Boho braids for days: how to take your clients' ponytail up a notch

Boho braids are such a versatile and unique way to switch up your clients hair, whether you’re looking to keep their flyaways at bay or keep their hair away from the face during summer heat. With a never-ending look-book of styles, Sabrina Dijkman, ALTERNA Europe ambassador, shares her favourite braided ponytail styles and how to replicate them on your clients...

The boho braided ponytail

It's fair to say that the boho trend continues to be a fashion staple well into 2021, and boho braids are the ultimate hair iteration of this trend. The look below is quick and simple to create and the results are effortless and chic. This hairstyle is perfect for clients who are looking for a soft, romantic style for weddings or special events, or who want something a bit different from a bouncy blow-dry or beachy waves. To create the style, start by applying Alterna Caviar Anti-Ageing Replenishing Moisture Leave-In Smoothing Gelee to the hair. This will not only give clients some hair moisture and shine before styling, but it will also help define and perfect the braid. Once distributed throughout the hair, take a thick section of the hair on the right-hand side and start creating your braid. For this look, a regular three-strand braid can be used, gently pulling out areas of the braid to provide thickness and a softer finish after the braid is finished. Sabrina would then apply more Leave-In Smoothing Gelee before adding the braid to a ponytail and securing it with a hair tie. Finally, wrap a section of the ponytail hair around the hair tie to give the hairstyle a more sophisticated finish and then use some of the Gelee in your fingers and distribute this throughout the ponytail to enhance its texture and body.

The fishtail ponytail

For clients who want something a bit different from the regular three-strand style braid, the fishtail is a great choice and one of Sabrina’s favourites for giving hair the appearance of thickness and texture. An easy technique to create this style is using an elastic. Firstly, blow-dry the hair with Alterna My Hair. My Canvas. Any Way Texture Spray at the roots to give control and volume and then use the My Hair. My Canvas. Soaring High Volumising Blowout Mist through the ends for volume and heat protection, as well as a lot of shine. Then use heated styling irons to create some soft curls within the hair before creating the braid for added movement. Sabrina always uses the Caviar Styling RapidBlowout Balm prior to curling to help protect the hair from heat and breakage. Then, take a section three sections from the top of the head, still leaving hair underneath, and divide this into three ponytails, one on the left-hand side of the head, one on the right and one in the middle and secure with elastics. Then the fun part starts! Create a hole in the top of the middle ponytail and take the ponytail through, make a twist and pull this out a little bit for a relaxed finish. Sabrina would then take a hole from the right-hand side and pull the ponytail through again. Each time you should slide the elastic down and create a new hole on the right-hand side. Repeat the same technique with your left and right hand-side ponytails and then join the braids into a ponytail, securing with an elastic before spritzing with Caviar Perfect Texture Spray for a further texture – hairspray can also be used to control any frizz.