How to Do a Little Girl's Hair in Braids

Keeping a little girl's hair styled in braids can help prevent her hair from becoming tangled throughout the day or while she sleeps. You will need to make sure that the hair is tangle-free before you begin. Using a good conditioner after shampooing her hair can save both of you a lot of tears and frustration. Experiment with different styles and amounts of braids once you master the basic techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Detangler spray
• Wide tooth comb
• 4 elastic hair bands

Instructions

1. Spray detangler onto the child's hair and allow it to sit for one to two minutes. This will help reduce the pain of removing tangles during combing.

2. Start near the bottom of the hair and gently comb downward through the hair to remove tangles. Gradually start the comb at a higher spot on the girl's hair with each downward motion until you can comb through the entire length of the hair easily.

3. Make a center part with the comb starting at the child's forehead and separate all of her hair evenly into two large sections. Gather each section into a ponytail and secure it with an elastic hair band to create two ponytails.

4. Divide one ponytail into three sections. Braid the hair by crossing the left section over the middle section and then the right section over the middle section. Continue to alternate crossing the hair over the middle section until you have braided the entire length of the ponytail. Secure the end of the ponytail with an elastic hair band.

5. Repeat the braiding process on the second ponytail.

Tips & Warnings

• Low braids can be created by securing the ponytails low on the head, while high braids are created by securing the ponytails high on the head.

• Avoid creating extremely tight braids as they can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.

References

• "Milady's Standard Cosmetology;" Arlene Alpert et al.; 2004