Side Braid With Messy Bun Up-Do For Long Hair

This shop has been compensated by Schwarzkopf. #HolidayHairCare #sponsored

I am getting ready for the holiday party season and sharing my new look with Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color and how to create a Messy Up-Do For Long Hair.  

Tis the season for family gatherings, annual wok parties, family photos and getting together with friends. This past summer spending so much time in the sun took a toll on my hair and I was overdue for a new and improved ‘me’.

I decided to color my hair at home with Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color from Walmart for my new look. I went with Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color in the Delicate Praline shade to stay natural but still create some dimension in my color and the shade is beautiful in contrast to pale skin.

LOOK at these results in the before and after photos above! I am honestly slightly embarrassed of that orange tint I have been sporting around for months.

Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color comes in many gorgeous shades. When coloring your hair at home, I recommend not venturing too far away from your natural hair color. Either pick a shade to cover gray and even out color (like I did) or pick one of the more vibrant shades for that WOW factor. There are some amazing red shades available that can really take your look to a whole new level.

Visit Schwarzkopf® to see what shade you will pick, styling tips and more product information. 

Why choose Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color? 

• 100% gray coverage.
• Less hair breakage.
• Pre-treatment in every box for even color result.
• Beautifully intense colors available.
• Every purchase of Keratin Color can also help women get a fresh start through a partnership with Dress for Success®.

Dress for Success® Worldwide empowers women by providing them with the tools they need to achieve economic independence. Through education and mentoring, they’re making a difference in your community and across the globe. Over one million women have been served by this international organization and its programs. This partnership empowers women looking for upward mobility to revitalize women’s hair and clothing options so they can be as successful as they look. Learn more at Dressforsuccess.org.

Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color

Before coloring your hair with Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color at home, make sure to fully read the instructions. I am covering how to easily color your hair at home today so I am going step-by-step and adding a few tips for my long hair gals.

Before you begin:

• Read the instructions and perform the allergy alert test. Full instructions are inside your Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color box.
• Remove jewelry.
• Long hair will require more than one box. 2-3 boxes may be needed to cover hair. Each box contains gloves, pre-treatment for even color, Color Crème, an application bottle with developer lotion and a Keratin Care Complex Conditioner.
• Wear old clothes or cover your clothes with a towel.
• Wear the gloves that come in your box.
• Apply Keratin Color to dry, unwashed hair.
• Keep track of the develop time with a watch or from your phone.

Let’s begin coloring: 

1. Apply the pre-treatment to the ends of your hair.
2. Mix the color. Pierce the Color Crème tube with the reverse side of the cap and squeeze the contents into the application bottle. Close the application bottle securely and shake until contents are thoroughly mixed into a smooth cream.
3. Apply the mixture onto all your hair, strand after strand. When coloring long hair, I recommend placing your hair into sections and coloring one section at a time. This will help guarantee you don’t miss any spots. Once all your hair has been colored, massage the mixture in and let your hair develop for 30 minutes. Note that some shades have slightly different develop times so make sure to thoroughly read the instructions with the box.
4. Lather and rinse hair until the water runs clear. After your water is running clear, massage in the Keratin Care Complex Conditioner and leave in for 2 minutes. Rinse.

Side Braid With Messy Bun Up-Do

This holiday season is kicking off with the annual symposium for my husband’s work this year. The event is always formal with a fancy dinner, award ceremony and lot’s of dancing. This mama lives in leggings so I take advantage of every chance to dress up in a sparkly cocktail dress and have a night out without the kids.

The side braid with messy bun up-do I am sharing today is really easy and one of those styles you can’t mess up because it is supposed to be imperfect.

You will need:

• Bobby pins
• comb
• curling iron
• clear plastic hair ties

Side Braid With Messy Bun Up-Do:

• Start by curling the hair and creating a deep part on one side.
• Pin back hair from the crown of your head. Simply pin back a small section beginning at the back of the part you created. You can use a salt spray, hairspray or tease this hair to create more volume if you wish to create a little bump.
• The back section of hair will now be pulled into a small pony tail where you want your bun to sit.
• Braid the hair on the pony tail and wrap it into a bun securing with bobby pins. If you want more volume, loosen the braid a bit by pulling apart slightly before pinning into a bun.

Time to begin the side braid:

• Start with the larger section of your side part and begin a waterfall braid. A waterfall braid is a French braid but you want to pull the hair into your braid from one side, instead of switching back and forth from each side. Start with a small section at the top of the braid with 3 small sections just like a French braid, begin the braid and pull in another small section of hair every third cross of the hair braid.
• Braid until you are out of hair and pin the section securely into the top section of the bun. For more volume, you can pull the braid apart piece by piece just slightly to create a wider looking braid. Let the remaining hair drop down- we will take care of the extra hair in a moment.

Let’s complete the look!

• The smaller section of your side part now gets pinned back into the top section of the bun letting the extra hair hang down.
• Now, pin the remainder of the hair that is hanging down. For really long hair, you will want to pull small sections at a time and wrap around your finger a few times while placing a bobby pin in place to secure it. The photo on the right above shows how to do this, just pull a small section from hair hanging down, wrap around fingers and pin. Repeat until all hair is pinned up. Remember, we want a messy look so don’t worry about perfection.

Are you due for a new look? What Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color shade will you go with?

Check out how to try a Schwarzkopf® hair color or hair product for free by clicking here.