DIY Braided Flip Flops – Easy Summer Fashion Craft!
Learn how to make your own DIY braided flip flops! This is a sweet way to upgrade inexpensive sandals and add a little fun to your summer style. This beginner-friendly project requires minimal supplies like basic hair ties and flip-flops. Then go ahead and try these summer crafts for teens. This post contains affiliate links.
I love a good, cheap fashion update, and with hair tie looping all the rage now, I decided to share this version of a flip-flop refashion. It looks absolutely fabulous! You can use fun colors for this or keep it somewhat serious like I did. The supplies are so simple, it takes minutes to assemble, and it is a fun and easy process. By creating these braided straps, you end up with a comfy braided sandal that is perfect for everyday wear.
What you’ll learn
- Upgrade simple, inexpensive flip-flops into stylish summer footwear using only woven hair ties and a basic braiding technique.
- No sewing or glue is required; the design is held securely in place by looping the braided ties over the strap ends and re-securing them into the sole.
- Choose flip-flops with soft rubber or plastic straps to make the assembly process easier, as rigid materials can be difficult to work with.
- Practice the looping and braiding technique on a pen or headband first to get comfortable with the motion before moving to your flip-flops.
Tips for making hair tie DIY braided flip flops
Getting the basic process straight
Making DIY braided flip flops follows the same general process as the braided hair tie headbands. Just like those headbands, you can adapt this braiding technique to suit different styles. Instead of going through all the different ways you can loop your hair ties, I focused on the main method to show you how to adapt it to flip flops. From there, you can experiment and make it your own.
Whenever you try a new craft, I always recommend starting with the easiest version first. On the flip flop version, because the natural strap twists, you have a bit of an extra challenge. It is not difficult, but it is worth practicing first on a simpler surface, such as a headband.
The cool thing is that if you do not want to make anything else, you can simply practice on a pen. The hair ties come off and can be reused, so getting the hang of the looping process on a simpler object can help your flip flop design come out fab on the first try.
Don’t want to practice? If it doesn’t come out right, you can always start from scratch by pulling off your hair ties and starting again.
These DIY braided flip flops are surprisingly durable and can last for an entire summer season of regular wear. Since the hair ties are held securely in place by the sandal strap design, they stay put well, though the fabric ties may eventually show some signs of light fraying after heavy use.
Which hair ties should you use?
The hair ties used in these DIY braided flip flops are thick and small woven ties. Hair tie quality will matter in your final result. I honestly just got super cheap ones. If quality is important for this craft, I recommend reading reviews thoroughly and choosing accordingly.
Since hair ties are fabric, they are great summer footwear, but they will stay damp longer than plain plastic if they get wet. For that reason, synthetic hair ties, such as those made from nylon are ideal.
I did buy a big stash to use in different crafts, and a couple that I bought were the wrong type, so definitely look beyond product listing photos and check the review photos if you can.
I chose muted colors so it should feel wearable for me as a 30-something year old woman. I also wanted to show how this technique really can look quite classy. You can go bright and colorful if you want something that feels more playful.
Choosing your base flip flops for the craft
The flip flop that I used is not quite a dollar store pair, it is something in between. Your goal should be to get a simple flip flop, without any decorations, that will feel comfortable to wear. You can certainly use inexpensive pairs, as they are often easier to work with.
When selecting your base, look for soft rubber or plastic straps. These are much easier to work with than stiff leather straps, which may be too rigid to accommodate the added thickness of your new design. The braided straps fit perfectly over the original plastic straps, creating a comfortable and custom look.
Part of the process is to pull the end of the strap through the foam base. The basic requirement for the flip flops that you choose is the ability to do that so you can finish off your braid and it won’t slide off. That is what secures it, no glue needed.
If the foam is too thick, this might be more challenging. My foam was quite dense, so I had to make a little cut to get the strap out. It is a fix that works, but it slightly complicates the project.
How to make DIY Braided Flip Flops Step by Step
You’ll need
- Flip flops (any that allow the strap to be removed or opened on one side, and then replaced)
- Woven fabric hair ties (thick and small ones)
- Clamp (or binder clip, clothespin, or bag clip)
- Craft knife (optional, to help with removing and replacing the flip flop strap)
- No hot glue is needed for this project!
Watch the video
Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.
Process
1. Loop your hair ties on the flip flop
To loop all your hair ties on the flip flop, start by folding it in half over the flip flop strap.
Pull one side through the other. It doesn’t matter which one you pull through which, but do it the same way on each hair tie.
Pull tight. Continue adding hair ties in your chosen pattern. You can do one color for a simpler, more braided look.
Make sure that the pulled out loop of each hair tie sits at the flat side of the strap – the one that eventually faces the top of the sandal when you reach the toe. It’s important that they are all following that twist of the strap, all in the same direction.
When you reach the toe piece, just skip over it and continue on the top strap of the sandal. You don’t want to wrap around the toe piece, because then it’ll be too thick and uncomfortable to wear.
Keep adding hair ties until you reach the end, following the direction of the twist. When you reach the end, it might get a bit challenging, but keep filling it until you hit that end.
2. Connect your hair ties.
Once you’ve finished attaching each one to your flip flop, you need to link them together to form that “braid”. Start with the first one (on either side). Open it up with your fingers, so that your thumb and index finger are inside the loop.
Grab the next loop and pull it through.
Now open that loop with your thumb and index finger, and grab the next. This will become a natural movement after a couple.
Keep going until you reach the end.
3. Finishing off your braided flip flop
So what do you do with that final loop? You can seal this off seamlessly with no glue by looping it around the end of the strap!
First, we want to secure that piece so our whole braid doesn’t come undone. I used a clamp, but use whatever you have handy – a bag clip, a clothespin, a binder clip…
Push the end of your strap out of the foam sole. If your sole is very thick and stiff, you may need to use a craft knife to CAREFULLY (so you don’t make a visible slice) extend the hole a bit.
Grasp that last loop that you pulled through and remove the clamp. Pull the loop over the end of the strap.
It’ll now hold in place independently.
Push that strap right through the hole fully, ensuring that the circular stopper comes through completely to the other side.
Repeat with the second flip flop!
Your DIY braided flip flops are complete and ready to wear!
How to customize your DIY braided flip flops
The way I did it, the braid continues in the same direction around the strap. If you want to make them both facing the same way – parallel to each other, just braid each side separately towards the center OR starting from the center. You’ll need to either loop them both around the center, or loop them each around their own ends. If looping around the center, make sure not to be disruptive to the toes…
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use glue to keep the braids from coming undone?
No, you do not need any adhesive for this project. The final loop of the braid is secured by pulling it over the end of the flip-flop strap, which holds everything firmly in place once the strap is pushed back through the sole.
Can I use something other than hair ties for this craft?
Since the tutorial requires loops, you can’t really substitute other materials for hair ties – unless you happen to have a similarly sized and shaped fabric bit to use. You can use materials like tee shirt yarn to make braided flip flops, but the process won’t be the same, so it’s a different project.
Are these flip-flops durable enough for everyday wear?
These braided sandals are surprisingly sturdy and typically last for a full summer season of regular use. While the fabric ties may eventually show minor fraying, they remain securely attached to the base of the flip-flop.
