I’m a beauty editor, but when it comes to my hair, I like to keep things as simple as possible. Sure I write about hair trends all the time but me personally, I’m all about those low maintenance hairstyles I can recreate in a matter of minutes. Yes. I love the look of simple beachy waves or a slicked back bun (especially between hair wash days).
So when my colleague asked me if I knew how to do a French braid, I said hell no. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a super chic hairstyle and I’m a big fan of it, but I was convinced it would be way too complicated for me to do myself. But I decided to consult an expert so I could tell my colleague how to french braid hair and it turns out to be much easier than I thought.
What Is a French Braid?
Before we get into how to do this hairstyle, you may be wondering, what is a French braid and how is it different from your standard braid?
Braids are ancient, being prominent in ancient cultures, most notably in Africa, thousands of years BC. The French braid (a term thought to have been coined in the late 1800s) represents a very particular style. “A French braid is a braid across the scalp, then through the mid and ends,” top hairstylist Abigail Constanza explains. It’s done inside out so it’s flat to the head, not like the braids on just the mid lengths and ends, which hang loose.
How To Braid Hair French
Now for how to do this style. I’ve included all of Constanza’s top tips below (and I’ve even tried it out myself so you can follow along).
1. Hair Part
First, section off your hair in place. “Pick three sections of hair that you want the braid to start at,” Constanza says. How thick you want your French braid to be, determines the thickness of each section. So this is totally up to you.
2. Halve Each Section
Then, cut each section in the middle as you would a normal braid. You only want to do this at the very top section of the hair as you will want to move onto step three.
3. Add More Hair to Braid
Once you cross each section into the middle it is time to start feeding more hair into the braid. “Every time you go into the middle, take more hair from the outside of the braid,” says Constanza. Repeat this step until your braid is at the length you want.
4. Lock in Place
This step is pretty self-explanatory, but once you’ve got your braid done, you’ll want to secure it in place with a hairband and some hairspray.
More French Braid Inspirations
So sophisticated.
(Image credit: @lauraharrier)
This braid on Laura Haririer has been made in the same style as a French braid but outwards so that it does not sit flat to the head.
