Whether it’s refined dinners, chic cocktail events, or enormous home parties, they’re all excellent places to unwind! However, that is the exact opposite of what you want your hair to accomplish, correct?
Because braids are so popular right now, I’ve compiled a list of 20 simple yet stunning party hairstyles for long hair that you will adore!
Ultimate Party Hair Rules
Achieving the perfect party hairdo requires understanding and adhering to a few basic hair styling principles. Here they are, all tried and tested on my long straight hair!
- To remove flyaways, use hairspray and a toothbrush! Spray some on a toothbrush and use it as a comb to pull back the flyaways.
- Curl your hair away from your face in the front for the greatest waves.
- Spray hairspray over slippery bobby pins to ensure they remain in place all night.
- Make careful to insert bobby pins with the flat side facing out and the rough side inwards.
- There is no frying pan involved when I say “pancaking”! Pancaking a braid involves puffing it out by gently pushing on the edges, resulting in a simple ‘pancake’ look. It gives your hair extra volume.
- Maintain a clean bun for formal gatherings, or make it a touch more bohemian and sloppy for casual (e.g., birthday) celebrations.
- The most crucial criterion is to ensure that the hairstyle is pleasant and that you enjoy wearing it.
1. Braided Updo
- Begin by dividing your hair into two sections.
- Craft a Dutch braid down each section, gently pancaking it as you progress. Ensure both braids angle slightly towards the middle.
- Spiral-wrap both braids around each other and secure with pins. The placement of the braids determines the bun’s position – be creative!
2. Half Up Double Dutch Braids
- Select a rectangular section of hair from the forehead, extending back about 10 centimeters.
- Part this section down the middle, creating two even sections.
- Create a Dutch braid on each section, pancaking as you braid.
- Secure Half Up Double Dutch Braids
3. Fishtail Flower Half Up Style
- Take a sizable front section of hair and craft a Dutch fishtail braid, pancaking as you progress.
- When halfway down the head, transition into a fishtail plait.
- Wrap the fishtail plait spirally, decreasing its size, and pin it securely in place.
4. Half Up Stacked Braid
- Isolate a small section of hair from the right side of your head and set it aside.
- Adjacent to it, gather a larger section and commence a Dutch lace braid across your head.
- Tie off the lace braid after a few centimeters.
- Plait the initially set aside small section, then secure it.
- Pin it directly into the center of the Dutch braid.
- Tie both braids together at the end!
5. Braided Flower
- Choose a side section of your hair and Dutch braid it across your head, gently pancaking as you go.
- Craft another pancaked Dutch braid beneath the first.
- Roll the end of the first braid into a spiral, forming a flower, and secure it with a pin.
- Wrap the end of the second braid around the first flower to create the illusion of one large flower, pinning it in place.
6. Fishtail Updo
- From the front near the forehead, take a hair section for your fishtail braid’s starting point.
- Begin a fishtail braid towards the right side of your head.
- Continue braiding, incorporating all hair from both sides of your head, mimicking a centered fishtail braid but positioned to the side.
- Continue the fishtail braid to the end, then transition into a fishtail plait until the hair’s end, securing it with a tie.
- Wrap the fishtail plait into a spiral, gradually decreasing its size, and pin it securely in place.
7. Triple Ladder Braids + a Flower
- Begin with a small hair section from one side and initiate a twist waterfall braid across your head.
- Tie it off upon finishing adding hair to the braid.
- Take another small section from the same side and start another twist waterfall braid, incorporating sections passed through the braid above, creating a ‘ladder’ effect.
- Repeat the process with another section underneath to form three ladder braids.
- Tie the braid ends into a small ponytail and plait the hair.
- Create a flower by wrapping the plait into a spiral.
- Secure the flower in place.
8. Ladder Braid with a Twist
- Take a small hair section from one side and initiate a twist waterfall braid.
- Continue twisting the strands at the end before tying it off.
- Move to a small section a few centimeters beneath and create a lace braid, incorporating strands from the twist waterfall braid.
- Continue plaiting, combining it with the twist’s end, then tie it off.
9. Rope Braid Style
- Initiate a rope braid with a hair section from the left side, angling it towards the head’s middle, incorporating only left-side hair.
