get fancy: knotted braid

With the warmer weather creeping up on us one sunshine-filled day at a time, it's the season for perfecting an out-of-the-face up do that will keep pesky hair off sticky faces and necks. Here's an idea: get your fingers working and learn to work this knotted braid into your locks. As cute as a basket-toting Heidi, it can work for frolicking casually during the day or zhuush-ing yourself up at night.



TOOLS:

mousse
thin comb
small hair ties
bobby pins

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start off with fresh hair that has had mousse blow dried through. Comb in a nice straight side part to create your knot.



2. Separate a small section at the front of your hairline that's about 1 inch wide, then split that in two. Take the portion of hair on the left side and tie that under the right side to create a loose knot – a little like tying up your shoelaces. Then grab the next section underneath your first knot and bring it together with the rest. Create another knot.



3. Keep repeating the process all the way down to the nape of your neck to form a braid.



4. Use a small elastic band to finish off about half-way down the length of your ear.



5. Split the remaining loose hair in half and slip the bottom section into a ponytail. Pin underneath your knot braid.



6. Start rolling both hanging sections into a tight twist, all the way to the bottom of the hair.



7. Twist both sections into a small bun, ensuring you have some nice loose pieces poking out for a more relaxed look.



And you're done! Step outside into the heat and gusty winds knowing that your locks will stay in place, and looks mighty cute while you're at it.



The pretty piccies of model Hester Thompson-Brown were snapped by Kat Soutar. Tutorial is by Dana Leviston and Bernice Mansfield.