How to Do French Braids

French braids are one of those hairstyles that look incredibly complicated, but are actually surprisingly simple. When you look into a French braids tutorial, you’ll find that French braids are actually a style that you can do as long as you know how to braid in general. The French braid is only a little bit more complicated than a normal braid. Here’s how to do it.

1. Comb and Part

The first step is to comb the hair, then divide it into parts. If you’re looking to do two braids, you’ll do a middle part to perfectly divide the different sections. French braids work best on hair that’s been unwashed for at least 2-3 days, as it’ll allow the hair to hold the braid a little bit better; freshly-washed hair may not work as well.

2. Gather Three Sections

To start the braid, you’re going to gather three sections of hair from the very front. These sections can actually be fairly small; the braid will start small, then grow and get much larger toward the back of the head. Just make sure the three sections are all the same size for the best results.

3. Braid Down to the Nape of the Neck

Next, you’re going to do the actual braiding part. French braids work exactly like normal braids, except for one key difference; every so often, you’re going to add more hair into the braid. Typically, people add more hair on each side either every plait or every other plait. Decide on a pattern and stick to it so that it looks as uniform as possible.

4. Finish the Braid in the Desired Style

Once you’ve gotten all the hair into the braid, you should be at the nape of the neck, where the braid will leave the head and continue with just the hair. Now, you have to choose whether you want to finish the braid in a very tight manner or if you want to make it a bit looser. Either way, you should finish the braid all the way to the bottom of the hair, then secure it with a hair tie.

5. Secure With Styling Gel

The last step is to secure your French braids with styling gel. Styling gel allows the braid to look sleek and beautiful, but it also allows you to make sure there aren’t any flyaways or general inconsistencies. Just take a small amount of styling gel onto your fingers, then smooth the gel across the braid from top to bottom.

Conclusion

French braids are an elegant style that’s truly timeless. These braids are at home on the tennis court or at a high-profile event, and if you know how to do them, you’ll be able to help them transition from one to the other. If you’re interested in upgrading your hairstyling opportunities a little bit, you’ll want to learn how to do French braids, because it’s fairly easy but it’s also a style that’s incredibly impressive.