- As you reach the hair’s end, continue twisting the strands together and tie them off.
- Repeat the process on the right side, incorporating only right-side hair.
- Twist the ends of both braids together, creating a combined braid, and secure it at the end.
10. Half Up Fishtail Braid
- Take small sections of hair from each side of your head.
- Tie these sections together at the back’s middle, forming a small ponytail.
- Twist the ponytail once to create a twisted effect.
- Gently loosen the twists.
- Repeat to create a second twisted ponytail underneath the first.
- Gather the remaining hair from both ponytails and start a fishtail plait, pancaking as you go.
- Secure with an elastic band, and your half up fishtail braid is complete!
11. Mixed Waterfall Braids
- Begin with a small hair section from one side and create a four-strand waterfall braid across the head’s back.
- Continue plaiting into a four-strand plait for a few centimeters before tying it off.
- Gently pancake the braid.
- Move to a section below and create a lace fishtail braid, incorporating hair from the four-strand waterfall.
- Combine both braids and tie with an elastic band.
12. Dutch Braid and Fishtail Bun
- From the front of your head, create a Dutch braid down the middle, tying it into a low ponytail.
- Pancake the braid to add volume.
- From the ponytail, craft a fishtail plait, pancaking as you go, and tie it off.
- Wrap the fishtail into a bun.
- Secure with pins and prepare for compliments!
13. Stacked Braid Updo
- Take a small to medium-sized front hair section and isolate it.
- With a larger section underneath, create a Dutch five-strand braid, gently pancaking as you proceed.
- Tie into a low ponytail, determining the bun’s base.
- With the smaller section, create a four-strand plait, pancaking slightly.
- Incorporate the four-strand plait into the ponytail using another hair tie.
- Turn the ponytail into a bun by twisting it around itself, securing with pins.
14. Half Up Fishtail with a Flower
- Take a small section of hair from the forehead to the top of the head and section it off.
- Beneath it, start a fishtail braid, incorporating hair until halfway down the head.
- Transition into a fishtail plait, stopping extra hair incorporation.
- Plait the first section, pancaking on one side.
- Spiral-wrap it with the pancaked side facing out, creating layers for a flower effect.
- Secure the flower in place.
15. Cornrows and Flowers
- Part hair to one side and section off non-braided hair.
- Divide the remaining hair into three even parts.
- Start a tight French braid on the part side, continuing and tying it off.
- Repeat on the other two sections.
- Roll each braid into a spiral to form flowers and pin in place.
16. Stacked Braids into a Bun
- Divide hair into two sections.
- Take a small front section from each side.
- With the remaining hair in one section, Dutch braid, pancaking as you go.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Plait the front sections, pinning them to the Dutch braids.
- Tie all braids into a low ponytail.
- Twist the ponytail into a rope braid and then into a bun, securing with pins.
17. French Braids and Bubble Braid Half Up Style
- Part hair down the middle.
- From one side, do a French lace braid towards the middle, tying it off.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Tie the braids together in the middle to form a half up ponytail.
- Create bubbles by tying small sections down the ponytail, pulling them gently for effect.
18. Half Up Mixed Braids
- From each side, create a rope twist, tying them off.
- Below each twist, plait a section and tie it off.
- Combine all braids in the middle, fishtail plaiting, and tie off.
- Gently pancake the fishtail braid.
19. Braided Low Bun
- Tie a ponytail halfway down your head with a small crown section.
- Below the ponytail, Dutch braid a section from each side to the tied ponytail, continuing the braid without adding more hair.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Tie another ponytail for the bun’s base.
- Braid a fishtail into the ponytail.
- Cross the Dutch braids over the first ponytail, securing them with pins.
- Wrap the fishtail into a bun and pin in place.
20. Half Up Pull-Through Braid
- Section off the bottom half of your hair.
- From the crown, tie a small ponytail.
- Tie another underneath, then split the top ponytail into two sections.
- Bring the bottom ponytail up through the middle and clip it.
- Tie another ponytail underneath, incorporating the top ponytail strands.
- Repeat until all hair is incorporated.
- Continue with the remaining strands, pulling them through the split sections.
