How To Braid Your Personal Hair: 8 Knowledgeable Tutorials For Completely different Varieties Of Braids

Of all of the at-home hairstyling ventures (trimming, blow-drying, and the like), braiding your personal hair may be particularly robust to beat. Not solely does it take utter precision and dexterity to maintain the braids cosy and even, however relying on the look you are making an attempt to attain, you would possibly have to view your head at completely different angles—with out eyes behind your cranium (or, you recognize, handheld mirror abilities), this makes issues troublesome. 

No worry: Forward, you may discover skilled tutorials for quite a lot of braids, with ideas to assist maintain them immaculate. 

1.
Three-strand braid

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The three-strand braid is precisely the way it sounds: You are weaving three strands collectively to create the plait. This is a tutorial from hairstylist Religion Huffnagle, director of schooling at Prose:  

1. Seize your hair right into a low ponytail (or pigtails) and cut up into three even sections. 
2. Cross the fitting strand over and into the center.
3. Subsequent, cross the left strand over and into the center.
4. Repeat crossing left and proper strands over the center, all the best way down till you attain the tip of your hair. Safe with an elastic if wanted. 

2.
Fishtail braid

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A fishtail braid resembles the skeleton of a fish’s tail—therefore, the moniker. And in contrast to the three-strand braid, you may separate the hair into two sections solely. Observe the beneath:

1. Collect the hair right into a ponytail and separate it into two, even items.
2. Whereas holding each items, take a small portion of hair from the skin of 1 part and cross it over the middle into the alternative hand.
3. Then take one other small portion of hair from the skin of the alternative part; cross it over the middle and into the alternative hand. “The smaller the sections you pull, the extra the completed look will resemble the ribs of a fishbone,” says Huffnagle. 
4. Repeat all the best way down till you attain the tip of your hair, securing with an elastic if wanted. 

3.
Field braids

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For field braids, you may want braiding hair (celeb hairstylist Annagjid “Kee” Taylor recommends kanekalon braiding hair, like this feature, because it lasts longer on pure hair and seems much less wiry). “You want a superb slick gel,” she provides, to offer maintain and lay down flyaways. Lastly, it’s your decision an extra hand mirror: Says Michelle O’Connor, texture specialist and creative director at Matrix, “The concept of field braids is to have your hair sectioned in mini box-shaped partings; due to this fact, doing them on your self would require seeing your head from all angles.” 

You will not want any rubber bands for this tutorial, as Taylor recommends skipping them should you can: “Rubber bands could cause breakage and can pop actually quick,” she says, particularly in the event that they’re too tight on the fragile strands. Once you’re prepared, observe these steps:

1. First, says Taylor, take your braiding hair and separate it into two items, one facet bigger than the opposite.
2. Loop the braiding hair across the first part of the pure hair you wish to braid, and you must have three legs: the 2 cut up sections of braiding hair, and one part of your pure hair within the center. 
3. Begin braiding the three legs collectively, weaving in additional hair from the bigger extension when you attain the tip of your pure hair. 
4. Safe with an elastic if wanted, and repeat these steps on every part of parted hair. 

4.
Two-strand twists

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Usually, twists are worn for a number of days, then unraveled to disclose the impression (referred to as a twist-out). “Doing them on damp hair will create a stronger impression within the hair,” says O’Connor, as will twisting smaller sections of hair. 

1. First, half the hair for every twist. (As a common rule, the smaller the sections, the extra definition you may have). 
2. Taylor recommends saturating every part of hair with a mousse or curl cream, then divide your first part into two strands.
3. Twist the 2 strands of hair collectively till you attain the tip of your hair. Safe with an elastic, or curl the ends along with your finger to maintain them from unraveling. 
4. Repeat on the opposite sections of hair till you will have a lot of two-strand twists. 
5. If you happen to do determine to unravel your strands right into a twist-out after a number of days, O’Connor recommends retwisting at night time “to make sure sustained definition.” 

5.
Flat twists

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Flat twists are similar to two-strand twists—they’re simply flatter on the scalp and usually yield much less quantity. You are still twisting two strands of hair collectively, however you are feeding in additional hair from the scalp as you go alongside (that is what helps the twists lie flat). “Primarily like a cornrow,” says Taylor, however you are utilizing two strands as an alternative of three. 

1. First, half the hair for every twist. Once more, the smaller the sections, the extra definition you may have.
2. Taylor recommends saturating every part of hair with a mousse or curl cream. Begin on the hairline, dividing the sections into two strands. 
3. Twist the 2 strands of hair collectively, feeding in additional strands of hair out of your parted part as you go alongside. Safe with an elastic if wanted, or just curl the ends to stop them from unraveling.
4. Repeat on the opposite sections of hair. 

