Styling Quickies: Braided Updo & Sleek Chignon

We all love a quickie—those fast videos that show us an amazing technique or gorgeous look—and Mirella Manelli (@mirellamanelli) is dishing out short and sweet styling tutorials that are perfect for the holiday season. Watch the videos and get the steps below to master two elegant updos—a knotted, infinity braid updo and a sleek, sculptured chignon!

Products Used

Hairsprays

Alcohol-Free Shaping Spray 21

Kenra Professional

Styling

Kenra Platinum Heat Block 22

Kenra Professional

1. Knotted, Infinity Braid Updo

 

A post shared by Mirella Manelli | Hair Blogger (@mirellamanelli) on Sep 15, 2017 at 3:51pm PDT

Get The Steps

1. Create a horseshoe parting at the top of the head and clip the bottom section out of the way.
2. Loosely fishtail braid from the hairline to the crown, using your fingers to soften the braid. Finish the fishtail braid at the high crown, then create three sections to begin the transition into the Figure 8 braid. 
3. Start by taking one of your outer sections and establish that as the weaving guide to create the Figure 8 shape. Take that established guide over the center section, and under the outer section. Then, wrap it around the outer section.
4. After wrapping the guide, begin the next weave by going under and over, then wrapping it back around. Continue this alternating wrapping pattern until you reach the ends, and tie off with an elastic.
5. Take the right side section, smooth it and twist it to cover the tail of the Figure 8 braid, pinning into place. Repeat on the left side.
6. Take another section from the bottom side of the hair and repeat the twist and pin, then do the same on the other side.
7. With the remaining hair at the bottom, tie a loose knot and pin, then use hairpins to tuck the ends of the remaining hair into the twists and knot.

Finish with Kenra Professional Alcohol-Free Shaping Spray 21.

Finished Look

2. Sleek, Sculptured Chignon

 

A post shared by Mirella Manelli | Hair Blogger (@mirellamanelli) on Oct 15, 2017 at 8:40am PDT

Get The Steps

1. Create a radial parting from crown to ear and clip the front hair out of the way. Then create a low inverted ponytail at the nape.
2. Heavily tease the top section of the ponytail with a boar bristle brush, spraying with Alcohol-Free Shaping Spray 21.
3. Smooth the underside, then roll the ponytail up to the base of the inverted ponytail and secure with bobby pins on both sides of the chignon.
4. Move to one side and create three forward diagonal sections. Spray the bottom side section with Alcohol-Free Shaping Spray, smooth with a brush and begin to mold and shape the hair over the chignon in the style you desire. The Alcohol-Free Shaping Spray is a more wet spray, allowing you time to brush, sculpt and pin each section of hair.
5. Continue up the side, using clips to hold the sculptured hair in place, then switch to the other side. Tuck any loose ends into the chignon and pin.
6. Finish with Alcohol-Free Shaping Spray.

Finished Look