Hair How-To: Selena Gomez' Dramatic Braid at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards

Loved the dramatic braid Selena Gomez wore on the red carpet at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards? Here's how to do it.

Author:: Janine
Updated:: Jun 17, 2016
Original:: Apr 16, 2013

Two angles of Selena Gomez and her fierce braid at the 2013 MTV Music Awards

Loved Selena Gomez's dramatic braid at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards. Hairstylist Marissa Marino (Nine Zero One Salon, West Hollywood), who created the look, shares her how-to with us so you can try it yourself:

Selena Gomez at the 2013 MTV Awards; this hair look is perfect for anyone with long, thick hair

To create the pompadour, section off hair from the front of your hairline and sprinkle it with Unite Expanda Dust throughout. Tease it back, using a comb. Next, pin this section with a bobby pin to secure it in place.
Take the rest of the hair and make five small ponytails down the centre of your head.
Create a Dutch braid (reverse French), incorporating the ends of each ponytail into the next to create a single unit.
Spray the Unite Session Max Hairspray all over to tame frizzies and smooth the sides around the hairline.
To make the braid look undone, pull it apart and pin these pieces down with bobby pins.
Finish the look with the Unite Max Control Hairspray to tame any flyaways.

Creating five braids instead of one dutch braid keeps the sides of the hair smooth and free of visible parts.

You can aim for slightly less volume at the front if you prefer.

I'm going to ask my nimble-fingered niece Erin to try this on me.

Did you like Selena's MTV red-carpet 'do? (Do you see a similarity between the star's braid and the stegosaurus below?? *giggle* I love the look, but from the first I thought it looks a bit dinosaur. Chic, but dinosaur.)