How do you plait

Even the braids that are supposed to be "easy" whether spotted on celebrities or social media tutorials seem to require some sort of hair sorcery or superhuman hand strength. Sarah Potempa is here to help fix that. If you're not already familiar with Potempa, she's a celebrity hairstylist and founder of the Beachwaver , the famous self-curling iron.

She's also a braid expert. Potempa once completed a Days of Braids challenge in which she wore a different braid every single day for an entire year. If that's not proof of her talent and dedication, we don't know what is.

On that note, we asked Potempa to teach Glamour staffers her favorite techniques based on our hair length and textures. The levels of difficulty vary from a 1—something you probably mastered at summer camp—to a 5, meaning you've got your braid game on lock. Here she shares her best advice on how to braid hair—along with braid tutorials for short hair, fine hair, curly hair , and more.

Step 1: Brush out your hair and decide which side you want your braid, then split it into two even sections. Start by taking a small piece of hair from one side and bringing it over and adding it to the inside of the other side. Repeat on the other side, grabbing from the outside part of the section each time, and continue all the way down your braid.

Step 3: Continue all the way down your hair and secure with a hair tie. Step 4: Using the Beachwaver , curl any shorter layers or bangs. Step 5: If you have any longer layers that didn't make it into the fishtail, braid them into a three-strand braid, and tuck and pin it into the fishtail.

Editor tip: "The only braid I can confidently do is a standard three-strand, so even this simple braid felt like a challenge. I had a rough start at first, but once I stopped thinking so hard and just repeated Sarah's mantra, 'little piece here, over to the side,' in my head, it was easy to jet through the braid. Step 2: Create a Dutch braid by braiding the sections in a "left under, right under" pattern, weaving the left piece of hair under the center piece, then right piece under the center, grabbing and adding small sections of hair each time as you go.

Think of it like an inverse French braid. Step 3: Add hair from your roots as you continue down the back of your head. Secure with an elastic. Step 4: If any pieces from the bottom don't fit into the braid, simply clip them up toward the middle to make it look cohesive. Editor tip: "As a woman with short hair, I never really thought wearing braids was an option for me.

I do other stuff, like dye my hair purple, instead. Which, fun fact, this braid really brought the color out more than a traditional three-strand or French-braid style.

Step 1: Divide your hair into three sections by creating a clean part at the arch of each eyebrow. Clip all the hair on either side of the middle section away. Step 2: Brush out the middle section and prep it with Beachwaver Braid Balm to tame flyaways, and then starting at the back, Dutch-braid directions above the section toward your face.

Don't braid all the way down—stop when you get to your forehead. Step 3: Divide the unbraided hair into two sections, and clip one off to the side behind your ear. Braid the loose section by using a three-strand braid, and pin it behind your ear. Step 5: Prep the rest of your hair with the Braid Balm, and do a three-strand braid all your hair should be braided at this point.

Twist and pin the braid into a bun, either on the back or side of your head. Step 6: Make sure all pins are secure and hidden. Loosen the two braids in the front to create the cool peekaboo effect. Editor tip: "I'm not a super-strong braider, so I've always had someone else braid my hair for me. But how have I never considered braiding my own hair forward, and then creating a mini crown?

The small Dutch braid is tricky to get right, but after trying this at home a few times, I mastered it enough to add this braid to my weekly protective-style rotation. Step 2: Starting with the left side, take a handful of hair and separate it into three pieces.

Step 3: Following the Dutch-braid mantra, "left under, right under," adding small sections of hair as you go. Step 4: Continue braiding around your hairline and secure it at the top of your head. Step 5: On the right side, create a second Dutch braid following steps 2 through 4 above and wrap it around your head on the opposite side, making sure the two meet. Editor tip: "Figuring out the sectioning and what to put where was definitely a struggle for me.

But Sarah told me to keep repeating my 'braid mantra,' which is basically weaving directions, and that helped me find my groove.

From there, it was easy. Step 2: Taking the right section, separate your hair into three strands and create a Dutch braid remember "left under, right under" along your ear.

Have smooth hair for this hairstyle, so brush it out before you start. You might also want to spray on a bit of dry shampoo to remove any excess oils from your hair while you brush it.

Separate the top section of your hair. Using your hands or a hair pick, separate the top section of your hair from the top of the front hairline. Divide the hair into 3 even sections. Each section should be about 1 to 2 inches 2. Make the sections as even as possible. Cross over the left and right sections. Start by crossing the left section over the center and then cross the right section over the new center section.

Continue to alternate crossing the right section and left section over the center section, but pick up a small amount of new hair from beneath each of the side sections before each new crossover. Keep doing this until you have incorporated all of the hair into the braid. Continue with a 3-strand braid to the ends.

After all of the hair has been incorporated, finish the braid by continuing with a regular 3-strand braid all the way to the ends of the hair. Method 3. Start with smooth tangle-free hair. Brush or comb all of your hair well. You might also want to use some dry shampoo to remove excess oils and add a bit of texture. Separate the hair to plait.

Using a hair pick or pencil, separate the hair you will use to make the headband. Plait as normal. Hold the section straight out to the side of your head and begin braiding it loosely as a regular 3-strand braid. Keep braiding all the way to the end of the section and then use an elastic band to secure the end of the braid. Secure the braid over the top of your head like a headband. Wrap the braid up and over the top of your head and then bring it down behind your other ear.

Pin the braid behind your ear with a couple of bobby pins to secure it. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow.

Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist. Laura Martin. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 8.

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 5. It really depends on what classes you have that day, and how still you need your hair to be. Side plaits are easier if you are running late. Not Helpful 4 Helpful Yes, your braid will be sleek and tight, and your hair will be wavy when you take out the braid. Not Helpful 5 Helpful Rope braids are easier on shorter hair; just drag them back along the top of your head.

They look really pretty on short hair! Not Helpful 6 Helpful Add smaller strands of hair and add loads of tiny ones rather than a few big ones. Not Helpful 3 Helpful You might find it easiest to do a side plait.

Check out this article for more tips: how to braid your own hair. Not Helpful 10 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Try asking your hairstylist to show you how to do a specific type of braid that you want to try if you are having trouble getting it right. Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0. Related wikiHows How to. How to. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: August 7, Categories: Braids.

Article Summary X To do a basic plait, start by brushing your hair to get rid of any knots or tangles. In other languages Italiano: Fare una Treccia con i Capelli.

Nederlands: Je haar vlechten. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. I always start with the left section.