Beauty
Author:
March 09, 2021
Former Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
By Jamie Schneider
Former Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
Jamie Schneider is the former Senior Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in Coveteur, The Chill Times, and Wyld Skincare.
The takeaway. March 09, 2021 We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links. Of all the at-home hairstyling ventures (trimming, blow-drying, and the like), braiding your own hair can be especially tough to conquer. Not only does it take utter precision and dexterity to keep the braids snug and even, but depending on the look you're trying to achieve, you might need to view your head at different angles—without eyes in the back of your skull (or, you know, handheld mirror skills), this makes things difficult. No fear: Ahead, you'll find expert tutorials for a variety of braids, with tips to help keep them immaculate. 1. Image by mindbodygreen The three-strand braid is exactly how it sounds: You're weaving three strands together to create the plait. Here's a tutorial from hairstylistFaith Huffnagle, director of education atProse: 2. Image by mindbodygreen A fishtail braid resembles the skeleton of a fish's tail—hence, the moniker. And unlike the three-strand braid, you'll separate the hair into two sections only. Follow the below: Image by mindbodygreen For box braids, you'll need braiding hair (celebrity hairstylistAnnagjid "Kee" Taylor recommends kanekalon braiding hair, like this option, as it lasts longer on natural hair and appears less wiry). "You need a good slick gel," she adds, to provide hold and lay down flyaways. Finally, you may want an additional hand mirror: Says Michelle O'Connor, texture specialist and artistic director atMatrix, "The idea of box braids is to have your hair sectioned in mini box-shaped partings; therefore, doing them on yourself will require seeing your head from all angles." You won't need any rubber bands for this tutorial, as Taylor recommends skipping them if you can: "Rubber bands can cause breakage and will pop really fast," she says, especially if they're too tight on the delicate strands. When you're ready, follow these steps: 4. Image by mindbodygreen Typically, twists are worn for a few days, then unraveled to reveal the impression (called a twist-out). "Doing them on damp hair will create a stronger impression in the hair," says O'Connor, as will twisting smaller sections of hair. 5. Image by mindbodygreen Flat twists are very similar to two-strand twists—they're just flatter on the scalp and typically yield less volume. You're still twisting two strands of hair together, but you're feeding in more hair from the scalp as you go along (that's what helps the twists lie flat). "Essentially like a cornrow," says Taylor, but you're using two strands instead of three. 6. Image by mindbodygreen You can always create two plaits if you so choose, but for the sake of this article, we'll explain how to do one French braid down the back of your hair: 7. Image by mindbodygreen Think of a Dutch braid as an inverted French braid (in fact, some people call this style the "reverse braid"), since you're weaving the hair underneath the sections, as opposed to over. Otherwise, as Huffnagle shares in her tutorial below, it's pretty similar to a French: 8. Image by mindbodygreen "If you're familiar with the Dutch braid, the process for cornrows is somewhat similar," says Taylor, as you're crossing underneath sections to achieve a raised style. The main difference is, cornrows are woven tightly and closer to the scalp, while Dutch braids are typically looser. "If you're new to this, I'd recommend sticking with the traditional cornrow style, which runs from the front of the scalp back in a straight line," Taylor adds. "Once you're comfortable with that, you can start to play with designs and be more creative."Three-strand braid
Fishtail braid
Two-strand twists
Flat twists
French braid
Dutch braid
Cornrows
Braiding best practices.
Here, you'll find tips for both prep and aftercare:
- Stay consistent with your parting sizes: By creating even sections throughout, you'll ensure the braids stay the same size.
- Always detangle before braiding: To avoid snarls and breakage, you'll want to make sure your hair is properly detangled. "On natural hair, you also may need to detangle the hair as you braid," says Taylor.
- For straighter textures, Day 2 hair is best: Huffnagle says you may want to avoid freshly washed hair if you have a straighter hair texture. "Aim to braid on Day 2 or 3 hair for longer-lasting results," she notes. Or, you can apply pomades or pastes to add some grip to freshly washed strands.
- For curlier and kinkier textures, freshly washed hair is best: Since you should always detangle your hair before braiding, those with curls will want to braid on hair that's freshly washed (since you typically detangle curls when they're wet). And if you're creating a twist-out on natural hair, you may even want to start when the hair is damp to achieve more definition.
- Keep the hair and scalp moisturized: "If you've braided your hair and intend to keep these in for a couple of weeks, you'll still want to maintain a cleansing and hydration routine," says O’Connor. Witch hazel makes a great cleansing option (if your skin can tolerate it), and coconut oil and jojoba oil are stellar hair hydrators.
- Protect them while you sleep: "Prolong the life of braids or twists by keeping them neater," O'Connor adds. She notes wrapping the hair in a scarf, sleeping in a bonnet, or sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase can help you avoid friction on the hair.
The takeaway.
Braiding your own hair takes a bit of skill, but it's not impossible to expertly style them at home. Read up on these tutorials, but the best way to learn is to attempt on your own hair. As experts will tell you: Practice and patience are key.