Wearing your hair in a braid (especially a French one) is fairly common. However, switching up your appearance can come as easily as flipping the braid on its head–namely, with an upside down French braid. Read on to reveal new ideas for braided hairstyles!

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How to Do an Upside Down Braid: Short Step-By-Step Tutorial

With all types of flipped French braided styles, 2nd or 3rd day hair is ideal, because it has better hold. Follow these instructions:

1. Begin by flipping your head upside down and brushing your hair.
2. Separate a section right at the nape of your neck and split it into 3 strands.
3. Bring the left strand over the middle one, and the right strand over the middle one.
4. For the next step add a piece of hair from the left. Do the same for the right side.
5. Bring the left strand with added hair over the middle one, and do the same for the right strand.
6. Repeat these steps braiding up to the crown.

Practice braiding and be ready to mix the braid with other elements – a bun, a knot or a bunch of curls. Check these 20 beautiful updos with upside-down braid!

#1: Braided Updo with Curls

The updo with an upside down plait and deconstructed braided bun is simple but with a character. If you have balayage hair, braid loosely to make your braid dimensional.

Advertisement Instagram / @annette_updo_artist

#2: Formal Braided Bun Updo

An upside down French braid can be the focus of your updo or just its complement. In this braided ‘do the large intricate bun is in the spotlight, while a small braid up the neck only works as an interesting detail, coordinated with the sparkly barrette.

Instagram / @aurorabraids

#3: Messy Flipped Braid and Bun

At first glance, this updo hardly includes any plait, just a few criss-crossed sections. But a loose messy braid is still there. Top it off by a lazy ballerina bun and you’ve got a cool summer look to wear anywhere.