Step-by-Step Braiding Styles

Once you have mastered some of the basic braids, experiment with your own styles.

Braids can look elegant, sporty, professional or chic. They will keep hair out of your face without the need for hairspray, and they can be simple to do yourself. Best of all, since all braided styles stem from one of the following basic types, a mastery of these styles will allow you to experiment and develop your own unique hairdos.

Instructions

Standard Braid

1. Pull your hair into a low or high ponytail to keep it together. The standard braid, or three-strand braid, is the most simple braid to do, and works on medium to long hair.

2. Separate the hair into three strands.

3. Cross the left strand over the middle---now the left strand is the middle strand.

4. Cross the right strand over the middle strand. Continue this process until you've reached your desired braid length, then secure the braid with a hair tie. For added femininity, leave a good amount of space between the end of the braid and the tips of your hair and curl the remaining strands.

French Braid

1. Separate a section of hair where you want the braid to start. Typically, this section is just above the forehead, about 3 inches wide and centered.

2. Separate the section into three strands, and begin as you would with a three-strand braid. Cross the left section over the middle strand, then the right section over the new middle strand.

3. Pull a small section of hair from the left side and add it to the left strand.

4. Cross the left strand over the middle.

5. Pull a small section of hair from the right side and add it to the right strand, crossing this over the middle as well. The end effect should be a braid that is very close to the head and seemingly "layered" on the sides from all the added strands.

Fishbone or Herringbone Braid

1. Gather a section of hair where you want the braid to start. For beginners, this style is most simple to perform on wet, detangled hair.

2. Separate the section into two strands.

3. Gather a small section of hair from the left side of the head, cross it over the left strand, and add it to the inner side of the right strand.

4. Gather a section of hair from the right side of the head, cross it over the right strand, and add it to the inner side of the left strand. When there is no more loose hair to add to the braid, you should be left with just your two strands and an incomplete braid. Take a bit of hair from the underside of the left strand, cross it over and add it to the right.

5. Take a bit of hair from under the right side and cross it over and add it to the left strand. Repeat this back and forth, until you reach the tips of your hair. Secure with a hair tie.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have mastered one or all of the outlined styles, you can experiment with more difficult styles. For example, celebrities have been spotted wearing a "headband" French braid that crosses from one ear to the other. For this style, start with a very small section of hair at one ear, and add strands to only one side (or add very, very small strands to the opposite side) as you progress through the braid. Otherwise, the braid may become too thick by the time it crosses over to the other ear. Another variation is to do two small French braids along the sides of your head that fit tightly to your head, then combine all hair in a messy bun.

References

• Total Beauty: Celebrity Braided Hairstyles
• Dream Weaver Braiding: Braiding Instructions

Resources

• How To Do Complex Braids