Braiding Hair

About Braiding Hair

Braiding hair is fun and surprisingly easy. You can combine separate braids to create elaborate updos for special occasions. If you're feeling young and girly, you can style your hair with braided pigtails. High school cheerleaders seem to favor double French braids for keeping their hair back while they perform stunts. Braids are even functional. If you don't want to wear braids out, but do crave sexy waves, use them -- multiple small ones work or you can use just one three-strand or French braid. Braiding hair before bed can result in loose waves the next morning.

Regular Three-Strand Braids

These are the easiest of all the methods of braiding hair. These braids are popular on girls of all ages. Hold your hair as if you were about to put it in a low ponytail. Divide it into three sections of the same size. Hold the left piece between your thumb and forefinger on your left hand. Hold the middle piece with the tip of your right forefinger and thumb. Hold the right piece between your thumb and forefinger, as well, closer to your palm. Take the piece from the right side and cross it over the middle one. Shift the formerly middle piece closer to your palm to replace the piece from the right side. Repeat on the left side. Follow suit on the right side again, and then to the left until you're done with the length of the hair. For tips on learning how, check out 17114 braid-hair.html How to Braid Hair.

French Braids

French braiding still involves three strands of hair. This is a slightly more elegant version of the traditional 3-strand braid. It works better for girls with medium-to-short or layered hair because the shorter pieces are woven in and held secure by the longer pieces. Instead of starting with all of your hair, start with just the front and sides, as if you were going to do a half-updo. Divide that into three sections. Just as you did with the regular braid, pull the right piece over the middle. When you take the formerly middle piece to the right side, add a bit of hair to it from the side near your temple. Do the same on the left. Continue down the length of the hair, adding a bit of hair each time. Once all of your hair is intertwined, continue braiding hair as with the traditional type -- 3 thick strands. Secure the finished braid with a ponytail holder or other accessory. Once you feel comfortable with the process, you can part your hair in the middle from forehead to the nape of your neck and braid each side.

Fishtail Braids

Fishtail braids are probably the least spoken of in the world of braiding hair. For a picture of what one looks like, see the Hair Boutique's example of a fishtail braid. On the hair boutique site, you can also get step-by-step information on how to create a fishtail braid. Fishtail braids are the easiest to make look amazing for updos.