How to Do a Hair Plait

Hair plaits are a quick and easy hairstyle.

A hair plait, or braided hairstyle, is a quick and simple style that works beautifully for elegant occasions but also looks nice as a more casual look. It helps keep your hair out of your face and it takes very little time to do, once you get a bit of practice. A hair plait hairstyle involves wrapping different sections of hair around each other. You can create a hair plait in a few easy steps, in either the traditional or fishtail style.

Things You'll Need

• Hair tie

Instructions

Traditional Hair Plait

1. Divide your hair into three equal sections.

2. Take the whole right section of hair and cross it over the middle section. The right section of hair has now become the middle section, and vice versa.

3. Cross the whole left section of hair over the middle section.

4. Continue alternating with the left and right sections in this criss-cross pattern. Hold hair tight to keep it neat.

5. Wrap a hair tie around the end of the plait to secure it. You can plait all the way down hair until you are right at the ends, or secure the tie a bit higher up from the ends of your hair, depending on the look you prefer.

Fishtail Hair Plait

1. Section your hair into two equal sections.

2. Take a small piece from the outside of the right section of hair and cross it over to the inside of the left section of hair.

3. Take a small piece from the outside of the left section of hair and cross it over to the inside of the right section of hair.

4. Continue alternating with the left and right sections in this criss-cross pattern, taking only small pieces of hair from each section at a time. Hold hair tight to keep it neat.

5. Plait hair in this manner all the way down until you reach the ends of the hair.

6. Wrap a hair tie around the end of the plait to secure.

Tips & Warnings

• If your hair is quite short or frizzy, you may find it easier to wet hair before doing the plait.

• You can do a hair plait with a smaller section or two of hair and leave some hair loose, rather than making one large plait with all of your hair.

• Try replacing the hair tie with a barrette or a couple bobby pins for a unique twist. Add embellishments such as bows, ribbons or clips to decorate your hair plait style and turn it into a more elegant hairdo.

References

• Seventeen: The Classic French Braid
• Elle: Beauty Trend: Face-Framing Plaits