HOW-TO: The Heart Braid

If you have the French Braid technique down pat then this style will be an easy feat for this Valentine's Day! Cozy Friedman’s Heart Braid is her signature Valentine’s Day style, featured in Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls' Hair. Learn how to re-create the look below. All you need is a wide-tooth comb, decorative hair clip and elastics.

TRY IT:

STEP 1: Starting with damp hair (either towel-dried or misted), use a wide-tooth comb to detangle the hair. Then, using a fine-tooth comb, part the hair down the middle of the head. Clip one side up right above the ear.

STEP 2: On the other side of the part, use the fine comb to gather a thin section of hair from the crown.  This section should measure about 2 inches from the hairline to the top of the head.

STEP 3: Divide this section into three, and begin a French braid starting at the crown and curving toward the temple, then toward the back of the head, like the top lobe of a heart.  You will be lifting hair into the braid only from this side of the part.  Leave no loose hair in front of the ears.

STEP 4: When you reach the center part at the back of the head, secure the braid with a ponytail holder.  If the hair is very long, end the braid about mid-ear; the ends will hang down the back.

STEP 5: Unclip the hair on the other side of the part and repeat the process.  Secure with a ponytail holder.

STEP 6: Join the ends of the braids together in the back.