Crown Braid with me! Even you shorties!

[curlytm]

Okay. So there are several styles that I never thought I could try because my hair is only shoulder length-ish.

Then, I saw LoversLullaby's tutorial for her Seashell Bun (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65935) and I could do it! So I thought, how many other styles have I not tried due to my length? So many buns are inaccessible because I can't wrap my length around my ponytail, so I started trying various braids.

Then, I tried the crown braid, and I DID IT!!! But here's the thing. My hair was heavily oiled (it's wash day) and very hard to manage, so I promised myself that I'd crown braid my hair TONIGHT after washing.

Here are two tutorials to help you out.
Getoffmyskittle has one here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y6OJBxBWGo). I found that it started out easier, but for short hair, the "finishing" of the crown braid doesn't look as authentic.

For shorties, the most successful results I got were following the lovely torrinpaige's tutorial: part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tjLWkfiHvE) and part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IvQqsweOLU&feature=related).
This parting/braiding technique puts the fullest part of your braid up on the top of your head and is the most visually pleasing.

SO! If you've never ventured in to more difficult styles, DO IT ANYWAY! You'll surprise yourself with what your hair can do. Post pictures of you most valiant attempts! I will, too!

[curlytm]

HaHHAAA!!! Here it is! Anyone else do one? It wasn't perfect, but I'm wearing it out. I'm so proud of it!
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5874&pictureid=97023
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5874&pictureid=97022
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5874&pictureid=97024

[abbatabba1137]

It looks great!
Here is my crown (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5507&pictureid=94113) from a few weeks ago, I just love Torrin's youtube!
I too found that I could do things with my hair, that I previously thought it too short to do!
It's a great feeling isn't it?! It sure helped me through a stall a few months back!

[Delila]

So, so pretty! Thanks for sharing !

[AnnaJamila]

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!!! MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I can't wait to try this out!

[Yamainu]

Do you have to know how to dutch braid first, or can you jump straight in?

I can (theoritically) french braid, even if my fingers get confused sometimes, but I've never dutched before...

[AnnaJamila]

I DID IT!!! It's lumpy and uneven but its a CROWN!!!! haha, a little short to look super great but it's up!!!

[curlytm]

It looks great!
Here is my crown (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5507&pictureid=94113) from a few weeks ago, I just love Torrin's youtube!
I too found that I could do things with my hair, that I previously thought it too short to do!
It's a great feeling isn't it?! It sure helped me through a stall a few months back!

Gorgeous! Your crown braid is so neat and tidy! I love it!


So, so pretty! Thanks for sharing !

Thanks!


Do you have to know how to dutch braid first, or can you jump straight in?

I can (theoritically) french braid, even if my fingers get confused sometimes, but I've never dutched before...

Yeah, you do need to be able to dutch braid, but if you can French, you can learn how to Dutch really quickly. I have actually found it to be easier than French (which is what I learned first). Try just a single Dutch braid, get used to the fingers, then do the crown. It's easier than it looks, but I wouldn't call it an "easy" style.


I DID IT!!! It's lumpy and uneven but its a CROWN!!!! haha, a little short to look super great but it's up!!!

Ah-HA! YAYY!!!! Mine's a little too short, too, but I wore it out to dinner and drinks with friends. I got SOOO many compliments/comments. It was fun! Did you wear yours anywhere?

[Lianna]

Thanks for sharing. I find quite heartbreaking when people SL or APL say they can't do many styles. I was a pixie last year, and now SL. I always try to invent something or try new buns I found. I'm not very good with braids, but I don't like braids that much (except a long side braid). I'll be trying this one.

:)

[silverstars]

I've been trying to teach myself to crown braid. Its getting better. I did it with a french braid all the way around, but I haven't been able to do a dutch yet. Its getting less lop-sided with more practice though:). I look at all the tutorials...I seem to have to reverse the way I do things since i'm a lefty.

[Alix]

Huh. I never thought I could do this. But I'm am like :cheer: cause it turns out I can. My hand just like to braid.

