Keep a comb, bobby pins, and hairspray on hand. If you have kinky hair, it may be helpful to have a product ready to smooth down flyaways.

Halo Braids for Medium to Long Hair

This process aims to create one single braid to wrap around your head.

1. Part your hair neatly. Either a middle or side part is fine.
2. Starting at the front of your head, take up three strands on the right side of your part. Begin your Dutch braid: left strand under the middle, then right under the middle, etc.
3. Slowly incorporate pieces of hair into the side strands. Gradually braid them in under the middle strand. The braid as a whole should thicken.
4. Continue braiding down the side until you reach your nape.
5. At this point, you’ll want to change your hand position to ease the process. Then, braid across the center of your nape to the other side.
6. Braid upwards along the other side of your head. You may have to reposition your hands again.
7. When you reach your part (the beginning of your braid), braid your hair as usual until you reach the end of your hair. Secure it with a hair tie.
8. Wrap the free-hanging braid around your head. Tuck the end into the braid to hide it and pin everything in place. Spritz with hairspray for extra hold.

Halo Braids for Short Hair

If you have shorter hair, the process will be more similar to creating a crown braid, which consists of two braids that overlap to create the illusion of a single braid wrapped around the head.

• Follow the same first four steps for braiding halo plait on long hair.
• Once you reach your nape, braid normally until you reach the ends of your hair. Make sure to secure it–small hair ties are easier to conceal at the end.
• Repeat this process on the other side.
• Cross the braids at your nape and wrap them up around your head. Tuck the ends inside the main braid and pin them in place. Spritz with hairspray to hold in place.

Watch the following tutorial to learn how to do a halo braid on short hair.