The only difference between French braiding and regular braiding is that now every time you go to cross a section over the middle, you add a little more hair. If you have layered hair, spray some hairspray onto your fingers and use it to set down any flyaways that may have escaped from your braid. For tips from our Beauty reviewer on how to make an alternate French lace braid, keep reading! (Tip: If the right and left are confusing, just think about outer and inner pieces. If you only pick up pieces from the center (near the main strand), they'll get covered up later with strands from the outside. Then, tie one side up with a hair tie so it's not in your way while you're braiding the other side. It does, however, take more time to French braid than to do a standard braid. You may want to use the long end of a rat tail comb to make a clean part. French braids look stylish in just about any atmosphere. If youd like to keep your braids dry, use a shower cap to prevent water from touching them. This article has been viewed 1,157,117 times. 2. Use a comb to create a smooth middle part. Make sure that you are pulling your hair tightly throughout the entire braiding process. They distribute hair weight evenly along your scalp and reduce friction on your hair. "If the ends of your hair are stick straight, they will be more likely to poke out," she explains. Begin the same way that you would a normal braid: Cross the right piece over the middle, then the left. "Once the desired texture is achieved, make sure the ends are detangled to avoid breakage," instructs Groover. Because these are GIFs and are step-by-step, you can re-watch the same step for as long as you need it. Then switch hands and rest the other arm. Pick up a small section of hair on the right and add it to the right strand by sliding it between your thumb and index finger to add to the braid. Congrats! Step One: Prep Your Hair Before you start braiding, you need to prep your hair. Now its time to learn how to French braid your hair! Prepare Sections of Hair. Separate hair at the crown of the head into three equal sections. Repeat this 2-3 times. Keep them separate. However, if youre loyal to your hair washing schedule, use dry shampoo, like Dove Refresh+Care Volume and Fullness Dry Shampoo. Although many people assume French braiding your own hair is challenging, it is easier than you might think. Tochterman advises to grab a brush and bungee. She has a BA in Business Management from the California State University - East Bay and she received her Cosmetology License specializing in Hair Styling and Hair Design from the Fremont Beauty College. I'm Athena, your personal Hair Assistant. The initial chunk of hair will not affect how full your French braid will be, so start with a small 3-4 section of hair for best results. 6. You simply divide hair into two sidesone on each side of your hair, then follow the steps above, one side at a time. For example, you may want to tie off your braid just below the nape of your neck, depending on how long your hair is. Separate it into 3 equal parts and perform a braid. The Duchess of York casts "no judgment" toward her nephew. Choose a tight clip or tie to hold the braid. If you havent tried French braiding yet, you may want to give it a try. I couldn't do any French braids before, and I can do them now. Editors tip: For a more textured look, we love using a light-hold hairspray like TRESemm Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Texture Hold Level 1. Finally, mist a little hairspray over the whole look for a more secure hold, or let it hang loose and free. In your left hand, hold each strand between your fingers, with the pinky holding the left strand, the middle finger holding the middle strand, and your index finger holding the right strand. Freshly-washed hair will be harder to braid. You can create two separate braids, or you can combine the braids at the bottom to make one big braid. Anyone whos ever rocked two French braids will agree when we say theyre pretty much the superwoman of hairstyles. Thanks! She specializes in creating SEO and e-commerce content across a range of lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. If you'd like, you can tuck the ends of each braid under the opposite braid to create a hair "crown." You may need to rest your arms sometimes while you braid. Brush Hair: Smooth out any knots or tangles. But taking matters into your own hands (quite literally) and learning to French-braid your own hair definitely takes practice and patience. If you left out bangs, style them as you usually would. When using a mirror, youre looking at a backward image. HelloGiggles.com is part of the Dotdash Meredith Beauty & Style Group. Continue down your scalp. Yellow is going over red. Tips: Avoid securing your braid with a rubber band. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Beautiful, with long, red-haired hairy girl, hairdresser weaves a French braid, close-up in a beauty salon. Thank you, wikiHow. Continue doing this all the way down your head. Follow These Steps to Create a Sleek Long Ponytail, 8 Easy Summer Hairstyles to Recreate If You Have Long Hair, 8 of the Most Beautiful Protective Styles to Try Year Round, The 10 Best Curly Hair Products To Create a Full, Frizz-Free Routine, The Best Hot Air Brushes for a Smooth, Shiny At-Home Blowout, These Dyson Airwrap Attachments Make All the Difference, Easy Hairstyles You Can Create on Every Natural Hair Texture, How To Create a Halo Braid on Natural Hair, How to Re-Twist Your Own Locs, According to Expert Locticians, How to Master the Big, Bouncy '90s Blowout, How to Air-Dry Your Hair No Matter Your Texture, The Best Braided Hairstyles for Thin Natural Hair, The Best Hot Oil Treatments You Didn't Know Your Natural Hair Needed, OGX Silk Blowout Quick Drying Thermal Spray. Repeat right side and left side until you run out of hair to add into the braid. When you're finished, secure the end of the braid with a hair tie and let down your other section of hair. I give my whole head a good, thorough brush with my Tangle Teezer before taking a fine-tooth comb and running it horizontally down the back of my head. If you have short layers, Metz suggests curling the end of your layers before you start the braiding process. When your hair is in braids, it can protect it from the sun and outdoor pollution. Set yourself in front of a mirror, grab a brush and a comb, and learn this timeless hairstyle. After youve crossed one strip of hair over another strip of hair, youll transfer all the sections to the same fingers on the other hand to keep the flow going. Those with coarse or thicker hair might want to apply a dab ofleave-in conditioner throughout their hair to add a dose of moisture and keep the braids from frizzing. You need to remember to start the braid high on your head and secure it with bobby pins as you go. Your French braid will last all day (or even days!). This is what will give your French braid that woven look. Braiding is hard work! It will just make the biggest tangle ever. French braiding is a hair-styling technique that is quite similar to a standard braid; the only difference is adding hair to the sections as you go. Vanessa has over 10 years of experience in styling hair. However, smaller pieces typically look better in the end result. % of people told us that this article helped them. French braids are classic. Tochterman advises to grab a brush and bungee. Danielle James is a New York-based journalist who covers all things fashion, beauty, and celebrity. Step Three: Braiding. "It's the perfect prep for all hair types." Luckily, we will give you plenty of tips for French braiding your own hair so you can start styling it. Practice makes perfect, and the best way to get good at French braiding your own hair is to do it over and over again. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b4\/Do-Double-French-Braids-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Do-Double-French-Braids-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b4\/Do-Double-French-Braids-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/aid696227-v4-728px-Do-Double-French-Braids-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"