I left the tail down, because I'm just wearing it to sleep, and I'm assuming you're supposed to pin it? I only watched like, the first 30 seconds of the tutorial and then just decided to try it.

I did it wet and my hair has some funky texturizing going on, so it's messy but then gets ok.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/LoveFromPumpkin/Photoon2011-03-05at2240.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/LoveFromPumpkin/Photoon2011-03-05at22402.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/LoveFromPumpkin/Photoon2011-03-05at22442.jpg

Also, I must say, although some ladies hate the taper, I'm loving that my braid is starting to taper! I love little delicate braids.

[see_turtle]

This is a style I am working on...I can do it but the middle part looks all messy. Any ideas for keeping it neat? I'm going to keep practicing and I hope to get good enough to wear it to a wedding in May.

[bunzfan]

Okay. So there are several styles that I never thought I could try because my hair is only shoulder length-ish.

Then, I saw LoversLullaby's tutorial for her Seashell Bun (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65935) and I could do it! So I thought, how many other styles have I not tried due to my length? So many buns are inaccessible because I can't wrap my length around my ponytail, so I started trying various braids.

Then, I tried the crown braid, and I DID IT!!! But here's the thing. My hair was heavily oiled (it's wash day) and very hard to manage, so I promised myself that I'd crown braid my hair TONIGHT after washing.

Here are two tutorials to help you out.
Getoffmyskittle has one here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y6OJBxBWGo). I found that it started out easier, but for short hair, the "finishing" of the crown braid doesn't look as authentic.

For shorties, the most successful results I got were following the lovely torrinpaige's tutorial: part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tjLWkfiHvE) and part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IvQqsweOLU&feature=related).
This parting/braiding technique puts the fullest part of your braid up on the top of your head and is the most visually pleasing.

SO! If you've never ventured in to more difficult styles, DO IT ANYWAY! You'll surprise yourself with what your hair can do. Post pictures of you most valiant attempts! I will, too!

I sulute you :bowtome: for managing it and your finished crown braid looks great maybe i could manage it at my length.

[Madora]

Here's my crown braid. It took over a month to learn how to do it properly. I crown braid with my hair hanging in front of me:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=90596&albumid=6554&dl=1294274515&thumb=1 (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=6554&pictureid=90596)

[curlytm]

I've been trying to teach myself to crown braid. Its getting better. I did it with a french braid all the way around, but I haven't been able to do a dutch yet. Its getting less lop-sided with more practice though:). I look at all the tutorials...I seem to have to reverse the way I do things since i'm a lefty.

Ooh, I've never seen a french crown braid. You should definitely post a picture.


Huh. I never thought I could do this. But I'm am like :cheer: cause it turns out I can. My hand just like to braid.

I left the tail down, because I'm just wearing it to sleep, and I'm assuming you're supposed to pin it? I only watched like, the first 30 seconds of the tutorial and then just decided to try it.

I did it wet and my hair has some funky texturizing going on, so it's messy but then gets ok.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/LoveFromPumpkin/Photoon2011-03-05at2240.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/LoveFromPumpkin/Photoon2011-03-05at22402.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/LoveFromPumpkin/Photoon2011-03-05at22442.jpg

Also, I must say, although some ladies hate the taper, I'm loving that my braid is starting to taper! I love little delicate braids.

Yowza. This so gorgeous on you! Your braid looks so lovely and thick. My hair isn't long enough yet to complain about taper. It's a really blunt cut right now. Also, from what I understand, taper makes buns/updos a lot easier for tucking in ends. And yes, at the end, you would take the "leftover" braid that you have and pin it into the crown braid.

[curlytm]

This is a style I am working on...I can do it but the middle part looks all messy. Any ideas for keeping it neat? I'm going to keep practicing and I hope to get good enough to wear it to a wedding in May.

Braiding the hair wet seemed to help the center section stay neat. Also, NEVER gather sections from the middle. Only from the outer "ring" of your head. That way,the central part sort of gets anchored to whatever way you combed it in the very beginning.


