French Braid Crown: Chic Hair Style is Easier Than You Think

It's 7:30 on date night and you are running late. Sure, you can run to your local drug store to pick up some dry shampoo to eliminate that extra grease your hair has accumulated. Or, instead, you can try something new.

How about a chic French braid crown to impress that guy?

It just so happens that Maria Dobos is a braid master based in Chicago, IL. She works at a braid bar called Blowtique and is here to better your greasy day woes with some fun braided ideas.

First up, the braided crown, which is easier than you'd expect.

Step 1: Spray the front section of your crown with a texturizing spray. According to Fab Fit Fun, Dobos uses Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray. Massage the spray into your roots to build maximum volume. Then, tease the top section with a fine-tooth teasing comb, especially if you have bangs. If you do, then you'll want to hide those shorter pieces to help create a smoother look. Once the front is teased, remember to comb it back.

Step 2: It's time to separate your hair. Use the tip of your comb to create a part from one ear - it's easier to start from your left - to the other. You should clip the rest back so it doesn't get in your way. Spray the section that you are about to braid, and brush it over from left to right so it lays flat on your head. Take that braid that you parted towards your left ear and braid away, ala French style!

Step 3: Repeat the braiding process until you hit your right ear, then secure it with an elastic band and tuck behind your ear with a bobby pin. Hint: you shouldn't be able to see the bobby pin underneath the rest of your hair.

This simple braid is cute and casual, and you can dress it up a bit by curling your hair or pulling a bit of the braid to loosen it up. But if you want to try something more adventurous, Fab Fit Fun has a few extra suggestions.

Make it a Pony: Once you are finished with your braid, put your hair in a standard ponytail towards the middle of your head. Then, secure a bobby pin just underneath your hair elastic. This will create the illusion that your ponytail has more volume than it normally does. If you want to hide your hair tie, grab the longest piece of your hair and wrap it around, making it look like your hair itself is the tie.

Make it a Side Bun: Instead of taking your ponytail to the center of your head, concentrate your hair more towards the side, and keep it low. Then tease it a bit, but remember the more you tease your hair, the bigger your bun will be. Smooth the outer layer, then wrap it around your ponytail in a clockwise direction. Secure every side of the bun with pins, hide any hairs that might have escaped, and you got yourself a braided-crown bun.