Photo: missysueblog on Instagram 

With January winds encouraging hairstyling addicts to sweep their long locks away from the face, it’s officially time to unveil your best braided hairdos in the weeks to come. If you spent the holidays with loose, wispy curls trailing down your back, try plaiting your strands for a revamped and refreshed style for 2016. Here’s how to easily achieve a sophisticated Dutch braid in just a few simple steps.

1) Creating a thin braid on one side of your face: Start off by brushing out your locks for a smooth look. Once your hair is sleek and tangle-free, carefully plait a thin section of your hair into a side braid against one side of your visage.

2) Continue braiding and use bobby pins to secure your plait: After you’ve crafted a side braid, continue braiding against the back of your head and carefully fasten the section in place with bobby pins. Use extra pins if you have thicker or longer locks.

3) Combine a thin section of hair from the other side into your braid: Next, gently grab a skinny segment of hair from the opposite side and twist and intertwine it into your hairstyle. Use bobby pins to hold the section in place over your existing braid.

4) Pin the surrounding sections into your style: Use your fingers to softly twist the loose segments of hair into a series of loose rolls. Pin the sections into position with bobby pins, and adjust any flyaway strands. Leave a few face-framing tendrils of hair hanging free on either side of your visage for a hint of natural, boho chic texture.