A Heart Braid Is a Sweet Valentine's Day Hairdo

Jennifer Playford and Alexandra Grablewski

Who needs a sleeve when you can wear your heart on the top of your head! While some tots will be sporting their Valentine's love with their clothes, lil ones with long manes can fashion their hair into the ultimate symbol of love with a heart braid. Cozy Friedman of New York's Cozy's Cuts for Kids and the author of Cozy's Complete Guide to Girls' Hair ($14), shared the sweet holiday look with us. If you know how to create a French braid and have 15 minutes to spare, your child can sport this sweet style. Just follow these step-by-step instructions.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials and Prepare the Hair

Step 1: Gather Your Materials and Prepare the Hair

To create the heart hairstyle, you will need:

  • Wide-tooth comb
  • Fine-tooth comb
  • Hair clip
  • Ponytail holders

Starting with damp hair (either towel-dried or misted), use a wide-tooth comb to detangle the hair. Then, using a fine-tooth comb, part the hair down the middle of the head. Clip one side up right above the ear.

Step 2: Create Your First Section

Step 2: Create Your First Section

On the other side of the part, use the fine comb to gather a thin section of hair from the crown. This section should measure about 2 inches from the hairline to the top of the head.

Step 3: Start a French Braid

Step 3: Start a French Braid

Divide this section into three, and begin a French braid starting at the crown and curving toward the temple, then toward the back of the head, like the top lobe of a heart. You will be lifting hair into the braid only from this side of the part. Leave no loose hair in front of the ear.

Step 4: Secure the First Braid

Step 4: Secure the First Braid

When you reach the center part at the back of the head, secure the braid with a ponytail holder. If the hair is very long, end the braid about mid ear; the ends will hang down the back.

Step 5: Create Second French Braid

Step 5: Create Second French Braid

Clip up the hair on the other side of the part and repeat the process. Secure with a ponytail holder.

Step 6: Join Together

Step 6: Join Together

Join the two ends of the braids together in the back with a ponytail holder to form the bottom point of the heart.