Braided Side Bun Up Do for Work/ School

Hello!

I thought I would share a hairstyle I find useful for work and times when I need a hairstyle that will stay put but that isn't quite as severe as a ponytail or top knot/ bun. I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to hair, I'm not an expert, but I love to find different ways of doing my hair to change things up a bit!
I find it hard to find styles that look pretty, gentle and girly without it falling out as soon as I step outside my front door. However, I find that this style stays put because the french plait incorporates every strand of hair.
I first did this style in my first year at Uni in 2011 when I was going on a Disney night out with my housemates and wanted to try and become Tinkerbell! (Insert first year attempted Tinkerbell pictures with aggressive camera flash...)

In my third year I watched the Hunger Games and LOVED it, I noticed Katniss Everdeen wears her hair in a similar side braid, except in this style I just curl the side braid around itself and pin it into a bun once I'm happy with the shape. I also found that Zoella does a brilliant Katniss Everdeen hair tutorial using a Dutch braid, I don't use this type of braid in this particular hair style but I have before and love the effect this gives too! . 
I have inserted a link to the Zoella tutorial if you would like to see the process done properly, but here is a little description of how I do it;

1. Create a parting one side of your head (or even a middle parting if you like!)
2. From the side with the most hair (as you can see from the pictures, my parting is diagonal and fairly rubbish but it is mainly to the left so most of the hair is on the right of my head), take three sections and begin to french plait them, gradually adding hair as you go.
3. As Zoella describes, the most challenging part is the switch over of hands at the back of the centre of your head. I try to keep my right hand holding the plait as it is and move my left hand to switch over.
4. I french plait this round to my other ear until all the hair is incorporated, I then continue down the hair with a normal plait until I reach the end and fasten with a thin hairband. 
5. I like to try and gently loosen up the plait a bit when it's fastened, which makes the plait look a bit thicker.
6. I then curl the braid around into a circle and tuck the end with the hairband under the bun to hide it.
7. I then secure it in place with as many hair slides/ bobby pins as I can until it feels secure.
8. I recommend using two mirrors, holding one in front of you to reflect the other behind you when you have finished to try and see the hair from behind and check if there are any bits missing from the plait or that have come loose. Any loose bits can be poked into the plait and fastened with bobby pins.

As you can see from the Uni pictures, you can pull bits of hair out from the front if you want, or you can add accessories to the bun depending on what sort of look you want to achieve. I really hope this has been useful in some way!
Let me know if you know of a good alternative style that can stay put for a while as I love trying out new ones!

Rosie
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