Braids are a stylish way to style your hair. Braids also look very fashionable and stylish. This article will show you how to braid standard hair. Apart from that, there are also some tips for making beautiful braids. Once you've mastered the basics, you can try more elaborate braids, such as French braids and fishtail braids.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Traditional Braids
Step 1. Detangle the hair with a wide-toothed brush or comb
Braids can be made more quickly on untangled hair. You should be able to comb easily without a hitch.
- If the hair you're dealing with is thick or layered, use a little water or gel to moisturize your hair. This will make the hair easier to work with.
- You can braid wet or dry hair. If your hair is completely wet, the braid will be very smooth and tight, while dry braids will look a bit sloppy.
- If you're braiding dry hair, it's best to do it a few days after shampooing so it looks neat. Slightly oily hair will be easier to braid than freshly washed hair.
Step 2. Start with a ponytail (optional)
If you put your hair in a ponytail, the braid will look neater. Once you get used to it, you can braid your hair starting from the nape of the neck without tying it.
Step 3. Divide the hair into three
These three sections will form a strand of braid so the sections should be as close together as possible.
- Take the right with the right hand and the left with the left, and leave the middle (for now).
- Hold the hair in your right and left hands between your palm and middle, ring, and little fingers, while keeping your index and thumb free.
Step 4. Step left over the middle
If earlier the order was a B C, now changed to B A C.
- With the index and thumb of your left hand, grab the middle of the hair.
- With the index and thumb of the right hand, grab the left section of hair that is held in the palm of the left hand
- The original left is now the center
Step 5. Cross the right over the middle
The previous hair order B A C Becomes B C A.
- On your left hand, move the hair between your index and thumb so that the other finger is holding it in your palm.
- Using your left forefinger and thumb, grab the sections of hair that are held in your right hand (but not those held by your thumb and forefinger).
- The original right section is now the center section.
Step 6. Continue weaving as before
Use the "free" forefinger and thumb of one hand to scoop the "back" of hair (holding with the other three fingers on the palm) of the other hand.
- Tighten the braid while braiding. Each time you change hands, secure your hair so the braid moves up and tightens. However, don't pull too tight.
- Continue all the way to the ends of your hair, leaving only about 3–7 cm of unbraided hair.
Step 7. Tie the ends of the hair
Use a hair tie instead of a rubber band to secure the ends of the braid. Twist several times until tight.
- Avoid rubber bands, which can damage your hair and are difficult to remove.
- If possible, use a ponytail that is the same color as your hair color or transparent so that it blends into the braid. This will make the braid look more natural and draw people's attention to the braid, not the binding.
Step 8. Spray hairspray (optional)
Hairspray or gel can help keep your hair from falling apart after a while.
- Make sure you use hairspray before adding hair ornaments.
- Use a shine serum on your braids for extra shine. Rub in both palms and run along the braid.
Step 9. Add embellishments to the braid (optional)
Tie a colored ribbon at the end of the braid for extra ornamentation.
- You can use tulle, silk, or zigzag accents, all of which are found in a variety of colors at fabric stores.
- Use cute bobby pins or brooches to clip near the base of the braid or to secure the bangs.
Method 2 of 5: French Braids
Step 1. Straighten tangled hair
French braids are very difficult to make if your hair is tangled, so you'll need to take a few minutes to untangle your hair with a wide-toothed brush or comb.
Step 2. Divide the hair
For traditional French braids, this is the front of the hair closest to the forehead and temples.
- You don't always have to start French braids overhead. It's the easiest way to learn, but in theory you can start French braids anywhere. Make sure the hair above the ears is included in the beginning if you decide to start at the top.
- You can make several French braids with multiple sections of hair. If you have short hair, it will be easier to make two medium braids than one large braid.
Step 3. Separate the initial part into three equal parts
These three parts will be the beginning of the braid.
- The French braid trick is to make sure all three sections are equal. Start the braid well, by dividing the hair into three sections evenly.
- Make sure the sections of hair start from the same row, not at an angle. Finding sections of hair that are close together will also help.
