Braiding Hair: Instructions

Braid hair with two techniques.

Braids are seen on all sorts of people young or old. Braiding hair has two basic techniques. These techniques can be used for one hair braid, a set of braids or several small braids on the head. A basic braid uses all the hair at once while a French braid starts small and grows to include all the hair. Practice each of the techniques to become better at them.

Things You'll Need

• Hair tie

Instructions

Basic Braid

1. Separate hair into three sections. You'll have a left, center and right piece of hair.

2. Take the right piece of hair and bring it over the center piece of hair. That right piece is now the center piece.

3. Move the left piece of hair over the center piece of hair. The left piece is now the center piece.

4. Continue this weaving technique until you reach the length of braid you want. Tighten the hair after each braid. Secure the bottom of the braid with a hair tie.

French Braid

1. Divide a small portion of your hair at the crown of the head and separate it into three even sections.

2. Begin with the first two weaves of a regular braid. Take the right piece of hair and bring it over the center piece. Take the left piece of hair and bring it over the center piece.

3. Pull a small amount of hair into the right piece of hair. Do the same with the left piece of hair. Be sure to pull hair that is hanging from the head and isn't part of the braid yet.

4. Bring the right piece of hair over the center piece. Take the left piece and bring it over the center piece.

5. Continue this method, bringing in a small amount of hair to the left and right sections after each weave.

6. Secure the braid with a hair tie.

Tips & Warnings

• For a Dutch braid, rather than bringing the hair over the center section with each weave, bring the hair under the center section with each weave.

• Part hair down the middle and through the back. Then braid hair on each side to create braided pigtails.

References

• Long Locks: Hair Braiding Basics: Hair Braiding: English, Fishtail, Dutch & French Braids