How to Braid Your Hair Yourself

Braiding your hair is an excellent way to add an interesting detail to your look, especially when you're pressed for time. You'll need to practice to get smooth and even braids. Additionally, you can experiment with different braiding techniques. Take some time to learn how to braid your hair with the three popular styles shared in this article.

Brush your hair. This helps ensure smooth, neat braids.

• Use a round or long comb to brush your hair evenly. A round comb will make your hair smoother.
• Brushing your hair before braiding prevents tangling during the process.
• Avoid braiding your hair while it’s wet. Wet hair can puff up as it dries, causing it to break within the braid.
• Don’t use too many hair products before braiding, but dry shampoo can help hold the shape if needed.
• Dry shampoo can be helpful if you struggle to maintain the style. Clean, dry hair tends to be slippery and harder to hold, so dry shampoo adds texture to help secure the braid.

Decide where you want your braid to start. Before braiding your hair, you need to decide where the braid will be positioned. The placement of the braid can vary depending on your outfit or the event you're attending. For example, you can create a convenient, natural, or elegant braid depending on where you want to position it.

• To braid on one side, move your hair to the left or right. Brush all your hair to the side you choose, ensuring there are no tangles. This creates a neat, graceful look, perfect for a night out or office fashion.
• Practicing with a side braid is a great way for beginners. It’s easier to see and control the braid.
• You can braid your hair at the back of your head by gathering it low. This results in a classic, elegant braid that looks natural and graceful.
• You could also gather your hair into a ponytail at the center or top of your head. This will secure the braid and create a simple, natural style.

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

• Keep one section of hair in your left hand, one in the center, and one in your right hand.
• Hold the left section with your index finger and thumb.
• Hold the right section with your index finger and thumb.
• Let the center section fall freely.

Start braiding your hair. Begin the braid by crossing the right section over the center section.

• Hold the right section with your left hand’s index and middle fingers after crossing it over the center section.
• Hold the center section with your left hand’s index and thumb.
• Pull the hair from both hands to keep the braid tight. This will ensure an even braid without gaps.
• If you have long hair, you can use your fingers to comb through the length to avoid tangles as you braid.

Continue braiding the remaining hair. Now, rotate your left wrist to cross the left section over the new center section.

• Hold the left section with your left index and middle fingers after crossing it over the new center section.
• Secure the center section with your left index and thumb.
• Pull tightly on the hair from both hands to ensure an even and secure braid as you continue.

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

• Cross the right section over the center, then cross the left section over the center, continuing this pattern until you braid the entire length of hair.
• Remember to pull tightly as you braid.
• If your braid becomes too long to continue at the back of your head, you can pull the hair over your shoulder and continue braiding the front section.
• Secure the end of the braid with an elastic band. Make sure the braid is tightly secured—if the elastic is too loose, sections of the braid may unravel.

Brush your hair to make it smooth. This will ensure an even and neat braid. Additionally, it helps reduce tangling while braiding.

• It will be difficult to divide your hair into sections if it's tangled.
• Smooth hair is easier to braid and avoids creating a messy hairstyle.
• Note: Don’t braid your hair when it’s wet or use too many hair products. If your hair keeps slipping out of the braid, try applying a little dry shampoo.

Take a section of hair from the front, near your forehead, right above your crown. Use a fine-toothed comb or a rat-tail comb to separate the section above your crown.

• A French braid is often more complex than a traditional braid because you begin braiding from the top of your head and add hair as you go.
• The first section of hair will be taken from the temple to just above your crown.
• You can also separate this section by pulling the hair from both sides behind your head from the temple using your thumb.
• Brush the hair from front to back until it’s smooth.

Separate the hair at the crown to begin braiding. Divide your hair into three sections, keeping the hair high on your crown.

• Hold one section in one hand and the other two in the other hand, separating them using your index fingers.
• It’s usually more effective to keep two sections in your left hand and one in your right.
• Ensure you hold all three sections tightly.

