Braided Headband Hairstyles for Women: 17 Elegant Winter Looks

Winter hairstyles for women with a braided headband and loose curls elegant start with the hairstyle that keeps your hair out of your face and still looks dressed up. A braided headband is a braid worn across the top of the head like a headband, and it is the most romantic way to wear your hair down. It keeps the hair off your face, it shows off your features, and it looks like you spent an hour on it, even when it took ten minutes.

Winter is the braided headband’s season. The braid looks beautiful against a wool coat, the loose curls soften the face in cold light, and the style keeps your hair tidy under a hat without flattening it. It is a hairstyle that works for a party, for work, and for a winter wedding, and it is the one that gets the most compliments of any style in this guide.

In this guide you will find seventeen braided headband looks, from the classic braid with loose curls to the party version and the version with accessories, plus how to braid it, how to keep it in place, and how to wear it for thick and fine hair. If you can braid, you can do this. And if you cannot braid yet, this guide will teach you.

The Basic Braided Headband

The basic braided headband is simpler than it looks. Start with a small section of hair at one ear, braid it in a regular three-strand braid, and bring it across the top of your head to the other ear, pinning it flat as you go. The key detail is to braid from one ear to the other, then pin it flat, so the braid sits like a headband rather than a bump. Pull the braid gently to make it look fuller, and let a few pieces fall loose around your face.

If you are braiding your own hair, the trick is to keep the braid loose. A tight braid will look severe and will pull, while a loose braid looks soft and romantic. Braid with your hands close to the head, keep the tension even, and do not worry about perfection. A slightly imperfect braid looks more romantic than a perfect one, and the loose curls will hide any unevenness.

Braided Headband with Loose Curls

The braided headband with loose curls is the signature look of this guide, and it is the one to learn first. The braid sits across the top of the head like a headband, and the rest of the hair falls in loose curls below. The contrast is what makes it beautiful: the neat braid on top, the soft curls underneath. It is the hairstyle equivalent of a tailored jacket with a soft blouse.

To get the curls, use a large curling iron on the lengths only, after the braid is in place. Curl the hair in large sections, hold for a few seconds, and brush the curls out with your fingers so they fall into soft waves. The curls should start at the cheekbones, so they frame the face, and the ends should be left soft rather than curled tight. A light hairspray will hold the curls without making them stiff.

A braided headband with loose curls is neat on top and soft underneath.

1. The Classic Braided Headband and 2. The Braided Headband with Loose Curls

Look one is the classic: a neat three-strand braid worn across the top of the head, with the rest of the hair falling straight and smooth below. It is the version to learn first, because everything else in this guide is a variation on it. The braid should sit flat, the pins should be hidden, and the hair below should be smooth. It is the hairstyle for a day when you want to look polished without trying very hard.

Look two is the signature version: the same braided headband, with the lengths curled into loose, soft curls. The curls give the style its romance, and the braid gives it its structure. It is the most beautiful of the seventeen looks, and the one that gets the most compliments. Curl the lengths after the braid is in place, brush the curls out with your fingers, and the style is done.

The classic braided headband is neat and polished, and loose curls make it romantic.

3. The Braided Headband with a Middle Part and 4. The Braided Headband with a Side Part

Look three is the middle-part version, and it is the most symmetrical way to wear the braid. The braid starts at one ear, crosses the top of the head, and ends at the other ear, with the hair parted in the middle underneath. The symmetry makes the style look calm and elegant, and it suits oval and heart-shaped faces best. It is the version to choose if you want a clean, classic look.

Look four moves the part to one side, which changes the whole feeling of the braid. The side part gives the style more volume at the crown and a softer, more romantic fall. The braid starts on the heavier side and sweeps across, and the curls fall to one side. It is the version for a date or a dinner, and it is the best choice if you want the braid to look glamorous rather than minimal.

A middle part is calm and symmetrical, and a side part adds romance and volume.

5. The Braided Headband for a Party and 6. The Braided Headband for Work

Look five is the party version: the braid is a little looser, the curls are a little bigger, and a sparkly clip is pinned just behind the braid. The curls fall over one shoulder, and the braid catches the light. It is the hairstyle for a Christmas party, a New Year gathering, or any night when you want your hair to look celebratory without an updo. The braid will hold all night, and the curls will relax into soft waves as the evening goes on.

Look six is the work version, and it is the most practical of the seventeen. The braid is neat and flat, the curls are smooth and controlled, and the whole style looks professional without looking stiff. It keeps your hair out of your face, it survives a long day at a desk, and it still looks good at five in the afternoon. A little serum on the ends will stop flyaways, and the braid will not budge.

The party version is loose and sparkly, and the work version is neat and practical.

