Celeb Hairstylist Justine Marjan Gives A Step-By-Step Tutorial For Festive Holiday French Braids

You might be home for the holidays this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get festive! Justine Marjan gives us an exclusive tutorial for adorably messy holiday braids!

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission.

Justine Marjan is a braiding QUEEN, just check out her Instagram and TikTok. Working with some of the world’s hottest fashionistas, like Olivia Culpo and Dorit Kemsley, Justine has put her braiding craft on display many times, and now gave HollywoodLife.com an EXCLUSIVE step-by-step tutorial to achieve one of her favorite looks — messy french braids. The dueling braids are perfect for a festive holiday event, decorating the tree or even cooking up a feast in the kitchen!

To start, Justine says to “Prep dry hair with Tresemmé Volume Thickening Spray then brush through with The WetBrush Go Green Detangler.” Then, split hair down the middle and clip one side away. “Take a small triangular section at the front hairline of the unclipped side and split into three, and start to braid,” she instructs. To french braid properly, take the outside piece and cross it under the middle piece so it becomes the new middle piece. Then take the piece from the other side and cross it under the middle piece. The next time you cross the side piece under the middle piece add a piece of hair from the side. Continue in this pattern until you’ve braided the entire side of the head.

Repeat the same pattern on the other side of your head. “Use your fingers to loosen the braid and make it appear thicker by picking and slightly pulling on the sides,” Justine says. “Then pin away any bumps of loose pieces by tucking it in with bobby pins.” She recommends you finish with Tresemmé Tres Two Extra Hold Hairspray!

For some extra holiday fun, we love decorating our hair with Justine’s collaboration with Kitsch! Using Kitsch x Justine Marjan Hair Accessories, feel free to dress up your hair with some rhinestone clips like these or a some leather bows! If you want some extra volume and length in your hair, we also recommend using Hidden Crown Hair Extensions!

Be sure to tune in to HollywoodLife’s Instagram for more Instagram Live hair tutorials!