How to do a Bubble Braid Hairstyle
I love mixing up my hairstyles to keep things fun and fresh. Today, I’m showing you how to do a bubble braid hairstyle on your hair. It’s easy and so cute. Think of it as the “non-braid” braid!
Sometimes you’re bored with your hair and it needs to be washed, but you don’t feel like it, so you throw in some clear ponytail holders and call it a day.
My hair is at that mid-length stage where it’s kind of a pain, but it’s a necessary stage you have to go through to get to the “other side,” so you forge on. If you’ve ever grown your short hair out, you understand what I’m talking about.
There are so many things I love about this quick hairstyle, not the least of which is that it works on any hair type and any hair length.
I also love that you can have two bubbles or take it all the way down to the end of the hair. Let’s nail down the details of this bubble braid.
Simple Hairstyle
The bubble braid is a simple hairstyle for everyday wear, but don’t stop there! This could easily be dressed up for a more formal event.
Either way, you can pull off this “updo” at home in your own bathroom. I love easy hairstyles that require minimal time and effort, yet look really fancy.
Plus, if you love braids, but you struggle to braid your own hair this is a great option for you.
Types of Bubble Braids
There are several types of bubble braids. Some work better for long hair and some work better for short hair. Some are more casual and others are more fancy. Let’s break them down.
- Traditional Bubble braid– This bubble braid is the one I’m showing you today. It is created by simply tying off sections of hair and creating “bubbles” by pulling the hair out in a relaxed fashion. This style can be achieved on both long and short hair
- Ponytail Bubble Braid– The ponytail bubble braid was one of my favorites for my long hair. I love how impressive this hair style looks, yet it is crazy simple. To create this look, you pull your hair into a slick ponytail (high pony or low pony… both work) and you create bubbles by tying off the hair in 2-3 inch segments all the way down the ponytail. Then, you bubble the hair by pulling out the strands and creating a bubble between each segment.
- Double Bubble Braid– Double bubble braids, also known as, pigtail bubble braids are super cute and even a bit sporty. Essentially, you pull your hair into low pigtails and create bubbles in each pigtail.
- French Braid Bubble Braid– You can create this look with a single braid, or with two, pigtail braids. To get this style, you french braid down the back of the head until you get to the nape of the neck. Once you reach the bottom of your head, you tie off the french braid and begin creating bubble braids the rest of the way down.
Why to wear a Bubble Braid
Dirty Hair Style. I love this style for so many reasons, but one of the main ones is that I can do this on days when I need to wash my hair, but I really don’t want to. It’s a great “dirty hair” day style.
Versatility. This is a versatile style that goes with long or short hair, straight or curly. It truly is an updo for everyone.
Simplicity. The simplicity of this braided hair look is a top reason why I love this style. It looks difficult, but it’s so simple and only takes a few minutes to achieve.
Variety. A bubble braid can be worn in so many ways and that’s a good reason to master this hairstyle. Be creative and enjoy a fun hairstyle!
Bubble Braid Tutorial
Steps to Create a Bubble Braid
I’m going to share a step-by-step tutorial to achieve a simple bubble braid.
- The easiest bubble braid is the ponytail bubble braid, so we will start with that. Create a ponytail and tie it off with an elastic.
- Move 2-3 inches down the pony and add a clear elastic to the ponytail.
- Gently pull or tease the hair between the two bands to create a bubble effect.
- Move 2-3 inches down the pony again and tie it off with a clear elastic.
- You will bubble the hair again, between the two elastics, just like in step 3.
- Continue this process all the way down the ponytail.
- To keep the style looking casual and modern, leave a few inches of “tail” at the end of the ponytail.
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What you’ll need to create this look
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Bubble Braid Step-by-Step
Time needed: 5 minutes.
How to Create a Bubble Braid
- Start with a Ponytail
Create a ponytail and tie it off with an elastic.
- Create a second ponytail 2-3 inches down.
Move 2-3 inches down the pony and add a clear elastic to the ponytail.
- Make your first bubble
Gently pull or tease the hair between the two bands to create a bubble effect.
- Move down 2-3 inches and tie off another section
Working on the same ponytail, move 2-3 inches down the pony again and tie it off with a clear elastic.
- Make your second bubble
Gently pull or tease the hair between the two bands to create a bubble effect.
- Continue until you reach your desired look
Continue moving down the ponytail until you’ve created the bubble braid look you were going for!
This is such a timeless hairstyle! Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you for this amazing article!
Excellent share Liz!! Thanks for sharing this step-by-step tutorial for creating a simple and better bubble braid!! Keep it up!!
Thank you! I’m glad it was helpful!