How to Braid Short Hair for Kids 12 to 14

Jessica Alba shows off a french braid twist from the crown.

Create braided looks on short hair for teens with French and twist style braids. These braids begin in the front of the hair at the hairline and continue back, making them perfect for short hair. The twist style can also be braided back and tucked in for an elegant up-do. Accessorize with headbands, jeweled clips or satin bows and barrettes for to enhance the short haired braid look.

Things You'll Need

• Elastic hair band
• Bobby pins
• Smoothing creme
• Haispray

Instructions

French Braided Bangs

1. Part hair deep and to the right. Tease each side at the crown for volume. Gently, comb over to smooth fly-aways.

2. Separate out a large section of hair on the far right side of your face; about 2 1/2 to 3-inches wide. This starts your braid. Next, seperate the large section into three smaller sections.

3. Cross the right piece over the middle piece and pull the middle piece into your right hand. The middle piece is now the right piece and the right piece the middle. Then, cross the left over the middle piece of hair. The left piece is now in the middle and the middle piece has carried over into your right hand.

4. Holding the pieces separate, pull a 1/2-inch section of hair from your head behind the braid, and join it with the left piece you have just crossed over. Continue to braid the hair, pulling sections and joining them with the braid until you reach your ear; the braid carries across your face and hairline to just above your ear.

5. Bobby pin the braid into the rest of your hair or fasten with a decorative clip. Alternatively, continue a single braid until you run out of hair. Then, tie an elastic band around the braid and finish with hairspray.

Twisted Updo

1. Tease hair on top of your head, gently comb out knots and apply a smoothing creme to illiminate fly-aways.

2. Part your hair deep on the side. Gather a 1-inch section in the front of you hair and roll back away from and across your face into a twist style. Bobby pin sections as you go by placing the bobby pins in the middle of the twist to secure, that way they are tucked out of plain sight.

3. Continue to roll hair until you reach your ear. Bobby pin to secure, then roll the other side in the same manner and bobby pin to secure.

4. Tuck the ends of your hair up; roll them up and intor your hair, if you can. Bobby pin to hold, securing any loose hairs sticking out. Finish with hairspray and decorative bow.

Side Braids

1. Part hair down the middle and pull out a 1-inch section on the right side of your face. Then separate the section into three equal but smaller sections.

2. Braid the hair all the way along your hairline and face. Then tie with an elastic band or bobby pin to your scalp. Repeat on the left side.

3. Leave hair short and straight, or pin back into a bun style for an updo. Spray with hairspray to finish.

References

• Hair Boutique: The Heidi Braid is Hot
• Seventeen Magazine: Rock a Rolled Do
• Long Locks: Hair Braiding Basics

Resources

• Short Hair Style: Hair Braids for Kids
• Seventeen Magazine: How to Fishtail Braid