How to French Braid

The French braid is both beautiful and classic. Although its intricate weave may appear complicated, creating your own French braid is simple. Once you've gotten the basics of a traditional braid down, try a French or French lace braid on for size.

EditSteps

EditCreating a Classic French Braid

1. Brush your hair back, or part it if you are making two braids.^[1] Make sure that your hair is smooth, and tangle-free. For a single braid going down the back of your head, brush it back and away from your forehead. For two braids, part your hair down the middle. You will need to do this method two times—once for each side.
   
   • Consider braiding your hair when it is wet. This will give you soft, pretty waves when you take the braid(s) out later.
2. Gather a small chunk of hair at the top of your head.^[2] Try to make the chunk no wider than your hand. All the hair in this chunk should come from the same level. You don't want to grab strands from higher up or lower down.
   
   • If you have bangs, you can leave them loose or include them in the chunk. If they don't stay down, use a little hairspray or styling cream.
   • Don't worry if the section feels thin. The braid will grow thicker as you add more hair.
3. Separate the chunk into three, even strands, just like with a traditional braid. Hold the left and middle strands in your left hand. Keep the right strand in your right hand.
   
4. Start doing a traditional braid. Take the right strand and place it between the other two strands. Then, take the left strand and place it between the other two strands.
   
5. Gather a small section of hair from the right side of your head and add it to the right strand. Make an L-shape with your left hand, and scoop some hair from your hairline. The section you are taking shouldn't be thicker than your finger.
   
6. Pull the now-thicker right strand over so that it ends up between the left and middle strands. What used to be the middle strand will now be the right strand. What used to be the right strand is now the middle one.
   
7. Gather a small section of hair and add it to the left strand. Make an L shape with your hand and use that same scooping motion as you did for the other side.
   
8. Bring the left strand over so that it ends up between the middle and right strands.
   
9. Keep gathering small sections of hair and alternating sides until you reach the base of your head. You should have almost no more hair left to gather.
   
10. Gather the remaining hair into the left, right and middle strands. Pull all the loose hair on the left side of your head into the left strand. Pull all the loose hair on the right side of your head into the right strand. All the loose hair underneath the braid will go into the middle strand.
    
11. Continue doing a traditional braid.^[3] You won't need to gather any more hair, because all your hair should already be in the left, right, and middle strands. Keep braiding your hair until you have about an inch (2.54 centimeters) left.
    
12. Wrap a hair tie around the end of your braid. ^[4] You can also take a small strand from the bottom of your braid and wrap it around the hair tie to hide it; secure the strand with a bobby pin.
    
    • Avoid using rubber bands. They can break or tear your hair when you take them out.^[5]

EditCreating a French Lace Braid

1. Understand how a French lace braid works. This style is sometimes called the "half French braid" because it is similar to, but still different, from the classic French braid.^[6] In the French braid, you add hair from both sides of your head. In the French lace braid, you only add hair from one side of the braid.^[7] Because the new hair only comes in from one side, you have to make your lace braid across the side of your head, not the back of it.
   
2. Make sure your hair is tangle-free, and part it.^[8] You can part your hair right down the middle, or kist off to the side. It does not matter which side.
   
3. Grab a small section of hair from one side of the part. Try to grab it from as close to the part as you can.^[9] The larger section you grab, the thicker your braid will be. Most French lace braids start with a 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) thick section. If you want a delicate one, you can grab less hair.
   
4. Split this section into three smaller sections. Angle these sections downward so that your are next to your face. Don't pull them back towards the back of your head.^[10] You will end up with a top, middle, and bottom section.
   
5. Start with a traditional braid. Take the top section and bring it over between the left and middle sections. Then, take the left sections and cross it over so that it ends up between the other two sections.
   
6. Take a small strand of hair from above the braid and add it to the top section. You will only be adding new hair from above the braid to whatever is the current top strand.
   
7. Move the top section so that it ends up between the other two.
   
8. Move the bottom section up so it ends up between the middle and top sections. Do not add new hair to the bottom section.
   
9. Keep adding new hair to the top section as you continue to braid. It is just like French braiding, except that you are only adding hair to the top section, and not the bottom one.
   
10. Tie the braid off whenever you want. Once you reach your ear or the back of your head, you can wrap a hair tie around the braid, and let the strands fall naturally.
    
    • You can also take the top, middle, and bottom sections and finish braiding them in the traditional style until you have about an inch (2.54 centimeters) left of hair. Tie the braid off with a hair tie and let it drape down against your hair.
11. Consider doing a second French lace braid on the other side of your head. You can have the strands meet in the back of your head. At this point, you can pull them together into a ponytail and wrap a hair tie around them. You can also combine the tail ends of the French lace braids, and continue with a traditional braid until you have an inch (2.54 centimeters) left of hair. Wrap a hair tie around the braid and let it fall against the rest of your hair.
    

EditVideo

EditTips

• Add the same amount of hair each time, as changing the thickness can make the braid look lopsided. The thickness of sections also affects the style of the braid. Thin sections make a braid look more intricate, and thick sections make a braid look simpler.
• Consider standing with your back towards a mirror and having another mirror in front of you. This will allow you to see what you are doing.
• When you add more sections of hair, smooth them out with your hand or a comb so the braid isn't lumpy.
• Try to make it as tight and snug as possible. If you want a more casual look, you can massage it between your hands. Keep in mind that your braid will also loosen naturally throughout the day.
• This hairstyle is great for activities like dancing or cheerleading. Try to start the braid high on your head and secure it with bobby pins as you go.
• Always brush out tangles first.
• Try not to get your hair tangled, you may have to start over!
• Never forget hairspray! It gives a proper, settled look to your hair.
• Try adding a bow, hair clip, or flower to the bottom of the braid for a cute, chic look.
• Have a tiny elastic so it looks neat and clean.
• For casual or messy look, try massaging the braid between your hands. You could also tug loose a few strands of hair at the front of your head.
• Try to make sure you're braiding straight, or else the braid will look messy and lopsided!
• It's easier to do the braid when your hair is wet.
• Try finishing your hair into a bun or ponytail instead of completing the braid.
• Try using hair oil and water, a comb and several hair ties. You might want to wash your hair before. If you did it correctly, it will be twisted and braided neatly without hair sticking out.
• Consider making an upside-down lace French braid, where you grab hair from below the braid instead of above it. Just be sure you always grab hair from the bottom.

EditWarnings

• Be careful not to let go of your hair while French-braiding it, or you may have to start over!
• Your arms may get tired while braiding your hair. Bend forward to release tension or rest your arms on a surface behind you (ex. a headboard or backrest).

EditRelated wikiHows

• How to Make a Fishtail Braid
• How to Make a Rope Braid
• How to Make a Braid Using More Than Three Strands
• How to Make French Braid Pigtails
• How to Style 2 French Plaits
• How to Make a Braided Hairband Using Your Hair
• How to Do Different Braids
• How to Do a Reverse French Braid

EditSources and Citations

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