How to French Braid Your Bangs

Make long bangs look glamorous.

The traditional French braid is a versatile hairstyle that adds elaborate detail to long bangs and gets your hair out of your face. However, many young women have added a twist to the old French braid by combining traditional techniques with an innovative variation: only braiding the bangs. This added detail helps to tame unruly bangs and gives your hair an extra touch of elegance and femininity. It is the perfect hairstyle for any occasion and can be dressed up for formal events or dressed down for casual engagements.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-tooth comb
• Brush
• Two rubber bands
• Two hair clips

Instructions

French Braid One

1. Brush the hair with the hairbrush to remove any knots. Use the fine-tooth comb to part the hair down the middle. Once the hair is evenly distributed, use the comb to create an uneven part, meaning that 2/3 of the hair parts to one side. The side that has more hair will be the side where the majority of the braid frames the face.

2. Grab a 2-inch section of hair from where the hair part begins. Divide this section into three equal sections. Pull the hair in the direction you want the braid to fall. Start braiding the hair under. Braid the first section underneath the other two sections of hair. Continue braiding until you complete one full braid.

3. Take a small 1-inch section of hair from above the braid and add it to the section of hair closest to the area from which you took the hair. Braid the hair again until you complete another braid. This time take a small 1-inch section of hair below the braid. Add this hair into the section nearest the section from which you took the hair.

4. Keep braiding the hair. Continue taking hair alternately from the top and the bottom of the braid each time you complete one braid. Do this until you get to the point where you want the French braid to end.

5. Tie the rubber band or hair clip at the end of the French braid. To give your hair even more detail, pull the braid down and back towards the rest of the hair at the back of the head and braid the remaining hair. Secure the larger braid with a nice hair clip or colorful rubber band. You can also braid the remaining bangs on the other side of the part.

French Braid Two

1. Grab a 2-inch section of hair on the opposite side of the main part. Separate the hair into three equal sections. Start by braiding the first section of hair under the other two sections of hair. Continue braiding the hair until you complete one braid. Grab a 1-inch section of hair from above the braid and add it to the section closest to where you grabbed the hair.

2. Braid the hair and complete another full braid. Grab a section of hair from underneath the braid. Add this section of hair to the section of hair closest to where you grabbed the hair. Continue braiding the hair by grabbing hair from above and below the braid after each complete braid, until you reach the length where you want the braid to end.

3. Secure the end of the second braid with a colorful rubber band or hair clip. You can pull this braid down and back, and secure the remaining hair along with the braid with a hair clip or rubber band.

Tips & Warnings

• To keep flyaway hairs from popping up, you can use hair spray or gel on hair before braiding it to keep your hairstyle neat.

References

• Log Locks: Hair Braiding -- English, Fishtail, Dutch and French Braids
• Luux; How to French Braid Your Hair; Nori Nyland; Nov. 7, 2010.