7. The Braided Headband with Accessories and 8. The Braided Headband for Thick Hair

Look seven adds accessories, which is the easiest way to dress up a braided headband. A pearl clip, a small flower, or a sparkly pin placed just behind the braid will transform the style. Place the accessory at one side rather than in the centre, so it looks deliberate rather than symmetrical. It takes ten seconds and it makes the whole look feel intentional.

Look eight is the thick-hair version, and it is the one that needs the braided headband most. Thick hair can be heavy and hard to manage, but a braided headband takes a section of it out of the way and turns it into a feature. The braid should be chunky, to match the thickness of the hair, and the pins should be strong. The curls underneath will be full and voluminous, and the braid will hold them back beautifully.

Accessories dress up a braided headband, and thick hair makes the braid chunky and full.

9. The Braided Headband for Fine Hair and 10. The Braided Headband with a Ribbon

Look nine is the fine-hair version, and it is all about making the braid look fuller. Braid loosely, then gently pull the braid apart with your fingers to make it look thicker. A texturizing spray before you braid will give the hair grip, and the loose curls underneath will give the style volume. Fine hair and a braided headband are a good match, as long as the braid is kept loose and full.

Look ten ties a ribbon around the braid, which is the prettiest detail on this list. Choose a ribbon that matches your outfit, tie it in a small bow at the end of the braid, and let the ends fall down with the curls. Velvet and ribbon together are unashamedly romantic, and this is the look for a winter date, a party, or a day when you want to feel dressed up.

Pull a loose braid apart to make it look fuller, and a ribbon makes it romantic.

11. The Braided Headband with Flowers and 12. The Braided Headband for a Winter Wedding

Look eleven adds small flowers to the braid, which is the most romantic version of the style. Tiny white flowers or sprigs of greenery tucked into the braid will make it look like a flower crown, and it is the perfect hairstyle for a winter wedding guest or a festive party. Keep the flowers small and place them sparsely, so the braid still shows. A few sprigs are enough.

Look twelve is the wedding-guest version, and it is the most elegant of the seventeen. The braid is neat and flat, the curls are smooth and glossy, and the whole style is polished. Add a pair of statement earrings and you are ready for a winter ceremony. It is the updo alternative for the guest who does not want an updo, and it lasts all night with a light hairspray.

Flowers make a braided headband romantic, and the wedding version is pure elegance.

13. The Braided Headband with Loose Waves and 14. The Braided Headband with a Low Ponytail

Look thirteen is the loose-wave version, where the curls are brushed out into soft waves. The waves give the style a relaxed, effortless feeling, and the braid keeps it looking deliberate. It is the version for a day when you want to look beautiful without looking done, and it is the easiest of the seventeen to achieve. A large curling iron and a brush through with your fingers are all it takes.

Look fourteen combines the braided headband with a low ponytail, which is the most practical version of the style. The braid keeps the hair off your face, and the ponytail keeps the rest of it tidy. It is the hairstyle for a long day, a workout, or a day when you need your hair completely out of the way. The braid makes the ponytail look deliberate rather than lazy, and the whole style takes ten minutes.

Loose waves are effortless, and a low ponytail makes the braid practical.

15. The Braided Headband with a Crown Braid and 16. The Braided Headband for a Date Night

Look fifteen is the crown braid version, where the braid goes all the way around the head like a crown. It is the most dramatic of the seventeen looks, and the one for a special occasion. The crown braid takes a little more time, but the result is a hairstyle that looks like it belongs in a painting. Pin the braid flat as you go, and let a few curls fall loose around the face.

Look sixteen is the date-night version, and it is the most romantic of the seventeen. The braid is soft and loose, the curls are glossy and full, and the whole style is designed to be noticed. Add a red lip and a pair of earrings, and you are ready for a winter evening. The braid will hold all night, and the curls will look better as they relax.

A crown braid is dramatic and special, and the date-night version is pure romance.

17. The Everyday Braided Headband

Look seventeen is the everyday version, and it is the one you will actually wear most. Braid a small section at one ear, bring it across to the other ear, pin it flat, and let the rest of your hair fall loose. No curling iron, no heat, no fuss. The braid makes it look intentional, the loose hair keeps it comfortable, and the whole thing takes five minutes. If you learn one braided headband, make it this one.

The everyday braided headband is also the kindest to your hair. It keeps the hair off your face without pulling, it does not need heat, and it looks better as the day goes on and the braid loosens slightly. Wear it to the shops, to school pickup, to work, and your hair will look like you tried, on the morning you did not. Keep a few bobby pins in your coat pocket and you are ready for anything.

The everyday braided headband takes five minutes and looks like you tried.

Braided Headband for Parties

For a party, the braided headband needs a little more drama. Make the braid looser and fuller, curl the lengths into soft, bouncy curls, and add a sparkly clip just behind the braid. The curls should fall over one shoulder, and the braid should catch the light. It is the hairstyle for a Christmas party, a New Year gathering, or any night when you want your hair to look celebratory without an updo.

