30 Royal Crown Braid Styles

Sometimes referred to as a halo braid or milkmaid braid, the crown braid is basically a french or dutch braid that circles the perimeter of your head. Begin with a section of hair from along the hairline at your forehead, divide it into three sections and begin braiding using a french or dutch technique by adding hair into the braid as you continue on. Keep braiding around towards the back of the head, eventually wrapping the braid back around to where you started. Depending on how long your hair is, you might need to keep braiding past this point until you reach the ends of your hair, then secure with an invisible elastic and pin the end of braid inside of your crown to conceal it. If you need some inspiration before you try this style out on your own, take a look at these 30 crown braid styles fit for any queen.

Julianne Hough’s pictured style pulls off the impressive feat of having lots of volume but without looking messy. When pulling apart braids to add height and definition, be sure to begin gently and carefully, as pulling too hard can ruin the braid and mean you’re starting over from scratch.

In this type of crown braid often called a milkmaid braid, long hair is braided in a three strand braid behind one ear, then wrapped over the head and pinned behind the other ear. The end result is a similar looking style that takes much less time to pull off, and is more suited to less formal occasions that still call for ultra stylish braids.

Instead of wrapping all the way around the head, this modified crown braid style features a french braid from either side of a deep side part, and pins hair together at the back of the head for an elegant updo.

By leaving some loose strands of hair around the face, this wedding-ready crown braid keeps things soft and romantic for your big day. Accessorize with floral elements taken from your bouquet to add an extra level of sweetness to this wedding look.

With not a hair out of place, Emma Watson’s crown braid style shows how powerful and elegant this hairstyle can look. If you’re hoping to get an equally flawless crown braid for a special occasion, we recommend practicing in advance to work out any kinks ahead of time.

Made from two french braids that begin near the front of the head, this subtly elegant style is perfect for anyone who wants a crown braided hairstyle that won’t feel like it’s overwhelming their face.

Let things get a little wild and frizzy if you’re looking for low-key wedding day hair to go along with your outdoor ceremony. We love flower accessories for an easy added touch that can even take the place of carrying a bouquet for non-traditional brides.

With dutch braids that begin on either side of a centre part and then turn into fishtail braids that wrap back around the front, you’ll need some seriously long hair to pull off a crown braid style as impressive as Ciara’s.

Unlike some of the chunkier or pulled apart braids, this sleek style is made with a perfectly uniform braid, while loose tendrils around the face help to balance the look with some softness.

The off centre positioning of this braid helps create a cute and funky stylet that’s casual yet chic.

Simple and elegant, this twisted two strand style puts a slight spin on the traditional crown braid without being too complicated or difficult to get right.

If you want to upgrade your braids for a special occasion, try a crown braided style that uses the more intricate fishtail technique. This braid is more time consuming and can be difficult to do on your own hair, so we’d advise getting a stylist or friend to help you recreate this look.

Braids pop with any multidimensional hair color, but we’re especially loving the mixture of an elegant crown braid with the modern vibe of bubblegum and pastel pink shades.

This milkmaid braid shows how the style can be dressed up as a bridal look, and features soft wispy tendrils of hair to frame the face. If your hair isn’t long enough to wrap all the way from behind one ear to the other, make one braid behind each ear, and wrap them over your head and pin together in the middle.

By strategically pulling apart your angled crown braid, you can create this side swept style that has the same effect of framing the face and drawing the eye as side swept bangs.

If your hair is very long and thick, getting it all secured in a crown braid style can be tough. For the best of both worlds, try this half up style that uses the crown braiding technique, but leaves the lower section of hair loose.

Putting a different spin on the style, this spiral braid actually begins with a small section at the crown of the head, slowly braiding in a spiral motion until the ends of the hair are reached.

Showing another slight variation on the crown braiding technique, this style begins by braiding two fishtails at the back of the head, then wrapping them around the front to create a crown.

With her signature blend of bohemian style and Hollywood glamour, Sienna Miller’s red carpet milkmaid braids were years ahead of the current braid obsessed trends.

Featuring several skinnier crown braids instead of the standard style, Kerry Washington brings some modern edge to the romantic braided look.

With hair looking like spun gold, this simple crown braid proves that this technique looks great even with minimal styling and accessories.

Mixing bohemian flair with a couture gown, Jennifer Lawrence’s milkmaid braid brings softness and glamour that you can add to any outfit.

This classic french braided crown is one of the rare styles that could be worn by a flower girl, bridesmaid, or bride, making it a great option if you’re thinking of having matching hairstyles at your wedding.

We don’t see as many crown braided styles combined with bangs, but there’s no reason why these two looks can’t go together. Use a milkmaid technique to wrap braids around your head and keep your perfect face-framing bangs right where you like them.

Use a dutch braiding technique to create your crown braid, then gently pull strands apart until you’ve achieved this picture perfect loose look. To avoid braids that completely slip apart, use this technique on hair that hasn’t been washed for at least one day.

This interesting look from Iggy Azalea is created with two dutch braids beginning at the nape of the neck and working up towards the face. The remaining hair is finished in a thick braid that actually appears to sit on top of the head rather than wrap around it.

Braid a fishtail behind each ear then wrap them over the top of your head to get this fishtail milkmaid braid even if your hair isn’t ultra long. If you’re a beginner at fishtail braiding, this braided style is one of the easiest to pull off, as you won’t have to braid behind your head where it’s difficult to see.

Ready for some advanced braiding techniques? Grab a friend and start practicing this super intricate five-strand crown braid. Perfect for a wedding or other special occasion worth spending the extra time.

Want a crown braid and curls on your wedding day? Use the crown braiding technique without picking up sections of hair from the bottom layers, and the end result is this half up style that’s wedding ready.

Sitting farther back on your head, this crown braid makes for a more simple looking style when viewed from the front, while keeping the romantic feel of a fully braided updo.