DIY Messy-Chic Milkmaid Braids This Weekend

Braided hairstyles are always a must for Summer, but a braided updo is the perfect way to look good while keeping hair off your neck. A crown of braids might seem too advanced to pull off in your own bathroom, but we sat in Isabel Guillen's chair at the John Barrett Salon in New York City for DIY tips on creating the look yourself. Just keep clicking to get her step-by-step approach!

Second-day hair is great for this look. If you're starting off with freshly cleaned hair, go back and add texture with a beach spray or dry shampoo. If your hair has waves in it, that's an added bonus, but not a requirement.

Now that your hair has texture, go back and add body by teasing your hair at the roots near the crown.

After you've teased your hair, part in the center and smooth back the middle section of hair at the crown into a loose half ponytail that's secured around the nape of the neck.

To hide the elastic, take a small section of hair from the ponytail and create a loose braid.

Wrap the braid around the base of the ponytail, and tuck the ends of the braid into the elastic for a seamless finish.

Now your hair should look like this, with a loose knot in the middle of your hair. It might look awkward, but you'll need it for later in the look.

Gather the front left section of your hair and create an inside-out french braid (braid under rather than over) that goes to behind your ear. You can braid it tightly along your hairline, or a little bit looser like Guillen did here, depending on how you want your hair and braid to frame your face.

Continue to braid all the way down, and pull at the braid to give it extra texture and width before securing with an elastic.

Next, Guillen crossed the braid over by holding it behind the ear with one hand and draping the ends over with the other hand.

Once you have it in place, secure with bobby pins.

Now braid the right front section. Don't forget to tug at the braid to give it more texture before securing with an elastic.

Drape the braid the same way as the left side, and secure with pins.

Now that you have the top of your look finished, it's time to revisit the loose ponytail and the hair along your neck. Split the loose hair underneath the ponytail into two even sections as shown here.

Tie the two ends into a knot around the top of the ponytail base.

Bring the knotted hair up and connect it with the braid on the left side and pin it in place.

The texture of the knots should flow seamlessly into the top braided section.

Next, knot the ponytail and secure with an elastic.

Connect it with the braid on the right side and pin.

The final look is a crown of braids that's easy to do yourself.