Amy Of All Trades

Hair How To: How to French Braid (for dummies)

by 5 Comments

I started cosmetology school with no idea how to french braid. I was in school to learn to do hair, and didn’t know how to do even one of the most basic styles- the french braid.

The day came quickly that my ineptitude was on display. My instructor watched me struggle and fumble and graciously threw me a bone. She showed me how to hold the strands in my hands to keep everything straight and see clearly which strand to add the hair to, which strands to cross, and how to keep everything neat and tidy.

It was seriously life changing. I went from being completely inept at braiding to a braiding ninja. I can do any braid. My braids are secure, smooth, and stay put. And yours can be to!

This braiding tutorial is for people who swear they can’t french braid. If your fingers get confused, your arms get tired, and you can’t remember what is crossing where, this is for you!

How to French Braid: Video Tutorial

How to Dutch Braid: Step-by-step

1. Start with your section of hair. Create the section in the direction you want to braid. Practice on the side of your head, where you can see your fingers, or on someone else!
2. Separate your section into 3 equal strands.
3. Cross the middle section over the front outside section. Yellow is going over red
4. That front outside section is moving all of the way to back. So middle section to the front, front outside section to the back, back outside section is the middle. Hold the new outside back section (red) between your thumb and pointer fingers.
5. Rotate your hand under, scooping up the middle (green) and outside (yellow) sections between each of your fingers. Smooth these sections so they are distinct and tangle-free.
6. Add hair to the outside front section (yellow). Add hair at the same height that you will be making the braid and then hold between your fingers with the original strand.
7. Use your opposite hand to hook the middle strand (green).
8. Pull the middle section (green) over the previous outside section that you just added hair to.
9. Hold the outside strand (green) between your pointer finger and thumb, leaving the other two strands between your other fingers.
10. Flip your hand under, and place the other two strands between your fingers.
12. We are always alternating between adding hair to each outside section. So now we are adding hair to the back outside section (red). Add hair and place between fingers with original outside strand (red).
13. Hook the middle section (yellow) with your finger.
14. Pull the middle section (yellow) over the outside section where you just added hair (red).
15. Grab the new outside section (yellow) with your thumb and pointer finger of your other hand.
16. Rotate your hand under and place the strands, in order, between your fingers.
17. Now we are adding hair to the opposite outside section (green). Place the added hair between your finger with the original section (green).
18. Use your finger to hook the middle section (red) and pull over the outside section you just added to (green).

Then you just continue on down! You are adding hair to one side, plucking out the middle section and pulling over the section to just added to, placing all of the sections neatly between the fingers of your other hand, and then repeating the whole thing on the opposite outside section.

French Braiding Tips

  • If you want a braid that will stay put and be very tight, use slightly damp hair.
  • Keep your hand as close as possible to the head as you braid, to keep the braid tight and secure.
  • Add hair at the same height you are forming the braid. If you grab from above or below, it creates weird diagonal lines and lumps and bumps.
  • Keep your sections smooth and tangle-free.
  • Practice, practice, practice! Get the technique down on someone else, then practice on yourself with a front braid along your part so you can see your hands.

You got this! And once you do, then you can try out this double braid top knot, or a mohawk french braid, or a simple lace braid .

And if french braiding is still way too overwhelming for you, anyone can master this rope braid.

Happy Braiding!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Samantha Oehlschlager

    Thank you so much for this tutorial!! Completely made a difference. I was always getting messed up when I tried to french braid. I never knew how to hold the strands. I perfectly french braided my daughter’s hair into pigtail french braids today for the first time ever.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *