Hairstyling Secrets: French Braiding Techniques

The French Braid is a wonderful hair style for people who have medium to long hair. This is a style that will keep your hair out of you face similar to a pony tail but it much more esthetically pleasing. The French Braid is a great every day style and can be dresses up with ribbon or flowers for special occasions. Many people come up to me and compliment my braiding skills each time I choose to sport this style. The braid itself is actually very easy to master with a little bit of practice.

When I first learned to braid I could not practice on a person. My sister has a very sensitive scalp and so each time I would try to practice on her she would squirm and complain that I was hurting her. (Being about ten when I first learned to braid hurting my little sister’s head was of little consequence to me.) I therefore took to learning to French Braid on a Barbie. Barbie has the softest hair you will find and she will never complain if you turn her hair into knots of if you accidently pull out a chunk of hair when braiding. I suggest to everyone who would like to learn to French Braid to go out and get a Barbie.

When you begin the braid you want to start at the top of the hairline. Take a section of hair that is about two inches wide and separate it into three sections. Begin the braid as you would normally do in a non-French Braid style. When you have gone through the set up of the left piece over the center, right piece over the left and center coming from under the left and over the right you are ready to begin adding hair. The addition of hair from the sides of the head each time you put one piece over the other builds the woven look down the braid.

You will reach for what has now become the right strand of hair and while doing so hold it in your left hand but do not braid it into the other strands yet. Take your right hand and with either your pointer finger or pinky finger draw a line through your hair about half an inch down from the original bunch of hair you used to get the braid going. Add that new strand of hair you have pulled from the side of the head to the strand of hair in your left hand that you have been braiding with. Repeat this step on the other side of the head and alternately down the head until the braid is finished. When you are done you will need to secure the end of the braid with a ponytail holder.

When you feel comfortable enough on Barbie you should begin to practice on your self. Set up two mirrors, one in front of you and one behind, so you can see what you are doing. You are French Braiding on your head the exact same way you are braiding on Barbie. Take your time and practice the braid. Once you have become a master of the French Braid you can then begin other variations such as: turning the braid inside out, two or more braids on the head, tucking the end of the braid under the rest of the hair, upside down braiding or zig zagging the braid.