If you’re working with thick or layered hair, use a bit of water or leave-in conditioner to dampen the hair first. This will make it easier to handle. You can braid hair when it is damp or dry. If your hair is damp, it will have a very smooth, tight appearance while dry hair will give a messier look. Let your hair dry for at least 20 minutes before you braid it, however, as wet hair is fragile and easily breaks. If braiding your hair dry, it is best to do it a few days after washing so that it is not so clean and slick. Slightly oily hair will hold a braid better than clean hair, and you’ll have fewer flyaways.
Grab the right section with your right hand and the left section with your left hand, letting the middle section hang free (for now). In your right and left hands, hold the strands so that you’re grasping them against your palm with your middle, ring and little fingers, keeping your index fingers and thumbs free.
With the index finger and thumb of your left hand, grab the middle section of hair. Using the index finger and thumb of your right hand, grab the left section of hair that’s grasped against your left palm. The original left-hand section is now the middle section.
In your left hand, shift the strand that’s between your index finger and thumb so that your other fingers are holding it secure against your palm. Use your left index finger and thumb to grab the section of hair that’s being held against your right palm (but not the one being held by the thumb and index finger). The original right-hand section is now the middle section. Typically, step 4 and step 5 in this braiding technique are called a “sequence” or “stitch. "
Tighten the braid as you go, and keep the tension even for all 3 sections. It’s best to gently pull down on the braid as you weave. Any time a strand changes hands, tug gently on the hair so that the plait moves upward, tightening it. Repeat until you run out of space to braid, leaving about 1–3 inches (2. 5–7. 6 cm) of unbraided hair at the end.
Avoid rubber bands. These can damage the hair and be difficult to remove at the end of the day. Whenever possible, use a ponytail holder that is the same colour as your hair or that is translucent, so that it blends in with your braid. This can make a braid look more natural, and get people to concentrate on the braid itself, rather than on the holder.
If you decide to use hairspray, make sure to use it before adding any hair ornaments. Use a shine serum along your braid to give it some extra glow. Rub a bit between your hands and then run along the length of the braid. To protect your braids at night, you can use a nourishing oil.
You can use tulle, grosgrain, or ric rac, all of which can be found in a variety of colors at your local fabric store. Use a cute hair pin or brooch to pin near the base of your braid, or to hold back your bangs.
You can braid all or part of your hair, so experiment to see which styles you like!
When you’re combing your hair, work in small sections, and start at the bottom and work your way up. If you start at your scalp, your hair will be more likely to break if you come across a tangle. [4] X Expert Source Ashleigh GroundsMakeup Artist & Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.
You don’t have to start a French braid at the top of your head. It’s the easiest way to learn, but theoretically you could start a French braid anywhere. Just make sure you’re including the hair above your ears in your starter section if you decide to move down the head. You can create multiple French braids on your hair using several parts. If you have short hair, it may be easier to make two medium braids rather than one large one.
The real trick to French braiding is keeping your three sections evenly sized as you braid. Give yourself a solid head start by making sure your strands are equal to begin with. Make sure the strands start from the same row of hair, rather than staggered areas. Keeping the three strands close together will also be helpful.
Grasp the left strand in your left hand. Grasp the center strand between the thumb and index finger of your right hand. Grasp the right strand between your right palm and the last three fingers of your right hand.
With the last three fingers of your left hand, grip the left strand between your fingers and your palm. This should free up your left thumb and index finger. With your left thumb and index finger, reach over the center strand and grab the right strand. You should now have two strands in your left hand and one in your right hand.
With the last three fingers of your right hand, grip the right strand between your fingers and your palm. This should free up your right thumb and index finger. With your right thumb and index finger, reach over the center strand and grab the left strand. You should now have two strands in your right hand and one in your left hand.
Let go of the center strand, and allow it to hang between the left and right strands. You should be able to tell it apart from the rest of your hair — it’ll be slightly elevated above the hair that hasn’t been braided yet. Grip the left strand between the last three fingers of your left hand and your left palm and grab the right strand with your left thumb and index finger. Your right hand should now be free. Using your right hand, pull up a small section of unbraided hair from the right side of your head. Slide your thumb against your scalp just below the section, gathering a small section of hair. Grab this new section with your left thumb and index finger to add it to the right strand of the braid. Pick up the center strand of the braid again. Grab it with your right hand, and move it to the right, making it your new right strand. The section you added hair to, between your left thumb and index finger, is the new center strand.
Let go of the center strand. Again, it will hang between the left and right strands. Grip the right strand between the last three fingers of your right hand and your right palm. Grab the left strand with your right thumb and index finger. Your left hand should now be free. Using your left hand, pull up a small section of unbraided hair from the left side of your head. Slide your thumb along your scalp in the same manner you did on the other side of your head, gathering the same amount of hair to add to the left section. Grab the new section with your right thumb and index finger to add it to the left section of the braid. Pick up the center strand of the braid again. Grab it with your left hand, and move it to the left, making it your new left strand. The section you added hair to, between your right thumb and index finger, is the new center strand.
If you’re going to add extra embellishment to your hair, hairspray it first. This will prevent flaky residue from getting on your barrettes or ribbons. Using shine serum will help to keep your hair looking smooth and soft, if it has the tendency to be rough and dry looking.
You can use tulle, grosgrain, or ric rac, all of which can be found in a variety of colors at your local fabric store. Adding a pretty brooch or multiple hair pins along the braid is a great way to add a bit of glam to your look.
For a neat braid, use a fine-toothed comb to make a straight part down the middle of your head, from forehead to nape. For a more tousled, Katniss Everdeen-inspired look, just part your hair with your hands and separate into two sections that seem somewhat even. You can fishtail your hair when it is either wet or dry.
Hold the right section of hair in your right hand. Drop the left section and let it hang loose. Because you’re only working with two sections, you don’t need to worry about it mixing with another part of the braid. Using your left hand, pull up a small strand of hair from the leftmost side of the left section. That is, from the side of the left section of hair that’s closest to your ear. Grab the small strand of hair from the left section with your right hand, incorporating it into the right section of the braid. Hold the left section of hair in your left hand again. As you pick it back up, you can run your fingers through the section to smooth out any knots and tighten up the braid.
For a more intricate-looking braid, pull up smaller strands of hair. For a quicker braid, grab larger sections. Hold the left section of hair in your left hand. Drop the right section and let it hang loose. Again, because you’re only working with two primary sections, there’s no need to worry about mixing strands. Using your right hand, pull up a small strand of hair from the rightmost side of the right section (or the part closest to your ear). Grab the small strand of hair from the right section with your left hand, incorporating it into the left section of the braid. Hold the right section of hair in your right hand again. As you pick it back up, you can run your fingers through the section to smooth out any knots and tighten up the braid.
When you’re first learning, consider pulling your hair into a ponytail and starting the braid there, so you’re working with a stable base. It’s easiest to braid a five-strand braid when your hair is wet or greasy from going a few days of being unwashed. This will help to keep the sections together, and prevent fly-aways from getting tangled up in other strands.
Numbering the strands can help you keep them straight. They should look like 1 2 3 4 5.
You should now have 2 3 1 4 5. You are essentially weaving your hair, moving the strands from the right to the left, and the left to the right.
You should now have 2 3 5 1 4.
This look is also called an “outside braid,” and it pops a little more than a traditional French braid. [11] X Expert Source Ashleigh GroundsMakeup Artist & Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.
