How to Braid Hair: 4 Ways
A braid is the base of many hairstyles, it’s a convenient way to keep your hair pulled back and if you make a French braid overnight, it’s also a styling method, because in the morning your hair will have beautiful waves.
5-Minute Crafts has made a detailed manual on how to do 4 types of braids including box braids with kanekalon.
How to braid hair
1. Comb your hair well. If desired, you can collect or not collect the hair into a ponytail.
2. Divide all the hair into 3 equal sections.
3. Place the right section between the left and the center one, by putting it over the top.
4. You have 3 strands in your hands again. Now take the section on the left and also put it in the middle between the right and the central piece, over the top.
5. Repeat steps № 3 and № 4.
6. Continue braiding.
7. Tighten the braid as you go on.
8. Secure the braid with a ponytail holder.
9. Done!
How to do a French braid
1. Pick up a small section next to the forehead, like the photo above shows.
2. Divide it into 3 equal parts.
3. Start braiding a regular braid. Move the left section and the right section into the center ones. All sections have to go over the top.
4. Now, to each next section, add an additional section from the hairline. So, before you move the right into the center again, use a comb or fingers to separate some hair from the right side and connect it to the right section.
5. Now transfer the enlarged right section to the middle.
6. Pull your hair a little so that the hair falls into place.
7. During the process, add small strands to every ordinary section.
8. Continue to braid like this.
9. Finally, all of the hair should be braided.
10. Make sure that the hair from below does not sag. Weave them tightly into the braid.
11. Once all the hair is used, continue braiding the hair as usual.
12. Secure with a ponytail holder. Ready!
How to do a fishbone braid
1. Comb your hair well. You can choose to collect or not collect the hair into a ponytail.
2. Divide your hair into 2 equal sections.
3. Separate a small strand from the outer edge of the left section.
4. Bring this strand over the top to the center and join it to the right section.
5. Now separate the strand that is the same size from the outside of the right section.
6. Bring it over the top to the center and attach it to the left section.
7. You have 2 identical sections in your hands again.
8. Repeat step № 3. Try to separate strands that are the same volume each time so that the braid turns out to be even.
9. Repeat step № 4.
10. Repeat steps № 3, 4, 5, and 6.
11. After each repetition, tighten the braid.
12. Continue braiding.
13. If some strands do not fit perfectly, do not worry. Adjust them with your fingers while weaving.
14. Braid to the end.
15. Secure with a ponytail holder. Ready!
How to do “box” braids with kanekalon
1. Part your hair into 2 sections separated by the middle of your head. Tie back the part of the hair that you are not working with yet with an elastic band.
2. On the second part of the hair, tie a small ponytail with a small rubber band near the forehead, as shown in the photo.
3. Prepare the kanekalon strand. We recommend separating 2 equal strands at once for each braid. Pass the strand through the hairpin exactly in the middle.
4. The most important thing is to properly fix the kanekalon at the base of the braid. First, use your fingers or a comb to create a space in the small ponytail through which the kanekalon will be threaded. Start threading the hairpin through it, tips first. Do not snag the tied hair.
5. When the tips of the hairpin are threaded, begin to pull the kanekalon strand through the space in the ponytail until a loop forms, like in photo № 5.
6. Now remove the hairpin and thread one end of the kanekalon down, and leave the other end loose (see photo № 6).
7. Combine the kanekalon and hair tied with an elastic band into one strand. This will be the beginning of the braid. Now divide this entire strand into 3 equal parts, as shown in photo № 7.
8. Begin to weave a reverse French braid. It differs from the usual one in the way that each new hair section with a “pick-up” is not going over top, but instead goes under the braid. For each new section, add a strand of loose hair. (See instructions above on How to Do a French Braid.)
9. Continue braiding, pulling the hair and kanekalon tightly.
10. Make sure that you add equal strands of hair to the braid.
11. Complete the braid to the end and secure it with an elastic band.
12. Do the same for the second braid. Ready!
Attention: We corrected factual inaccuracies in this article in September 2021.