How to Do a 3-Stitch Braid

Braids add strength and style to hair.

Braids are used to add strength and durability to hair or string and to enhance beauty and stylistic expression. The three-stitch braid, also known as a three-strand braid, may be the most common of all braiding techniques and is used in both crafting and hairstyling. It is relatively easy to master with practice and requires very few materials to complete.

Things You'll Need

• String (different colors)
• Ring
• Rubber bands, ribbons or barrettes

Instructions

Braiding Hair

1. Section off a portion of hair for the braid. Brush the hair that you will not be using out of the way and secure it so that it does not interfere with your braiding.

2. Comb or brush through the section of hair that you plan to braid, removing all knots and tangles. Separate the section of hair into three subsections, or strands, of equal size. Bring the strand farthest to the left, strand A, and cross it over the middle strand, strand B, so that it is now the middle strand. Lift strand C and cross it over strand A so that strand C is now the middle strand.

3. Repeat this weaving pattern by crossing strand B back over the strand that is in the middle, strand C. Basically, the strands on either side of the middle strand take turns crossing over and taking the middle strand's place. Pull the strands tightly as you cross them to get a tightly woven braid, or cross them loosely if you would like a more relaxed look.

4. Fasten the end of the braid with a string, ribbon, rubber band or barrette so that the braid does not unravel when you let it go. If desired, part another section of hair and begin another braid.

Braiding String

1. Choose three different colors of string and tie the ends of each string to a ring. Hook the ring onto a stable fixture to keep the braid in place as you go. For this example, the colors of the strings will be white, red and blue, and the red string will begin farthest to the left, the white in the middle and the blue to the right of the ring.

2. Cross the red string over the white string so that the red string is in the middle. Take the blue string and cross it over the red string so that the blue string is now in the middle. Next, move the white string back over the blue string so that it again is in the middle. Pull the strings tightly as you braid them and continue alternating the strings so that the outer strings take turns moving to the middle.

3. Tie a knot at the end of the braid so that the strings do not unravel. Remove the ring from the hook.

References

• The Purse Workshop: Basic Braids
• Hair Braiding Basics: English, Fishtail, Dutch & French Braids