subject: How To French Braid Your Hair Perfectly The First Time [print this page] While many people may know how to braid hair, there are many of those people who cannot French braid. Some people can French braid their own hair, but not others. Take a look at these steps to learn how to French braid.
Things to Remember
Control the distance between your hands and the back of the head to control the tightness of the braid. The closer your hands are to the head, the tighter the braid will be and the longer it will last. The further your hands are away from the head, the looser the braid will be, and therefore it will not last as long.
Varying the width of the strands of hair you use to build the braid will alter the overall look of the braid. Play around using various widths consistently throughout a braid to see what you like best.
Starting the braid at the top of the head is the most common place to start, but you can start the braid anywhere on the head you want. Starting lower on the head will vary the look but it will also be less complex because there is less hair to braid before reaching the end of the hairline.
Step One: Combing or Brushing the Hair to Prepare it For Braiding
Before starting a braid, it is important that the hair be free of tangles. Comb or brush the hair to get all tangles and knots out of it before starting.
Step Two: Building the Braid
Choose your starting point and pull the hair into three sections, making sure they are smooth. Cross the right section over the middle. Cross the left section over the middle. Tighten the braid by pulling the hair away from the head.
Use the end of a comb to lift a section of hair from the right side of the head, drawing a line against the scalp to the hairline the center of the braid. Add the new section of hair to the section already on the right, crossing it over the middle and tightening the plait again.
Use the end of a comb to lift a section of hair from the left side of the head, drawing a line against the scalp to the hairline the center of the braid. Add the new section of hair to the section already on the left, crossing it over the middle and tightening the plait again.
Repeat these two steps until you reach the end of the hairline.
Step Three: Finishing the Braid and Look
When you reach the end of the hairline, secure the braid with the hair tie of your choice. Embellish the braid with your choice of accessories.
