How to Do a Single French Braid

Do you like the look of a French braid? Follow these steps to learn how to put your hair up in a French braid.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Medium to long hair
• Rubber bands or hair ties
• Agile fingers

How to do a Single French Braid

1. For curly or wavy hair, it is easiest to braid when the hair is wet. For straight hair, a light mist during braiding is fine to keep the fly-aways down.

2. If you have bangs, pull the bangs out first. Then, from behind the bang line, draw a line with the tip of a comb from ear to ear about 1/4 inch of hair.

3. Brush this section of hair by itself, pulling it back toward you, brushing the rest of the hair down. Split the section into three even sections, holding all three sections in one hand and keeping the sections separated with your fingers.

4. Take the section on the left, pull it over the middle section only.

5. Take the section on the right, pull it over the middle section (now) only.

6. Take the section on the left, pull it over the middle section. Grab another piece, about 1/4 inch from the side of the head. Pull it with the left section over the middle section.

7. Take the section on the right, pull it over the middle section. Grab another piece, about 1/4 inch from the side of the head. Pull it with the right section over the middle section.

8. Continue steps 6 and 7 until you cannot grab another piece of hair.

9. Finish off the braid by continuing a single braid to the bottom and tie off with a rubber band or hair tie.

Tips & Warnings

• A clip can be added to the bottom or the braid end can be tucked into the base under the French braid, bobby pin to secure.