hair dress codes

Hmmm, that does make me wonder if this all came about because your HR person is trying to single you out.  I find it strange that 2 braids is requested instead of allowing 1 braid in the back (a commonly feminine vs. a masculine style).  I don't know how big a company you're in, but if I were a guy in your situation I might just go ask the top HR person (assuming its not the same person you mentioned) if there's any chance this rule came about because you were being singled out.  I wouldn't make any threats or anything, I'd just ask. If you're in a big enough company, you may have an "ombuds" person whose job it is to protect employees.  (That person would be better than an HR to ask, since it would probably go straight back to your HR person if you ask). 

I guess I would consider that option because if it was a big enough company that they really cared about not having bad press, they might get worried you'd sue for discrimination, even if you didn't say that outright.

Its a tricky business.  Its also true that if I took the above actions, I might wind up fired.  One thing you'd have on your side is that the HR person is new, and possibly under watch right now.  A less hostile option would be to ask an HR person above the new one if you can wear one braid in the back, down your shirt like you were before, as opposed to the feminine styles requested.  I'm not saying buns and 2 braids are bad, if a guy wants to wear them, he should.  But by calling them feminine if you ask, you can draw attention to the fact that this doesn't really sound that above board of a thing for a company to do.

Oh, so that rule is probably not aiming to humiliate you or any other long haired guy personally, I was wondering about that.  They may just have safety or hygiene concerns (hygiene if you work with food, or safety if there are machines).

Braids you just get better at with practice.  Putting an elastic both at the ponytail nape and at the ends helps it hold better,  and starting at the back and just bringing it around to the front when it gets too hard is usually the easiest way to do it.  (Mine often comes out a little twisted because of that, but not always).  Buns also get easier with practice. 

I try to help!  I have seen men wear braids (where there is one braid in the back and there are two elastics, one at the nape and one at the ends) and this looks masculine to me, even with very long hair.  Most ladies don't wear an elastic at the nape, so I guess that's why it looks more masculine to me that way.  I know you will get used to doing it and you will be able to keep it from twisting soon.

There is also the "hair cinch" which I think is masculine and keeps hair confined as a braid would (I bet they'd allow that, though I wouldn't want to wear one every day because one or two hairs do get caught in it and damaged with each wearing).
http://www.haircinch.com/   The ones with the celtic style beads are a lot easier to use and less hair-grabby in my opinion.  (I also fold up a post-it note and put it under the bead as I slide the bead up to keep it from pulling in hair.)

As for buns, there are "amish hairpins" which you can buy for 4 bucks on ebay.  They are just little u shapes made with a dull metal, those don't look like ladies hairpins, so maybe you would like those better and not be embarrassed if someone sees them.  (There is a trick to putting them in, you have to pinch the ends together when you put them in, or they'll pop themselves right out again).  The 3 inch long ones act somewhat like a hairstick and are a good size for waist length hair.