5 Braiding Tutorials that Will Take You from Hapless to Happy
I love -- repeat, love -- braided hairstyles. They're beyond perfect for the warmer weather, they keep your hair out of your face and off of your neck, and they look ridiculously chic and hip without coming across like you're trying too hard. But most importantly, they're just so darn pretty!
Related: 10 New Ways to Wear a Bun
When I see celebrities like Jessica Alba and Sienna Miller with braids or when I spy photos of impossibly creative creations on Pinterest, I immediately want to do them on myself. The hitch? I'm hands down the least coordinated person on God's green earth. I'm lucky if I can muster regular Half Pint Ingalls braids, let alone a milkmaid or halo or cascading waterfall.
Luckily for me and all the other uncoordinated buffoons out there, we live in a time when those who can do things are only too happy to share (showoffs!) their prowess in a public forum. And, thanks to sites like YouTube, the braid-challenged among us can watch (and re-watch over and over and over again) and learn.
So if like me you need all the help you can get when it comes to copycatting that to-die-for braid you've been drooling over, one of these 5 awesome tutorials should help render you less hopeless in no time.
The waterfall braid is one of the prettiest looks, and also one of the most simple to do. Don't believe me? Take LetsMakeitUp's word for it. Her video tutorial breaks it down so you can see exactly where each section of hair goes to create the cascading effect. She also shows you two different ways to finish off the braid. Click here to watch the video tutorial.
Bonus tip: When you pick up the new section of hair from the bottom, make sure to keep the width of the sections uniform so the braid looks even. And keep your fingers light. You don't want to pull your hair too tightly as you braid; the goal is to get it to look casual and loose.
After hours of practice on all the girls at summer camp, I can do a French braid in my sleep. If you're the same way and you're looking for a new challenge, try this five-section braid. (Don't know how to French braid? Totally understandable. Check out this easy video tutorial for the best tips.) As a beauty bonus for my thin-haired ladies, the basket-weave makes even the limpest hair look thick and gorgeous. Click here to watch the video tutorial.
Bonus tip: Since there are five instead of three sections of hair to keep track of, repeat the steps "over" and "under" to yourself as you braid. Remember, there should always be a section of hair in the middle and two sections of hair on either side.
The Dutch braid is eye-catching because it sits on top of your hair. While it looks uber-difficult, it's actually deceptively easy to do. The Dutch is simply a reverse French braid. You do it by braiding the sections from the inside out, instead of going outside in. Sounds more complicated in writing, which is why you should check out this video tutorial from justbebexo. She shows you how to create a half Dutch braid, which is when you only pick up hair from one side of your braid, then turns it into a headband. Brilliant. Click here to watch the video tutorial.
Bonus tip: If your fingers are confused by the reverse braiding, try not to look at her fingers in the video, but rather where each section of hair is going instead.
Though the fishtail (or herringbone) braid looks unconventional without the three distinct sections of a regular braid, it's actually much easier to do since you only need to work with two sections of hair. TheBeautyDept's video tutorial gives you clear step-by-step directions, and the queen of braids, Lauren Conrad illustrates each step for you. Click here to watch the video tutorial.
Bonus tip: Since you have to separate your hair into different sections constantly, make sure your hair is well brushed before starting.
Now that you've learned how to braid your hair into a French braid and a fishtail, why not combine the two into a whole new look? Iampurrfect shares exactly how to do a French fishtail braid, which primarily requires you to start with a small section of hair at the top of your head and add as you go, instead of dividing all your hair into two sections at the start. Sounds confusing, I know, but watch this video and it'll be super-clear. Trust me. Click here to watch the video tutorial.
Bonus tip: When you're French fishtail braiding, you might find it more difficult to keep your hair from slipping. Try using your thumb to pin down your hair whenever you cross a section over to the other side.
For three more amazing braiding video tutorials, click here.
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