Two Hearts Become One

This one is probably my all time favorite Valentines hairstyle.  It takes a good 45 minutes so make sure you plan this one for a morning where you have some time.  :)

Begin with the hair very wet and part it right down the middle about 4-5 inches long. Clip one side out of the way and begin on the other.  Using a rat-tail comb you will want to create a part that look like half of a heart.  Comb the hair below the part down and clip the rest of the hair up out of the way. 

 Now begin in at the point of your heart - next to your middle part - and start your braid.  You are going to create a Half-French Braid which means that you only add hair in from one side of the braid instead of two.  Make sure your actual braid follows right along the heart part and you are gathering from the hairline.  Continue adding hair into the braid until you get just below the ear and then finish it off with a Regular 3-Strand Braid. 

 Move to the other half of the head and part out the second half of your first heart.  Repeat the Half-French Braid process on that side as well. 

Once your first heart is created you are going to want to start on your second by parting out another half heart shape directly inside the first.  Clip all the hair that is not inside the part up and out of the way while you braid.  Create a second Half-French Braid inside the original and continue adding hair in until you get just below the ear and then finish it off with a Regular 3-Strand Braid. 

 Do the same on the second half of the head as well so that two full hearts have been created. 

Now you'll want to nicely smooth out all of the hair that is not in a braid and combine it at the back of the head with an elastic.  Take your two braids created by the inside heart and cross them over each other on top of the elastic.  Do the same with the braids from the outside heart and then secure all those braids together with an elastic UNDER the ponytail. 

 Unplate any remaining braid and comb it in with the ponytail.  Finish it off by braiding all of the hair in a ponytail and securing it with and elastic and a fun heart clippie.  :) 

It's a process but SO worth it!