French braid tutorial

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If you've already mastered the three-strand braid without looking in a mirror , it's time to crack the technique for French braids in name only, seen for millennia throughout history. They look complex, and up until now you may have been mystified as to how to keep track of all that hair with just two hands, but I promise they're not as hard as they look! French braids are extremely comfortable to wear, since they distribute tension and weight evenly over your head. They are incredibly practical for securing your hair, especially short hair around your face. In this lesson, you'll try French braiding each half of your hair at a time, so it's easier to see what you're doing in a mirror. Begin by parting your hair down the middle and securing one half with a clip or elastic, as we'll just work with one half for now.

French braid tutorial

Unlike your high school French class, creating a French braid is uncomplicated. According to Los Angeles hairstylist Glenn Ellis , there are only two differences between a French and a classic, three-strand braid: First, the French braid starts at the crown of your head whereas a classic braid usually starts above the nape of your neck. Second — and this is what gives it its dreamy silhouette — is how you continuously weave more hair into it as you move from the top of your crown toward your ends. Once you've mastered how to create a single French braid, Emmily Bowman , founder of mobile hair-braiding company Braidbabes , suggests trying more unique ways to wear it. Consider twisting your braid into a bun, wearing two as pigtails, or weaving them into half-up hairstyles. But before considering more complicated styles, learn how to create a French braid on your own hair in just five steps. The first step to French braiding is as easy as it gets: "Comb your hair so that it's tangle-free," says Ellis. And don't worry about washing it beforehand, as unwashed hair provides the best hold for braids, according to Bowman. However, if you insist on washing your hair before styling, she recommends spritzing the Puff. Me Dry Texturizing Spray by DesignMe from your roots to your ends to give your hair the grit it needs to hold the French braid's shape. Then, "beginning at the hairline, gather your hair into a triangular section that includes hair from just above your temples and extends towards the crown area," Ellis says. After that, separate this large section of hair into three smaller ones which will be the strands you'll use to braid. Take the left section of hair and cross it over the center, as you would with a traditional three-strand braid.

As you overlap the left above the center, pull that french braid tutorial center section over to the left, almost as if they're switching places. But, braiding wet hair gives you soft, pretty waves when you take it out later. In the French braid, you added hair from both sides of your head.

Last Updated: July 28, Fact Checked. Vanessa has over 10 years of experience in styling hair. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 7,, times. The French braid is a beautiful and classic hairstyle and a favorite to many. Although its intricate weave may appear complicated, creating your own French braid is a simple process.

The moment you learn to tie your shoelaces, you're deemed fit by the all-holy hair gods to try a three-strand braid. The next level-up after that is equally classic, if not one degree trickier: the french braid. This over-under plait has been woven throughout history — from ancient Sparta dating back 6, years to Taylor Swift 's "Evermore" album cover — and for good reason: DIYing the look is ridiculously simple, even for people with little to no hairstyling skills All it takes is a little know-how, and that's where Jenny Strebe , hairstylist and founder of Aiir Professional , comes in. Before you begin, though, there are a few micro-steps to keep in mind. We're breaking it all down for you here. First, know that most braided hairstyles work best on relatively dirty hair that extra grit means more texture but less slip. Then, to make for the easiest weaving, you'll want to brush out any tangles or knots using a wide-tooth comb. She also suggests running a smoothing cream or paste through hair to create a more polished look and to keep any flyaways at bay.

French braid tutorial

Unlike your high school French class, creating a French braid is uncomplicated. According to Los Angeles hairstylist Glenn Ellis , there are only two differences between a French and a classic, three-strand braid: First, the French braid starts at the crown of your head whereas a classic braid usually starts above the nape of your neck. Second — and this is what gives it its dreamy silhouette — is how you continuously weave more hair into it as you move from the top of your crown toward your ends. Once you've mastered how to create a single French braid, Emmily Bowman , founder of mobile hair-braiding company Braidbabes , suggests trying more unique ways to wear it. Consider twisting your braid into a bun, wearing two as pigtails, or weaving them into half-up hairstyles.

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Continue to add hair to the left and right side sections before carrying them over. Work in new hair. Thanks Helpful 74 Not Helpful What's the difference in the overall appearance, and how did the size of the sections affect the proportions of the braid? Thank you for your feedback. Mastering the hand positioning can be one of the most challenging aspects of French braiding. Most Popular. Then, grab a 3-inch section of hair at the crown of your head and divide it into three equal pieces. This article has been viewed 7,, times. Unlike your high school French class, creating a French braid is uncomplicated. Double French Braid Ponytail. To get the look, she divided her hair into two equal parts not three and took small sections of strands from the outside of each section before crossing them over to the opposite side. Learn why people trust wikiHow.

Our easy step-by-step tutorial shows how to master a braided hairstyle in no time. An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team.

Everything else here just enhances your results! Support wikiHow Yes No. It keeps going and going and going. Brush the Hair. By Ashley Rubell. Thanks Helpful 29 Not Helpful 5. Secure the tail with a small elastic, or criss-crossed bobby pins if your hair is super short. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines. At this point, keep working in a traditional braid until you reach the ends of your strands. Measure content performance.