How To French Braid – Tutorial

Not just a cute hairstyle for little girls, french braids are a great way for anyone to keep their hair up and out of the way. To french braid your hair, divide the chosen section into three equal sized strands, then begin braiding as you would a normal three strand braid: take the section from the right and cross it over to the middle of the braid, then pick up the left piece and cross it over the middle of the braid. Once you’ve completed one full stitch, cross the right section over to the middle again, but this time pick up and add some loose hair to the braid. Do the same with the left section, and repeat this process until you run out of hair. The size of the pieces of hair you use will determine how thick your braid is. Using thinner pieces will create an intricate braid that takes a little longer, while larger pieces make for an easier, chunky looking style. Check out our favorite french braided styles!

The french braid is a classic hairstyle that you’ll need at least shoulder length hair to pull off. Begin braiding at the top of the head, and add even sections of hair into the braid to complete the timeless look. For new braiders, it can be hard to work at the back of your head, and you might need some practice before pulling this off on your own.

Pick up a wide section of hair at your hairline starting from around the temples, and being the french braiding technique, adding large sections of hair as you go. Once you’ve reached the back of the head, pick up any loose hair left below the braid, and tie everything into a ponytail. For a nice final touch, wrap the base of your ponytail with a loose piece of hair to conceal the elastic.

We tend to think of braids as a style meant for longer hair, but they’re a perfect addition to bob length styles, and especially good for keeping face framing hair securely in place. To get this look, part your bob to one side, and braid a fairly thick french braid down each side, pinning behind the ears.

These twin french braids are tightly executed, and are all over social media right now. To make your braids pop when viewed from any angle, position them closer to your ears than the centre of your head.

This style puts a twist on the classic french braid, beginning around the left temple and ending on the right side of the head. Use the exact same technique as a classic french braid, but gently angle the braid from one side to the other.

Begin your french braid at one side of the head, and wrap down and back up around as you continue braiding, creating a wreath shape. Once you’ve reached the back of your head on the opposite side from where you started, secure hair with an elastic, then pin hair in your favorite messy bun.

This version of the classic french braid pulls hair loosely backwards, beginning the braid at the back of the head rather than on top. For women with long, thick hair, the end result oozes casual romance.

An example of a more intricate french braid, this skinny french braid is created by beginning with smaller sections of hair, and picking up equally small sections as you braid.

This double braided style is one of the trendiest ways for women to wear their long hair, and is a great way to show off highlights or layered color styles. Be sure to keep hair taut when braiding near the nape of the neck to avoid bubbling or loose, uneven looking braids.

If you don’t feel like braiding your whole head, this style is a quick option that will keep hair out of your face, and looks prettier than a basic half-up ponytail.  

Once you’ve got a handle on french braiding, this elegant updo makes for an incredibly easy way to dress up shorter hair. Simply divide hair in half, creating a french braid on each side of the head, and pin any trailing hair to the back of your head.

The classic french braid’s carefree sister, you can get this look by loosely adding pieces to your french braid instead of pulling them taut. Don’t be afraid to let a few loose tendrils escape from the braid, and finish with a deliberately messy technique, wrapping a few loose pieces around your braid.

French braids are a great way to frame your undercut style while adding a feminine touch to a haircut that can be more challenging to dress up.

Half french braid and half cute pigtails, this style is the perfect mix between a childhood favorite and trendy look that’ll have you taking selfies all day.