sections, create a braid on each side, and secure each with elastic bands.
Elastic Band Ladder Braid	Create small ponytails down the middle of the head, securing each section with elastic bands to create a ladder-like effect.
Fishtail with Elastics	Instead of braiding, tie hair with elastic bands down the length, then pull the sections apart to mimic a fishtail.
Bubble Braid	Create a high ponytail and place elastic bands every few inches. Gently pull on each section to form bubbles.

Creating fashionable and adaptable hairstyles is as easy as using elastic bands to create braids. Elastic bands give your braids structure and creativity, whether you’re going for a laid-back everyday style or something more formal for a special event.

You can play around with a variety of braiding techniques, ranging from the traditional three-strand braids to more complex patterns like fishtails or bubble braids. You can also easily customize the look to fit your preferences or the occasion by using colorful or transparent elastic bands.

These braided hairstyles are a great option if you need to look put together in a hurry because they can be quickly completed with a little practice. It’s an easy and enjoyable way to change up your hairstyle without putting in a lot of work.

Video on the topic

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