6.
French braid

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You may all the time create two plaits should you so select, however for the sake of this text, we’ll clarify the way to do one French braid down the again of your hair:

1. Seize a piece of hair from the crown of your head and separate it into three strands.
2. Start a three-strand braid with that part, however this time cross over the center strand (versus underneath, which might create a Dutch braid; you may see in a while).
3. As soon as you have began an everyday braid, feed a brand new part of hair from both the left or proper into an outdoor strand earlier than crossing it over. 
4. Cross your new, bigger strand over the center strand, then pull one other clear part from the alternative facet and feed into the opposite exterior strand.
5. Cross that bigger strand over the center strand.
6. Repeat this for each part, including to the outer items and crossing over the center till you attain the tip of your hair. 

7.
Dutch braid

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Consider a Dutch braid as an inverted French braid (in actual fact, some individuals name this model the “reverse braid”), because you’re weaving the hair beneath the sections, versus over. In any other case, as Huffnagle shares in her tutorial beneath, it is fairly just like a French: 

1. Take a small part out of your hairline (or half) and separate it into three strands.
2. Start a three-strand braid, however this time cross the hair underneath the center strand.
3. As soon as you have began a three-strand braid, feed a brand new part of hair from both the left or proper facet into an outdoor strand.
4. Cross this bigger strand underneath the center strand, then pull one other part from the alternative facet and feed it into the opposite exterior strand, once more weaving it underneath the center strand. 
5. Repeat this for each part, including to the outer piece and braiding underneath the center till you attain the tip of your hair.

8.
Cornrows

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“If you happen to’re acquainted with the Dutch braid, the method for cornrows is considerably related,” says Taylor, as you are crossing beneath sections to attain a raised model. The primary distinction is, cornrows are woven tightly and nearer to the scalp, whereas Dutch braids are usually looser.  

“If you happen to’re new to this, I would suggest sticking with the normal cornrow model, which runs from the entrance of the scalp again in a straight line,” Taylor provides. “When you’re snug with that, you can begin to play with designs and be extra inventive.” 

1. After mapping out your partings, separate your first part of hair into three equal strands. “Bigger sections will imply bigger cornrows, and vice versa,” Taylor notes.  
2. Start a three-strand braid, remembering to cross underneath the center strand. 
3. Feed in a brand new part of hair from both the left or the fitting facet into the braid, crossing it underneath. Ensure that so as to add a good quantity of hair every time, Taylor notes, with a purpose to maintain the cornrows the identical measurement. 
4. “As soon as you have handed the scalp, you’ll be able to proceed to [three-strand braid] as regular and curl the ends round your finger to stop them from unraveling,” she explains. Or you’ll be able to all the time use an elastic if wanted. 

Braiding finest practices. 

Right here, you may discover ideas for each prep and aftercare: 

• Keep constant along with your parting sizes: By creating even sections all through, you may make sure the braids keep the identical measurement. 
• At all times detangle earlier than braiding: To keep away from snarls and breakage, you may wish to ensure your hair is correctly detangled. “On pure hair, you additionally could have to detangle the hair as you braid,” says Taylor.  
• For straighter textures, Day 2 hair is finest: Huffnagle says you could wish to keep away from freshly washed hair in case you have a straighter hair texture. “Intention to braid on Day 2 or 3 hair for longer-lasting outcomes,” she notes. Or, you’ll be able to apply pomades or pastes so as to add some grip to freshly washed strands. 
• For curlier and kinkier textures, freshly washed hair is finest: Since you must all the time detangle your hair earlier than braiding, these with curls will wish to braid on hair that is freshly washed (because you usually detangle curls after they’re moist). And should you’re making a twist-out on pure hair, you could even wish to begin when the hair is damp to attain extra definition. 
• Hold the hair and scalp moisturized: “If you happen to’ve braided your hair and intend to maintain these in for a few weeks, you may nonetheless wish to preserve a cleaning and hydration routine,” says O’Connor. Witch hazel makes an important cleaning possibility (in case your pores and skin can tolerate it), and coconut oil and jojoba oil are stellar hair hydrators. 
• Defend them when you sleep: “Delay the lifetime of braids or twists by retaining them neater,” O’Connor provides. She notes wrapping the hair in a shawl, sleeping in a bonnet, or sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase might help you keep away from friction on the hair. 

The takeaway. 

Braiding your personal hair takes a little bit of talent, nevertheless it’s not unattainable to expertly model them at residence. Learn up on these tutorials, however one of the simplest ways to be taught is to try by yourself hair. As specialists will inform you: Apply and persistence are key.

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