15 Braided Crown Hairstyles for Girls

The step diagram shows a centre part with a plain braid on each side, the left braid taken up and across the top of the head and pinned on the right, and the right braid taken across and pinned on the left. This is the shortcut version and it produces essentially the same result as a continuous crown braid in about a third of the time. Part down the centre and braid each side plainly, starting behind the ear. Then lift the left braid up and across the top of the head, tucking its end under the right braid's base, and pin. Do the reverse with the right. Where the two cross at the back, one tucks under the other and both are hidden. Cross the pins in an X at every anchoring point — this is the single detail that determines whether it holds all day or works loose within an hour, and parallel pins simply do not grip the same way.

The step diagram shows a Dutch braid begun at one temple and worked around the entire perimeter of the head, gathering hair from below throughout, with the tail tucked under the start. This is the full version and it produces a raised, defined braid encircling the head. The technique is standard Dutch braiding; the difficulty is entirely the angle. Tilt her head toward the side you are working and move around her rather than trying to reach across. When you return to the starting point, finish as a plain braid, tuck the tail under the beginning, and pin with two crossed pins.

The step diagram shows two side braids brought up and over the head with the ends left visible and pinned at the front. The milkmaid version leaves the braid ends showing rather than hiding them, which is softer and considerably more forgiving to execute since the tucking is the hardest part. Braid each side, bring both up and over, and pin the ends at the opposite temples where they meet the other braid. Slight asymmetry reads as intentional here rather than as a mistake.

The step diagram shows a small braid worked from one temple across the front hairline and pinned behind the opposite ear, with all the remaining hair left down. This is the half version and the fastest at around three minutes. It creates the crown effect across the front while keeping the hair down, which suits a child who dislikes everything being tied back. Pancake the braid gently before pinning so it does not disappear against the loose hair. Two crossed pins behind the ear.

The step diagram shows the working position with the child's head tilted toward the braiding side and the adult positioned beside rather than behind. The angle is the genuine difficulty in a crown braid, not the braiding itself. Working from directly behind means reaching across the head at an awkward angle and losing tension. Stand to the side, tilt her head toward you, and work along the section directly in front of you, then move around as the braid travels. This single adjustment is what makes a crown braid achievable at home.

The step diagram shows small fresh stems being tucked into the loops of a finished crown braid at intervals. A crown braid holds flowers better than any other style because the woven structure creates natural pockets. Tuck each stem into a loop rather than pinning through the bloom, which crushes it, and secure with a small pin behind the flower head if needed. Three or four stems placed asymmetrically reads better than an even row.

The step diagram shows a crown braid around the front and sides with the remaining length gathered into a low bun at the nape. This is the most secure and most formal combination available — the front is fully contained by the braid, the length is fully contained by the bun, and nothing is loose anywhere. It is the right choice for a wedding, a recital, or any occasion running longer than a few hours. Pin the bun with pins pushed inward toward the scalp.

The step diagram shows a finished crown braid being gently widened by pulling at the outer edge of each loop. Pancaking is what turns a thin crown braid into something that reads as substantial, and on fine hair it makes the difference between a style that looks sparse and one that looks intentional. Work around the crown pulling gently at the outer edges. Three or four passes is enough — overdoing it collapses the braid and the pins lose their grip.

The step diagram shows a crown braid with a grosgrain ribbon incorporated as part of one strand, appearing around the head. Ribbon in a crown braid is particularly effective because it travels the whole way around and reads clearly from every angle. Pin the ribbon at the starting point and treat it as part of one outer strand throughout. Grosgrain rather than satin, which slips out. Trim the ends short at the finish so nothing trails.

The step diagram shows two small braids from each temple meeting at the back of the crown, secured, with the rest of the hair down. This is the softest version and takes about two minutes. It creates the crown line across the front without any braid over the top of the head, which some children find heavy. Braid a small section from each temple back to the crown, join them with a small elastic, and leave everything else loose.

The step diagram shows a crown braid worked on chin-length hair using smaller sections and more pins. A crown braid needs less length than most people assume, since the braid travels around the head rather than hanging down. On shorter hair, take smaller sections, expect the ends to be short, and use more pins to secure them flat. It will not tuck neatly, so plan to hide the ends under the opposite braid or with a small clip.

The step diagram shows two pins pushed in from opposite directions and crossed over each other at an anchor point. This applies to every version in this article and it is the most useful pinning technique there is. Two crossed pins grip several times more securely than two parallel ones, because each opposes the other's direction of pull. Push each in with the wavy side against the scalp, which is the way round most people get wrong — the wave is what creates the grip.

The step diagram shows a crown braid with extra pins around the perimeter and a light mist of hairspray. For a wedding, a recital, or a full day out, add more pins than feel necessary and a light hold spray at the end. The style itself is the most secure available, so the failure point is always the pinning rather than the braid. Six to eight pins around a crown is reasonable for a long day, placed at the anchor points and wherever the braid sits away from the head.

The step diagram shows a crown braid worked in damp hair before bed, unpinned in the morning into waves. This serves two purposes — she wakes with a finished style if you leave it in, or takes it out for soft waves through the length. On a morning with genuinely no time, a crown braid slept in can simply go to school as it is. Braid damp rather than wet, and use soft pins that will not press during the night.

The step diagram shows the frequent failures grouped as a reference: pins pushed in parallel, working from directly behind the head, braiding too loosely at the start, ends left untucked, and attempting it first on the day it matters. Each has a straightforward fix. Parallel pins work loose within the hour where crossed ones hold. Working from behind loses tension and produces a sagging braid. A loose start unravels as the weight of the crown pulls on it. Untucked ends stick out visibly at the back. And attempting a crown braid for the first time an hour before a wedding is how a calm morning becomes a difficult one — practise it a week ahead.