Step 4. Hold the three sections of hair in your hands
By holding the hair properly, the braid will be neat and finished quickly. While you'll probably find it more comfortable, here's the basic gripping technique:
- Hold the left section of hair with your left hand.
- Hold the center between the thumb and forefinger of your right hand.
- Hold the right part between the palm of the right hand and the last finger of the right hand.
Step 5. Move the left part to the center
Here's how to move the right section without letting go of the handle on the braid:
- With the last three fingers on your left hand, hold the left section of hair between your finger and palm. In this position, the left thumb and index finger will be free.
- With your left thumb and forefinger, go through the middle and grab the right. Now your left hand holds two halves and your right hand holds one piece.
Step 6. Move the left part to the center
This process is the same as the previous step.
- With the last three fingers of your right hand, hold the right section of hair between your finger and index finger. In this position, the right thumb and index finger will be free.
- With your right thumb and forefinger, go through the middle and take the left. Now your right hand holds two halves and your left hand holds one piece.
Step 7. Add hair to the right
Before this step, you just made a regular braid. And here, the "French" section begins to be added. You may need to try a few times to get it right, but it's easier to get used to the handles.
- Remove the middle section, and let it hang between the left and right halves. You should be able to distinguish it from the rest of the hair. It is located slightly above the unbraided hair.
- Hold the left part between the last three fingers of the left hand and the palm of the left hand, and grab the right part with the left thumb and forefinger. Your right hand will be free.
- With your right hand, pull some unbraided hair from the right side of your head. Grab this new section with your left thumb and forefinger to add to the right section of the braid.
- Take the middle again. Hold it with your right hand, and move it to the right so that it forms a new right side. The part that was added with the new hair, between the left thumb and forefinger, is now the middle part.
Step 8. Add hair to the left section
This process is the same as the previous step, but on the opposite side.
- Remove the middle. Again, it will hang between the left and right.
- Hold the right part between the last three fingers of the right hand and the palm of the right hand.
- Grab the left with the right thumb and forefinger. The left hand is now free.
- With your left hand, pull some free hair from the left side of your head. Grab this new section with your right thumb and forefinger to add to the left section of the braid.
- Take the middle again. Hold it with your left hand, and move it to the left into a new left. The part where the free hair was added, between the right thumb and forefinger, is now the middle part.
Step 9. Continue to braid in this pattern
No more hair to add when you reach the base of the neck and finish with a regular braid. To keep the braid neat, try adding roughly the same number of sections along the length of the braid.
Step 10. Braid the rest of the hair with a regular braid
Continue braiding the rest of the hair in a regular three-part braid.
Step 11. Tie the ends
Use a hair tie that is the same color as your hair, or a transparent tie that blends into your hair. Avoid rubber bands, which can damage your hair and are difficult to remove.
Step 12. Use hairspray (optional)
Hairspray or gel can prevent strands from falling out of the braid.
- If you want to use decoration, spray hairspray first. This is done so that the hairspray residue does not get on the bobby pins or ribbon.
- A shine serum will help your hair look smooth and soft if your hair tends to be rough and dry.
Step 13. Add embellishments to the braid (optional)
For accent, tie a colored ribbon at the end of the braid.
- You can use tulle, silk, or zigzag, which are available in a variety of colors at fabric stores.
- You can also add a touch of luxury by adding a pretty brooch or some clips along the length of the braid.
Method 3 of 5: Fishtail Braid
Step 1. Separate the hair into two equal parts
Fishtail braids appear to be made of several small strands, but are actually only two main parts.
- For a neat braid, part your hair with a fine-toothed comb, from your forehead to the base of your neck.
- For a slightly messy look, like a Katniss Everdeen braid, part your hair with your hands and part it into roughly equal parts.
- You can make a fishtail braid with wet or dry hair.
Step 2. Pull some hair from the left to the right
Once you understand how, you can do this until the braid is finished.
- Hold the right side with your right hand.
- Take off the left. Since it only works in two sections, you don't have to worry about the hair getting mixed up.
- Using your left hand, pull the left hair slightly from the left. That is, from the left side of the hair closest to the ear.
- Take a strand of hair from the left with your right hand, insert it into the right braid.
