FASHION Magazine

What could be more representative of the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer than a braided updo? When the hot sun is doing its sweaty, sweaty thing, there’s nothing better than keeping your hair off your face—and this braided updo does just that while also looking super pretty. (Also, if you’re headed to music festival, why not weave your hair into a braided crown instead of wearing a flower headband?)

I met up with Moroccanoil artistic director Antonio Corral Calero at the Quartz Crystal Spa at Toronto’s Trump International Hotel to talk about his work at New York Fashion Week and summer hair trends. It’s the fashion-forward appeal of the braided updo that made this look sit at the top of his summer hair list and he showed me how easy it is to do. (Just two French braids, some hairspray and bobby pins are all you need!)

See how to do the halo braid with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

Braid enthusiasts, this one’s for you! The halo braid (otherwise known as a milkmaid braid or braided updo) takes practice but is beyond impressive once it’s mastered. From Erdem to Valentino to Emerson, halo braids keep showing up on the runways season after season, and the red carpet has followed: Keira Knightly, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Olsen and Elle Fanning have all embraced halo braids. So when it comes to holiday hair (think: New Year’s Eve hair!), this style is certainly a showstopper.

If you’re confident in your French braiding skills this will be an easy holiday hairstyle to master. But newbies, don’t fret! Our step-by-step guide was developed in conjunction with Toronto-based hairstylist Margot Keith and takes all the confusion out of this complicated style. If you dream of doing a halo braid for New Year’s Eve, dedicate one of your lazy holiday afternoons to practicing your braiding skills. After a few test rounds we promise you’ll get the hang of it. And, like all of the styles in our series of holiday hair tutorials, the halo braid works well beyond Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve parties. (So be sure to right-click save our handy one-page guide for future reference!) Ready to start braiding? Read on to see how this holiday hairstyle is done.