How To Do Bubble Braids? – A Quick And Stylish Hairstyle For All Hair Lengths

Bubble braids are one of the latest hairstyles trending on social media and the streets. Stylish, fun, and easy to do, their popularity is only growing. Bubble braids are versatile and let you create plenty of trending hairstyles. Although similar to normal braids, they are significantly easier to do, and the final vibe is just gorgeous. Every gal must know how to do bubble braids to stay abreast with the trends. 

What Are Bubble Braids?

Bubble braids, also known as balloon ponytails, are a playful variation of the traditional ponytail. While they use the word ‘braids’ in their name, they are not in fact braids. Instead of letting the hair fall in a straight ponytail, bubble braids have chunky puffs made with the help of elastic bands. These puffs are created to give the appearance of many bubbles. A bubble braid is a great hairstyle for all hair types, be it long or short, curly or straight. 

Bubble braids can be worn in ponytails, pigtails, and more. Some are easy to create, but others are a bit complicated. But, if you remain patient and keep practicing, you can learn how to do bubble braids in no time. The hairstyle is stylish and super fun and thus incredibly trendy. There’s no limit to what you can do with them. Depending on the occasion and your mood, you can dress them up or down. 

Benefits Of Bubble Braids

Bubble braids are a simple yet chic protective style. There are several reasons you should try this hairstyle. 

1. Quick And Easy

Most people feel it is annoying to create a protective style (hairstyle with ends tucked away) as it requires sitting down for hours. Bubble braids eliminate the long waiting time. Once you learn how to do bubble braids you will be all set in 10 minutes or less. 

2. Budget-friendly

Who likes to spend a fortune on a hairstyle? Not you, right? Bubble braids are a low-budget hairstyle, as all you will need is a few elastic bands, a hair dryer, hair gel, a silk scarf, and one pack of extensions. All the items, except the hair extensions, are available at home, so you do not have to spend much. If you have long hair, you may not even have to spend on hair extensions. 

3. Low Maintenance

You do not need too many products for maintaining this hairstyle. You can maintain your bubble braids with a toothbrush, a cup of hair gel, a shower cap, and a silk/satin scarf. 

Materials Needed

• Toothbrush
• Elastic bands
• Hair gel
• Hairdryer
• Silk scarf
• Hair extension
• Bobby pins

Step-by-step Guide: How To Do Bubble Braids?

Bubble braids are pretty easy to do. If you don’t know how to do the standard braid with three strands, don’t worry. You can still learn how to do bubble braids, and that too in different ways. We provide all the steps you need to follow to create the look for different hair types, textures, and lengths. We also have recommendations for hair tools, accessories, and products to help you maintain your hairstyle. 

How To Do Bubble Braids On Short Hair?

Before you begin trying bubble braids on short hair, lightly massage your hair with some coconut oil to reduce frizz and flatten and manage flyaways. 

• Step 1: Divide your hair into two sections. Create a bubble braid on the left side before starting the right. 
• Step 2: Take a one-inch section right from your hairline and secure it into a tight ponytail with a small elastic. Clip the loose tail on the other side. 
• Step 3: Grab another one-inch section from the hair behind the first ponytail. Before tying it, add the tail of the first pony and tie the two together.
• Step 4: Keep making more ponytails by taking a one-inch section each time till you reach the crown. Add the tail of the previous ponytail to the next before tying it up. Since you have short hair, keep the distance between the elastics small. It will prevent the ends from sticking out. 
• Step 5: Gently spread the sections by pulling with your fingertips. You could do this earlier before moving to the next section to create the bubble effect. Remember not to pull too much, as pieces tend to pop out with short hair. 
• Step 6: Follow the same steps to create the braid on the right side. 
• Step 7: Use hairspray to smoothen down any loose ends or flyaways.  

How To Do Bubble Braids Ponytail?

You can make multiple bubble braids and single braids on short hair, curly hair, or other styles. The basic style is to do a bubble braids ponytail.  

• Step 1: With a boar bristle brush, smooth out any tangles or knots your hair may have. 
• Step 2: Pull all of your hair and tie a low ponytail. You can use clear-colored elastic or one complementing your hair color if you don’t want Hair ties to be a part of your overall look. Alternatively, you can use small scrunchies or colorful elastic to create a fancier look and make a statement. 
• Step 3: Take another hair tie and secure it at an inch or two below the pony’s base to create your first puff or section. 
• Step 4: After tying the section, use your fingertips to gently spread the hair apart to create a soft bubble. Move to the next section after the gap is created. Most tutorials will advise you to secure all hair elastics and then pull out the bubbles. However, the result will be better if you continue doing it as you proceed to the next sections. 
• Step 5: Keep creating more sections by securing them with hair ties. Separate the sections by spreading gently with your fingertips until you’ve reached the end of the tail. 