- Hold the left section of hair in your left hand again. When picked up, you can rub the section to straighten any tangles and tighten the braid.
Step 3. Pull some hair from the right to the left
This is the same as the previous step, but reversed.
- For a more intricate looking braid, pull less hair. For a faster braid, pull more.
- Hold the left part in the left hand.
- Remove the right. Again, since you only work on two sections of hair, you don't have to worry about the hair getting mixed up.
- With your right hand, pull a little hair from the right side of the right (or the part closest to the ear).
- With your left hand, take a little hair from the back of the braid and thread it into the left section of the braid.
- Hold the right section of hair with your right hand. Once removed, you can rub the section to straighten the tangled hair and tighten the braid.
Step 4. Repeat this pattern until the ends of the hair
Keep braiding and adding strands to the ends. Try to add sections of hair that are the same size as possible.
Step 5. Tie the end of the braid with a ribbon or hair tie instead of a rubber band
Method 4 of 5: Five Braids
Step 1. Separate the hair into five equal parts
Five braids look more intricate and elegant than regular triple braids, and are easy to do once you understand the process.
- When you're just learning, consider tying your hair into a ponytail and starting braiding from there so there's a stable base.
- Five braids are easier to make when your hair is wet or oily because you haven't washed it in a few days. This condition makes it easier to divide the hair and so that the loose hair does not get caught in other parts.
Step 2. Hold the five halves with two hands
It will be easier if you hold the two left halves with your left hand and the right two halves with your right, while leaving the middle section untied.
You can number each section of hair for convenience. Hair will be sorted so 1 2 3 4 5.
Step 3. Move the far left to the center
Place it beyond section 2 and below section 3 so it's now the center.
- Now, the order is 2 3 1 4 5.
- Basically, you're weaving your hair, from right to left and left to right.
Step 4. Weave the rightmost section to the center
Skip section 4 and insert it under section 1 so 5 is now the middle section.
Now, the order is 2 3 5 1 4.
Step 5. Continue weaving to the end
Continue to weave the outermost section of hair and move it to the middle.
Step 6. Tie the ends
Use a ribbon or hair tie instead of plastic to tie the ends of the braids.
Method 5 of 5: Other Styles
Step 1. Learn how to make a Dutch braid
This is the opposite of the French braid. The trick is not to braid the hair above the hair, but below it. This braid is easy to make, and creates a 3D effect on top of the hair, unlike French braids that are hidden under the hair.
Step 2. Try a waterfall braid
This beautiful hairstyle is created by leaving the rest of the hair loose from a French braid, resembling the shape of a waterfall. If you're used to making French braids, take the next step to try waterfall braids.
Step 3. Make a braid headband
Make a headband from small, thin braids woven from one ear to the other over the top of your head. Braids used are French or Dutch, and use the bangs as an additional accent.
Step 4. Make a braid out of braids
The method? Make a regular three-part braid, but each part is pre-braided to create a large, complex braid. This style goes well with a bohemian headband or pin, or gives off a sophisticated look when it's not.
Step 5. Try a rope braid
This is a pretty braid that looks like a spiral-shaped string. Although difficult to master, these braids are great just to be dropped or wrapped into a bun.
Tips
- Braids will be neat by pressing and pulling the hair strands gently.
- Consider the thickness of the remaining hair when tying the ends of the braid. Do not use a thick hair tie for the rest of the thin hair.
- If you're having trouble learning to braid your own hair, try practicing with a friend's hair.
- If you're having trouble making French braids, tie your hair into a ponytail. This will be a stable centerpiece, and the rubber will also be hidden with the braid.
- Don't try with your own hair if you want to learn, try with a friend's or doll's hair.
- Try not to braid your hair too tightly.
- For a messy look, don't braid your hair tightly.
- If you find it difficult to separate your hair, tie the ends of each section with a small rubber band and when the braid approaches the end, remove the rubber and finish the braid.
- Spray water or anti-tangle to keep the braids neat.
- Don't unravel the braid from above, as this will make your hair dry, rough, and tangled. Instead, untwist the braid from below.
