The French twist is one of the most classic updos there is. It seems complicated until you practice it a few times, at which points it's even easy to do on yourself. As beautiful as it is, though, it can get boring in and of itself. As it happens, there are a surprising number of variations on a French twist that can make this gorgeous updo cool, cute, fun, and funky. Take a look!
Now, I'm going on the assumption that y'all know how to do a basic French twist, because describing how to do it is a post all its own. This variation on a French twist is thus easy to do, and it looks incredibly elegant. All you need to do is take the leftover loop, flatten it, pin it down, and make sure it matches the approximate shape of a bun. If you've got thin or fine hair, this will make it look lush and bountiful.
As you'll see, there are lots of ways a braid can enhance your French twist. In this case, you just have to begin by pulling your hair into a small half ponytail at the crown. That will be the section you braid. After that, you proceed as you normally would; you'll just have braiding peeking out of the time of your twist!
This variation on a French twist works on the premise of number 2 up there. However, instead of tucking the braid at your crown into the twist, leave it out, and proceed as normal with the rest of your hair. Then, wrap your braid around the edge of your twist, to create a little crown. You can do this the opposite way as well, and braid a section of hair below the main twist. Either way, you just tuck in the ends once you have it wrapped in the shape you want.
This one is really easy. It's basically just like what it says. When you don't have time to make the perfect French twist, don't worry about it! You can be a little messy, a little nonchalant, a little sexily slovenly, if you get what I'm saying. Actually, that goes along with the next option as well.
This variation on the French twist really just involves skipping a step. Do you remember how you used to make messy buns and ponytails, or sometimes clipped your hair with those big hulky claws, and let the ends flip down? That's all you have to do here, by skipping that last step and not tucking the top ends into your twist. It makes a flippy little 'do that can be casual instead of black tie.
This isn't so much a variation – but it can be, if you get creative. Bobby pins, barrettes, chopsticks, clips, claws – you can dress up your French twist anyway you can imagine. You can even pop in some multicolored hair extensions to give it a really playful look. The only boundaries here exist in your imagination!
This is kind of like the messy twist, but it's more deliberate than that. I love an updo where you have tendrils framing your face, and that's all you have to do here. Again, it creates a kind of chic slovenly appearance, and it really softens the austere elegance of the standard twist.
I have to be honest, if there are any other variations on a French twist out there, I didn't come across them. Being quite enamored of this hairstyle, however, I'm dying to know if there are. Do you do a classic twist or do you have some other variations to share?
Top Photo Credit: machine_language