Braiding a traditional braid

Comb your hair. This will help the braid stay smooth and neat.

• To smooth your hair, use a large brush or comb.
• Brushing your hair before you start braiding will prevent knots from forming in your hair during the process.
• Do not start braiding when your hair is still wet. As it dries, it will expand and can ruin your braid.
• When you start the braiding process, don’t use much hair product, but if necessary, you can try dry shampoo to create the right texture.
• If you are having trouble holding your hair down, try applying dry shampoo. Clean, dry hair may be too smooth and won’t hold when you do the weave. Dry shampoo adds texture that helps hold the strands in place.

Determine where your braid will fall. Before you start braiding, you need to decide where you want to place it. Placing the braid on your head can diversify your hairstyle so that it fits different outfits and events. The hairstyle can be comfortable, casual or elegant, depending on where you position your braid.

• Pull your hair to both sides to do a side braid. Brush all of your hair to the side you choose to make sure there are no bumps there. This creates a more elegant, put together look that will accentuate your evening out or day at the office.
• If you’re a beginner, it’s handy to start with a side weave. It’s easier to see and control what you’re doing with the braid.
• You can weave in a low, loose ponytail in the back. That way you get a more elegant classic braid, softer and more free style.
• You can also start by gathering the ponytail in the middle or at the top of the head. This will make a strong braid, but it will have a more casual look.

Divide your hair into three strands. Gather and hold your hair in your hands.

• You will have one strand of hair on the left, one in the middle and one on the right.
• Hold the strand of hair on the left between your left thumb and index finger.
• Hold the strand of hair on the right between your right thumb and index finger.
• Let the center strand hang loosely for now.

Proceed with the braiding. Start braiding by placing the right strand of hair over the center strand.

• To secure it, pick up the right strand of hair between your left index finger and middle finger once you have placed it on top of the center strand.
• Grab the center strand of hair between your left thumb and index finger.
• Pull the strands of hair in both hands to tighten the braid. This way, the braid will be even and without gaps.
• If you have longer hair, run your fingers down the strands to make sure they don’t get tangled in the process.

Continue to braid the rest of your hair. You should rotate your left wrist to place the left strand of hair over the new center strand.

• Once you have placed the left strand of hair on top of the center strand, pick it up between your right index finger and middle finger.
• Tie the center strand of hair between your left thumb and forefinger.
• To make sure that the braid is tight, tighten the hair strands in both hands.

Repeat the previous two steps. Continue braiding until you reach the end of the strands.

• Place the right strand on top of the center strand, then the left strand on top of the center strand, until the entire length of hair is folded into a braid.
• Be sure to tighten your hair as you braid.
• If the braid becomes too long, and it becomes uncomfortable to braid behind you, pull your hair to your shoulder and continue braiding with your hair in front of you.
• Tie at the bottom with an elastic band. Make sure the elastic band is tight. If it is loose, the strands may unravel.

Braiding a French braid

Comb your hair thoroughly. It will make your hair smooth and neat. This will also prevent the hair from becoming tangled during braiding.

• If your hair is tangled, it will be difficult to separate it into strands for the braid.
• It is easier to braid smooth hair, and the hairstyle will look neat.
• Remember not to braid wet hair and not to use too many hair products. If you are facing the problem of hair slipping out of the braid, you can apply dry shampoo.

Separate some of the hair at the front of the crown. To separate a strand of hair at the top of the head, use a hair wand or comb.

• The French braid is more complicated to braid than a traditional braid because the braiding starts at the top of the head, and the hair is woven in from the top of the head.
• This first strand should extend from the temple area to the top of the head.
• You can also separate this strand by pulling the hair back from the side of the head from the temples to the back of the head with your thumbs.
• Brush this strand back from the face to smooth it out.

Separate the strands at the top of the head for weaving. Distribute the hair into three strands, holding them high above your head.

• Hold one strand in one hand and two in the other, separating them with your index finger.
• It is often more convenient to hold two strands in your left hand and one in your right hand.
• Make sure that all three strands are held firmly.

Proceed with the braiding. First, place the right strand on top of the center strand.

• Place the left strand on top of the strand that is now in the center, just as you braided a traditional braid.
• This is the beginning of your braid. It should start at the top and look like a traditional braid.
• To make sure the braiding is tight and even, and not too loose, tighten the strands tightly.

Continue braiding on the right side. Take small strands of hair and add them to the right strand of your split hair.

• Take a small strand of hair from the right side of your head.
• Add it to the strand of hair you are holding in your right hand. Then place this right-hand strand on top of the center strand.
• To make sure the weave is neat and evenly tight, tighten the strands after each overlap.