Start braiding your hair. First, cross the right section over the middle section.

• Next, cross the left section over the middle section, just as you would with a traditional braid.
• This is the first step in your braid, and you should start from the highest point of your crown, so the braid appears like a traditional one.
• Pull tightly on the sections to ensure the braid is even and not too loose.

Continue braiding the right section of your hair. Start by taking a small section of hair and adding it to the right part of the braid.

• Take a small section of hair from the right side.
• Add this section of hair to the part you're holding in your right hand, then cross the right section over to the middle.
• Pull the hair tightly to ensure the braid is even and tight throughout.

Continue braiding the left section of your hair. This step is similar to braiding the right side.

• Take a small section of hair from the left side.
• Add this section of hair to the part you're holding in your left hand.
• Cross the left section over to the middle section.

Alternate between the left and right sections. Continue adding hair to the main sections before braiding.

• This technique will gather the outer sections while braiding, creating a seamless braid.
• Make sure the sections on both sides are equal. This will ensure the braid is straight and even.
• The braid should be positioned at the center of your head, from the crown down to the nape.
• If you have long hair, use your fingers to smooth each section to prevent tangles while braiding.

Finish the braid. Once all the outside sections have been added to the main braid, proceed with a traditional braid.

• Once you've finished braiding, secure it with a hair tie.
• If you have long hair, you may need to move the hair over your shoulder to continue braiding to the end.
• Try the French braid style with a twist. You can braid two smaller sections separately, adding more hair to each side as you go.
• You can also braid along the part of your hair. This is a variation of the French braid with bangs.

Brush your hair smooth. This helps eliminate tangles and makes braiding easier.

• This braid is easier to execute with longer hair. If you have short hair, you can consider using extensions to make braiding simpler.
• Make sure your hair is not tangled or knotted before starting the braid.
• Use a paddle brush or a fine-toothed comb to detangle your hair during this step.
• When learning this braid for the first time, a side fishbone braid is easier than one done at the back of the head. Braiding multiple layers of hair may be tricky at the back if you're unfamiliar with the process.

Divide your hair into two sections. Use a fine-tooth comb to part your hair vertically down the middle of your head.

• Ensure the two sections of hair are equal for an even braid.
• If needed, you can comb each section to ensure it’s tangle-free and divided equally.
• This braid style differs from traditional braids and the French braid, which typically uses three main sections.

Start braiding your hair. Take small sections of hair, around 1.2 cm thick, from the outer sides of each half of your hair.

• Start by taking a small section from the front outermost part of the right side.
• Use your index finger to separate this small section from the larger right part.
• Move the small section from the right and combine it with the left side section.

Repeat the process on the left side. You’ll need to hold the left sections with your left hand and the right sections with your right hand.

• Once all small sections from the outer edges have been combined, continue braiding the two main sections beneath.
• This braid is more complicated than other types. Take your time and be careful not to let the small sections slip out of the braid.
• The fishbone braid differs from other braids because you only work with two main sections and add a third section as you braid, unlike traditional braids that maintain three fixed sections throughout the process.
• For a more intricate fishbone braid, you can take smaller sections of hair.

Continue braiding as follows. Alternate sides as you braid.

• Bring a small section of hair from the outermost part of the right side, closest to your face, to the center.
• Combine this small section with the larger hair section in your left hand.
• Next, bring a small section from the outermost part of the left side to the center.
• Combine this small section with the larger hair section in your right hand.
• Make sure to pull the sections tightly to create a neat and firm braid.
• Repeat this process until you finish braiding your hair.

Secure the braid with a hair tie. You can use a small, clear elastic band or a wider, colorful band if you prefer.

• Once you've completed the braid, you can style it by gently pulling the sections outward to make it appear fuller.
• Be careful during this step as it may loosen some parts of the braid and cause strands to fall out.
• For a more relaxed, tousled look, gently slide your fingers into the braid and pull a few strands to create a wispy effect.