How To Do Bubble Braids On Curly Hair?

Women with curls need to be careful. Tugging them through tight elastics comes with the risk of getting them squished or tangled(1). The steps to create bubble braids on curly hair is a little different than creating bubble braids on straight hair.

• Step 1: Use a moisturizing spray to prepare your hair. Moisturization doesn’t only help the curls but also moistens and smoothens down the hair at the roots, making it easier for you to tie a slick ponytail. 
• Step 2: With a hairbrush, smooth down all the bumps and brush them back into a ponytail. Tie using an elastic band.
• Step 3: Define your curls using curly hair products. Adding bounce and volume helps to create better bubbles.
• Step 4: Take a section of the ponytail an inch or two below the base and wrap an elastic. Create the bubble shape you want by pinching the section with your fingers, so you don’t have to go back and tug on your curls later. Keep shaping the sections till you reach the tail, and wrap an elastic one last time. 
• Step 5: Use hair gel and a toothbrush to tame flyaways. You can apply a lightweight hairspray to create extra staying power.    

How To Do Doubble Bubble Braids?

If you want to try double bubble braids, here’s what you need to do.

• Step 1: Symmetry is vital for double bubble braids. Section your hair in the middle all the way down the back. 
• Step 2: Starting on one side of the head, wrap an elastic to tightly secure one ponytail. Do the same on the other side. Make sure both ponytails are at the same height and have the same placement. Use a mirror to check yourself from all angles. 
• Step 3: Create sections and secure them with elastic bands. Use a lipstick tube or something as a guide to ensure all sections are sized equally and positioned perfectly. 
• Step 4: After applying all hair ties, gently pull the sections apart using your fingers. The elastics will inch up. Pull them down to adjust. Keep your measuring tool handy as your guide. 
• Step 5: Finally, set it with hairspray. A hairspray ensures everything stays in place. 

How To Do Bubble Braids Half-up Half-down?

You can also do a half-up half-down bubble braid. It is the perfect way to flaunt your hair texture and experiment with your hairstyle. After brushing your hair and removing all tangles, split the hair horizontally. Secure the top portion in a ponytail with an elastic band. Add several hair elastics down the length of the ponytail. Pull gently to spread each section and create a puffy bubble. Then, let the rest of your hair fall loose. You can customize your bubble braid to create one unique to your personality. The half-up half-down style pulls the hair away from the face and highlights your features.

Tips And Tricks On How To Do Bubble Braids?

1. Use smaller sections of hair for smaller bubbles.

You can play around with spacing to get the bubble size right for you. On short hair, taking smaller sections of hair is a good idea as they look neater, and the bubbles are puffier. On long hair, smaller bubbles can make the hair look bouncier and more stylish. Smaller sections make smaller bubbles for a more subtle and wearable look. 

2. Use a different color elastic to create a unique look.

Some women use an elastic band matching the color of their hair. But by using different colored hair ties, you can create a unique look and make the style stand out. You can add your touch, have fun with the look, and express yourself with brightly colored hair accessories along the ponytail length. 

3. Experiment with different hairstyles by combining bubble braids with other braids.

Depending on the length of your hair, you can experiment with different hairstyles. Bubble braids are appealing, and when you combine them with other braids, they give a more detailed appearance. You can add a french braid at the front. You can create one ponytail with multiple different sections, each with bubble braids. Short hair allows, you to play around with the placement and number of bubble braids on your ponytail. Short-hair lasses also have the option of adding extensions.

Conclusion

Don’t we all love a fuss-free, easy-to-create updo? And when it is a hairstyle that you can wear to the gym, to work, and to a dinner in the town, there’s nothing better. The best thing about bubble braids is that they are versatile hairstyles, and you can create them on all hair types. Whether you have long hair, curly hair, short hair, or straight hair, you can experiment with how to do bubble braids that look like pigtails, double bubble braids, and also styles that incorporate the half-up half-down style. The bubble braid is becoming trendy for all hair types as it has a playful and youthful vibe to it that many love. 

A bubble braid is an exciting twist to the traditional ponytail. It is not a braid at all. If you can tie a ponytail, then you’re just a few steps away from learning how to do bubble braids. You can do a high or low ponytail, as per your choice. 

Don’t forget to use hair gel, coconut oil, or hairspray to tame baby hair and manage flyaways. Finally, add some grit with a holding product to shield your braid against wind and frizz and keep it in place for hours on end. With that, we’re sure you’re all set to wear your unique bubble braid in style!