Braid 8-Dutch Mermaid Side Braid is the perfect way to change up your favorite side braid!

A mermaid braid is when smaller strands are pulled into a braid creating a netted effect around the rest of the hair. With this dutch braid, the mermaid creates a tubing effect around the center hair that isn’t brought into the braid until the bottom.

When I first saw a mermaid braid, I was absolutely blown away and had to create my own version, the Mermaid Tail Braid.

This look, however, is a little more sleek and easier to do. Add in a great headband to give it a gorgeous pop from the typical side braid.

There’s a video tutorial for this beauty but here’s the steps as well.

Step 1 / Start with your favorite headband and set it about 1/2″ to 1″ from the hairline.

Step 2 / Sweep all the hair over the left shoulder and take a section of hair about an 1″ thick right in the middle.

Step 3 / Divide the section into three smaller sections and do one stitch of a dutch braid, crossing the side strands under the middle.

Step 4 / When crossing the left strand under the middle, bring in a section of hair from the right side of the head and add it into the strand.

Step 5 / When crossing the right strand under the middle, bring in a section of hair from underneath on the right side of the hair, adding it into the strand.

Step 6 / Bring in another section from the right side of the head, crossing it across the back of the head, and adding it into the braid.

Step 7 / Repeat step 5, bringing in hair from underneath and adding it to the right sided strands.

Step 8 / Continue braiding unto all the hair has been pulled in.

Step 9 / Tie off the braid with an elastic band.

Step 10 / Gently pull on the sides of the braid and the hair underneath to show the mermaid effect more easily.