Continue braiding on the left side. Do it in the same way that you used on the right side.

• Take a small strand of hair from the left side of your head.
• Add it to the hair strand you are holding in your left hand.
• Apply it to the center strand of hair.

Repeat the process, alternating left and right sides. Before you weave the strands into the braid, continue to add additional small strands of hair.

• In this way, include hair that has not yet been in the braid, forming a connected braid.
• Make sure that you take even strands on each side, so your braid will be even and straight in the back.
• The braid should run down the center of your head, from the top of your head to the back of your neck.
• If you have longer hair, so that it doesn’t get tangled in the process, run your fingers from top to bottom along the entire length of each strand.

Braid the remaining hair. When all the hair from the top is picked up in the initial three strands, you will then braid as you would a traditional braid.

• When you have no more hair to braid, tie the end with a rubber band.
• If you have long hair, you need to move the braid to the shoulder to complete the braid.
• Try variations of this braid. By dividing your hair into 2 parts with a wand, you can try to make two French braids by braiding them separately.
• You can also braid starting from the bottom on the side of the head. This braiding is called a basket weave.

Braiding a spike let

Thoroughly brush your hair. This way, you will get rid of tangles and the weave will be easier.

• This type of weave is easier to do on long hair. If you don’t have long hair, you can use extensions or a hairpiece to make it easier.
• Before you start braiding, make sure your hair is free of knots and tangles.
• Use a regular hairbrush or comb for this step.
• When you are just learning how to weave a spike let, it is much easier to do it from the side. If you are not familiar with the process, it will be difficult to work behind the back with a layered design.

Divide the hair into two parts. Using a hair wand or comb, divide your hair in half into 2 large strands at the base of your head.

• Make sure that the strands are even so that you get the same braid.
• If you want, you can comb through each strand to make sure your hair is smooth and well separated.
• A spike is different from a traditional braid and a French braid, which uses 3 strands of hair.

Proceed to braiding the spike. For this type of braiding, you need to take small strands of hair, about 1.2 cm thick, from the outside of each hair strand.

• Take a small strand of hair from the front outer side of the right strand.
• Use your index finger to separate this small strand from the larger strand on the right side.
• Place this smaller strand on the right side and tuck it behind the left side.

Do the same on the left side. You need to hold both left strands with your left hand and both right strands with your right hand.

• After merging each shallow outer strand, go back to the two strands.
• This type is much more complicated than the other weaves. Braid slowly and be careful in the process not to let the fine strands out.
• It differs from the others because you weave with two real strands throughout the process, while forming a third strand each time, instead of weaving with three stable strands.
• For a more graceful spike, take smaller strands.

Continue braiding as in the last step. Alternate left and right sides during the process.

• Place the shallow outer right strand, which is closer to the face, on top of the center.
• Combine this strand with the large strand in the left hand.
• Place the shallow outer left strand on top of the center.
• Combine this shallow left strand with the larger right strand.
• Be sure to tighten the strands tightly. That way you will have a tight, neat braid.
• Repeat the process until you have braided all the hair.

Secure the end of the spike let with a hairband. If you want, you can use small transparent elastic bands or colored thicker ones.

• When you’re done braiding, to give the spike a voluminous look and texture, lightly pull the braided strands to the sides.
• Be careful when you do this, as there is a risk of loosening the strands and making them prone to unraveling.
• For a more casual look, run your fingers gently along the length of the braid and pull out small strands, thereby creating an airy look.

Tips

• When you braid your hair, don’t forget to brush it first, so it will be easier to braid.
• Before braiding your hair, wash and dry your hands well. This way you will get rid of sticky hair products or lotion, which can make hair stick to your hands.
• In case your hair falls apart, spray some hairspray on it.
• You can braid one side of the braid, pull it through your head and pin it on the other side with a bobby pin.
• Try to perform all these steps in front of a mirror if you have difficulty doing them. However, there are those who believe that when you learn to braid, you should do it without a mirror, as it will help you understand the feeling of braiding your own hair. This improves muscle memory, and in the future you can learn more complex ways of braiding.
• Embellish your braid by securing the end of it with a bobby pin instead of an elastic band. Tie the ends of your hair and stick a bobby pin through the knot. This way, the end of the braid will look natural and uncluttered.
• Don’t braid wet hair. It is much more difficult, and they expand when dry, which leads to hair breakage and damage.
• When braiding your hair, use a minimum of makeup products. Too much makeup will make the strands stiff, and they won’t braid.