I sulute you :bowtome: for managing it and your finished crown braid looks great maybe i could manage it at my length.

I think you could definitely manage it at your length. In fact, it would look a lot nice than mine because you'd still have a relatively thick section of braid left over at the end and your "pinned braid" section wouldn't look as puny as mine did.

[curlytm]

Here's my crown braid. It took over a month to learn how to do it properly. I crown braid with my hair hanging in front of me:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=90596&albumid=6554&dl=1294274515&thumb=1 (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=6554&pictureid=90596)

Oh! I love it love it love it!!!! It's so lovely how your "gathered" sections are loosely spiraling into your braid. And it really showcases your gorgeous silvers.

[Madora]

Thanks, Curlytm. Those loose parts are the result of not being able to reach behind my head properly..so I fudged a bit and the braid was looser in the back.

[Pyvsi]

I'm a super-shortie (I'm rocking about 4 inches) so I did a fishtail/herringbone version of the crown braid. It looks...interesting, but it feels good. (I get tired of short hair flopping all over the place because there's almost nothing I can do with it.)
I may get bold enough to post a picture later.
Maybe.

[freckles]

I attempted a crown braid last night after reading this thread. It's pretty difficult, but at least it was the first time I managed it 'all the way through' (I have tried for like 10 seconds in the past and then given up). I used Torrin's tutorial, which was very helpful. And I pinned it up with spin pins.

Apologies for dark webcam pictures, I know it's not very clear ...

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5162&pictureid=97699
the front/top. This actually looked okay.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5162&pictureid=97698
uhh ... unfortunately, I had a slight problem when I went to switch the direction of my braid! :lol: I think I ended up french braiding for a bit, and then remembered and switched to dutch ... anyway, it resulted in this awful really big/floppy loop of hair that is the prime reason I wouldn't wear this out the house.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5162&pictureid=97700
the side.

All in all, it was DIFFICULT, sure, but the fact I managed to even get all the way through it has made me positive about trying again in the future. If I can braid more tightly, not screw up the change in direction, and section more carefully, I reckon I could create a pretty wearable crown braid :)

[curlytm]

I'm a super-shortie (I'm rocking about 4 inches) so I did a fishtail/herringbone version of the crown braid. It looks...interesting, but it feels good. (I get tired of short hair flopping all over the place because there's almost nothing I can do with it.)
I may get bold enough to post a picture later.
Maybe.

Wow. That's impressive that you did it with 4 inches of hair. I bet it looks really cool. If you get the nerve to post it, I'm sure it would be really inspiring for others. I'm so glad you tried!


I attempted a crown braid last night after reading this thread. It's pretty difficult, but at least it was the first time I managed it 'all the way through' (I have tried for like 10 seconds in the past and then given up). I used Torrin's tutorial, which was very helpful. And I pinned it up with spin pins.

Apologies for dark webcam pictures, I know it's not very clear ...

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5162&pictureid=97699
the front/top. This actually looked okay.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5162&pictureid=97698
uhh ... unfortunately, I had a slight problem when I went to switch the direction of my braid! :lol: I think I ended up french braiding for a bit, and then remembered and switched to dutch ... anyway, it resulted in this awful really big/floppy loop of hair that is the prime reason I wouldn't wear this out the house.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5162&pictureid=97700
the side.

All in all, it was DIFFICULT, sure, but the fact I managed to even get all the way through it has made me positive about trying again in the future. If I can braid more tightly, not screw up the change in direction, and section more carefully, I reckon I could create a pretty wearable crown braid :)

I had the same issue! With Torrin's technique, the switch is much easier (in getoffmyskittle's tutorial, you switch from "normal" braiding to "backwards" braiding. It's really hard for me) since the switch takes you back to a "natural" braiding technique. But even with that, I'm pretty sure I managed a wonky loop or two. I love how yours stayed on the back of your head. Mine was more like a circle on the top of my head, even though I was going for something more like how yours turned out. Congratulations on a lovely crown braid!