The day we did this shoot, we started off at 6:30, which is too early for me ( I'm a bit dopey before 8) even with coffee in my system. It was also our first try at photographing our own tutorials, for the most part, not so bad for first timers! :) This tutorial is another addition to my lets make ponytails fun campaign! ( #thefunponytail ) The French braid keeps the hair out of your face and gives your typical ponytail a little more excitement! Also, depending on your braiding skill level, you can interchange several different braids in this look. So this tutorial can be anywhere from easy to moderate to difficult!

Lets get started!

Start by creating a section on the top where you want your braid to be. You can make the section as big or small as you would like!

You can create multiple looks with different types of braids, but I stuck with a simple French braid for Sydney's look! For those of you to whom braiding is new, here are simple instructions for a French braid! 1.) Take a 1-inch section and split it into three sections. This is the starting point for your braid. 2.) Cross the right piece over the middle and then the left piece over the right(now middle), forming the braid. 3.) When you bring your right over again grab a little extra piece of hair, combine it with the right side and bring it over the middle. Do the same with the left side, add a little extra piece of hair combine and bring it over the right (now middle) 4.) Continue this until your braid is completed, bringing in equal sections of hair to the braid.

Create a French braid and continue it till the crown and tie off with an elastic band.

Gather all of the hair at the crown and put into a ponytail and tie off with strong elastic. ( In Sydney's case, who has a TON of hair we used 3 strong elastics!!)

Tease the ponytail for some extra volume and of course, make sure to hairspray it all into place! :)

I like to hide the elastic when I do a ponytail, so I took a little section of Sydney's hair, wrapped it around the elastics and bobby pinned it into place!