Nora Forell braid, wedding hairdo (tips needed!)

[Phalaenopsis]

Hi everyone,

one of my friends is going to be married this summer. She is doing a medieval themed wedding and wants me to do her hair. She really liked this Nora Forell braid:
http://www.instabraid.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/instabraid1.jpg
We found instructions here: http://www.instabraid.com/2013/06/17/nora-forells-braid/
What frustrates me is that I can't find a front view of this hairdo. I assume she doesn't do a part.

It wasn't as easy as it looks, because while I'm doing the five small braids, everything on top starts to sag! And then I needed to fix that, causing frizziness :(
I'm out of practice, haven't done any intricate braiding in quite a while, but I would love to get the hang of this one.
I also have no clue on how to keep this hairdo tidy for the entire day. She bought some cream wax (it was very oily) and hairspray.
She has very fine and slippery hair.

This was the result after quite some frustration and fiddling (thumbnails)
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad6/venusje666/haarfotos/th_20140419_181905_zpse330f568.jpg (http://s916.photobucket.com/user/venusje666/media/haarfotos/20140419_181905_zpse330f568.jpg.html)
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad6/venusje666/haarfotos/th_20140419_181916_zps9b8e2af4.jpg (http://s916.photobucket.com/user/venusje666/media/haarfotos/20140419_181916_zps9b8e2af4.jpg.html)
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad6/venusje666/haarfotos/th_20140419_182039_zps7a1cfb7b.jpg (http://s916.photobucket.com/user/venusje666/media/haarfotos/20140419_182039_zps7a1cfb7b.jpg.html)

Any tips about techniques and products used would be awesome!:toast:

[eadwine]

Wow.. this is gorgeous!

If I may be so blunt.. I would love it if the left side were the same with the braids, that right side just looks awesome in my eyes!

Sorry no tips, just going whoaaacooool!

[Night_Kitten]

Perhaps sectioning off the sections that are meant to be the small braids and braiding them before starting the big braid? (no idea if that's even doable, but if it's possible to do it will simplify things I think)

[Madora]

I'm assuming your friend has enough thickness to pull off this beautiful style. I'm not sure the following would work but here goes:

Instead of doing the French braid/waterfall thingie, could you:

1) Take a medium section of hair in the front and loosely braid it and pin it to the back of the head (for the time being)
2) Next, measure off 4 smaller sections of hair and pull them through the braid you just made (at certain intervals) (use a Topsy Tail tool)
3) Braid each smaller section loosely, then pull them back to the main braid as shown in the photo and hold them there with a clip for the time being
4) Repeat on the other side
5) Join all the hair to make the braid down the back, making sure that the tiny braids are placed so that they don't get "swallowed" by the big braid.

As for keeping it tidy through the day, perhaps your friend could just roll up the ends 3 or 4 inches then pin it with a clip underneath the hair (where it doesn't show).

[vendethiel]

First, very good first try! From the picture, it looks like it is only a waterfall braid for 4 sections and then the braid converts to a french braid, by adding the braided dropped sections. You might want to do the waterfall braid part (dropping 4 sections of hair) and then tie off the braid. Then braid and temporarily tie off each of the 4 sections you dropped. Then untie the large braid and begin braiding it again. Since you've only done 4 sections, you should be able to adjust the tension and keep it looking smooth and even, when you start braiding in the smaller braided sections. As you add in the small sections, you can remove the hair ties and let them unravel in the big braid. This might free up your hands more and keep it from drooping. (I hope this makes sense...)

[Tini'sNewHair]

Love that style :)

[YesitsReal]

Not sure about the sagging, but coating your fingers with pure aloe vera gel (not the green sunburn stuff) will help keep the braid frizzies under control for a very long time. I think that's what they use at the Ren Faire, and I can sleep on Ren Faire hair and keep it intact. If you get desperate, Sally's carries this stuff called Freeze 'n' Shine that's like hair shellac. You have to wash it to get it out, though, and it could be damaging (think hairspray on crack). It's similar to what stylists use to freeze those really big sculptural 'dos.

[FireFromWithin]

Ooh, I'm adding this to my tutorial to so list it's so pretty. Will have a play but I think you need to start the braid more to the side to match the picture. You could do two and hair the hair crossing in the back to get to the braid. I'll see what I can do about a vid, I have fine slippy hair. I'm all excited now.

[Paranda Belle]

This is soo pretty. Thank you for posting about it. Will have to try it out at some point.

[lapushka]

That indeed looks like a waterfall braid, turned into a French braid. Very nice. Not something I'd use for a wedding, though, but still a nice style nonetheless.

[chen bao jun]

I wonder if adding some florists wire might help with sagging. a hairdresser friend wanted her daughter's very floppy hair to stay up slightly and braided this in and it worked.

[Nini]

Plenty of hairspray, and an assistant with an extra pair of hands;)

It does strike me as a difficult style to keep tidy. Maybe some good coney serum for the length. But you wouldn't want that in the part your braiding. Hmm... Good luck figuring it out!

[Squiggy]

Here is a video tutorial based on the same picture. She does it on herself, so maybe it will help you some!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6eGkckfvgQ&list=PLsTyAtm1Q9Iq4EwJYbZGg20oo-BZx-t3H

[Phalaenopsis]

Here is a video tutorial based on the same picture. She does it on herself, so maybe it will help you some!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6eGkckfvgQ&list=PLsTyAtm1Q9Iq4EwJYbZGg20oo-BZx-t3H

Awesome thank you!
It seems I followed the the instructions correclty, but might not have pinned the two left over strands good enough, so they started slipping

[Laurenji]

That's a gorgeous style! I wish someone was around who could do that on me! I'll have to see if I can figure out how to do it on myself . . . might not happen until I buy more little tiny hair braid rubber bands.

[Panth]

I think it might look even nicer if the small plaits were woven over-under-over-under each other when being drawn back. Your try looks pretty good, though!