The party version also needs to last. Set the curls with a light hairspray before you pin the braid, and carry a few spare pins in your bag. The braid will hold all night, and the curls will relax into soft waves as the evening goes on, which is fine, because loose waves look better slightly relaxed. The goal is hair that looks like it was styled for a party, not hair that looks like it is trying too hard.

For a party, make the braid fuller, the curls bouncier, and add a sparkly clip.

Braided Headband for Thick vs Fine Hair

For thick hair, the braided headband should be chunky. Take a larger section at the ear, braid it loosely, and let the thickness of the braid match the thickness of the hair. The pins should be strong, and the curls underneath will be full and voluminous. Thick hair gives the braided headband its best shape, because the braid has natural body and the curls have natural volume.

For fine hair, the braided headband should be pulled apart to look fuller. Braid loosely, then gently tug at the edges of the braid with your fingers to make it look thicker. A texturizing spray before you braid will give the hair grip, and the loose curls underneath will give the style volume. Fine hair and a braided headband are a good match, as long as the braid is kept loose and full.

Thick hair makes a chunky braid, and fine hair needs the braid pulled apart to look full.

Braided Headband with Accessories

Accessories are the easiest way to dress up a braided headband, and the choices are endless. A pearl clip, a small flower, a sparkly pin, or a velvet ribbon will each change the way the braid looks. The rule is to choose one accessory, not three, and to place it at one side of the braid rather than in the centre, so it looks deliberate.

The accessory should match the occasion. Pearls are for a wedding, sparkle is for a party, flowers are for a romantic day, and a ribbon is for a date. Keep the accessory small, because the braid is the star, and the accessory is the supporting act. A small, well-placed accessory will make the whole style look intentional, and it takes ten seconds to add.

One small accessory, placed at the side, makes a braided headband look intentional.

Keeping Your Braided Headband in Place All Day

A braided headband stays in place if you set it up right. Start with a little texturizing spray or dry shampoo at the roots, which gives the pins grip. Braid from one ear to the other, pin the braid flat as you go, and use bobby pins crossed in an X at each end. If your hair is very slippery, a couple of extra pins hidden under the braid will anchor it invisibly.

For a long day, carry a few spare pins. If the braid loosens, take it down, shake your hair out, and re-braid it, because the braid will look as good the second time as the first. And at the end of the day, the braid will come down without a mark, which is the real luxury of a braided headband. If you love braided styles, our braided low ponytail hairstyles for women are the romantic next step, and our velvet scrunchie hairstyles will show you the easiest party hairstyle there is.

Texturizing spray and crossed bobby pins keep a braided headband in place all day.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Braided Headband

Here are the questions we hear most about winter hairstyles for women with a braided headband and loose curls elegant, answered honestly.

Can I do a braided headband if I cannot braid well?

Yes, and the braided headband is the best braid to learn on, because it is forgiving. The braid is small, the curls hide any unevenness, and a loose braid looks more romantic than a perfect one. Practice on a small section at one ear, keep the tension even, and do not worry about perfection. After a few tries, you will be able to do it in five minutes. If you really struggle, a Dutch braid or a twist will give you a similar effect.

Will a braided headband work on short hair?

Yes, if your hair is at least chin length. The braid needs enough length to reach from one ear to the other, and chin-length hair is just enough. If your hair is shorter, use a small section at the front and pin it across, or try a twist instead of a braid. The effect is the same: hair off the face, a pretty detail at the front, and the rest of the hair falling loose.

How do I keep a braided headband from slipping?

Start with a little texturizing spray or dry shampoo, which gives the pins grip. Pin the braid flat as you go, using bobby pins crossed in an X at each end, and hide the pins under the braid. If your hair is very slippery, a light hairspray on the braid before you pin it will help. And if the braid does slip, take it down and re-do it, because a braided headband looks as good the second time as the first.

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For more braided inspiration, our braided low ponytail hairstyles are the romantic next step. And when you are ready for a romantic winter hairstyle, save this guide and try the braid tonight. Follow Nova Fashion on Pinterest for more winter hair ideas.

One last thing worth knowing: a braided headband is the rare hairstyle that actually gets better as the day goes on. The braid loosens slightly, the curls relax into soft waves, and the whole style looks more romantic by evening than it did in the morning. It is the hairstyle that does not need to be perfect to look beautiful, and that is why it works so well in winter, when hats and wind undo perfect styling anyway. Learn the braid once, and you will have it for every winter to come.

And if you are building a small collection of winter hairstyles, the braided headband should be in it, next to the velvet scrunchie ponytail and the loose shine waves. They are the three styles that ask the least of you and give the most back: a braid, a scrunchie, and a blow-dry. Winter hair does not have to be complicated to look elegant. Sometimes it just needs a braid across the top and curls falling loose below.