A Complete Guide for Beginners to French Braid Your Own Hair

Steps For Standard Braiding 

For women who do not know how to braid their hair, read the following steps carefully. Only if you know how to do a standard braid can you do a French Braid.

• - Take the section of your hair and divide it into three equal parts. So, now you will have three different strands in your hand. Your right hand will have the right strand and the left hand holding the left strand of hair.
• - Now, take the left strand of hair and cross it over the middle strand over the top. You will be holding left and right strands of hair with your right hand now. But make sure not to blend the strands
• - The strand in the middle will be left without holding.
• - Then take the bottom strand and bring it to the left side. Now you will have a new middle section
• - Now, take the right strand of hair and cross it over the new middle section
• - Hold the left portion and right portion in your right hand and leave the new middle portion
• - Take the middle strand and hold it towards the left side
• - You will get a new middle strand now
• - Take the new middle strand towards the right side and cross the right portion over it
• - Continue the process till you finish braiding till the tip of the hair 

If you know how to do a standard braid, half of the work in French braiding becomes easy. The only difference between French braiding and standard braiding is taking the strands of hair.

In a French braid, you will take small sections and continue braiding by taking smaller sections from each side until you finish braiding till the tip. But in a standard braid, you only have to your whole hair into three sections and start braiding. Besides, you can do French and stand braiding on two sides if you like.

How To French Braid Your Own Hair For Beginners Step-By-Step

Step 1 – Comb your hair

Before braiding your hair, it is important to comb your hair. Use a wide-tooth comb to brush your hair completely. Typically, this can remove all the tangles in your hair, and you will be able to make partitions in your hair without any hassle easily.

Step 2 – Decide from where you want the braids

French braids can start from the crown portion of your head or even from below the crown area. The choice is yours, and you can decide on which one to choose. Since you are a beginner, you can first try braiding a little down from the crown portion. If you are doing it for the first time, your hands will pain when you braid longer. Also, there are different styles of French braiding like one side, two sides, etc.

Step 3 – Get a small portion of hair from your top

Now, you will start braiding your hair. Sit on a stool in front of the mirror. Take a small portion of hair on top of your head from the temples to the back of your head. You can also take a small portion of your hair from both sides. Then you should separate the hair into 3 equal sections.

Step 4 – Braiding

With 3 equal sections you got, you should take the right section and cross it over the middle. By doing this, the right section becomes your middle strands. Next, you have to do the same thing with the left strands and pull it over the middle strand, which makes your left strands become your new middle. Then do it with the right strand one more time.

After that, pick up a horizontal section of hair on the same side and add it to the middle strand. Cross the left side and add a horizontal section of hair on the left hand to the middle. Repeat this step until there are no strands to add in and braid the hair like a normal 3 strand braid.

Step 5 – Tie the French braid

You can leave three or 4 inches of the tip without braiding. Once you finish braiding, tie the end with a hairband. Make sure you braid your hair tightly. You are done, and you can have those beautiful French braids on your hair now. If you have done it perfectly, you can see the hair strands on each side separately.

Dutch Braid vs French Braid

To create a Dutch braid, sections of hair are crossed under one another, resulting in a raised braid that appears to sit on top of the hair. Meanwhile,  French braid is created by crossing sections of hair over each other, gradually incorporating more hair as you move along the scalp

Whether you opt for the intricate charm of the Dutch braid or the timeless elegance of the French braid, both techniques offer a world of hairstyling possibilities. Experiment with different styles, adapt them to various occasions, and have fun exploring the creative potential of these braiding techniques.

Benefits Of French Braiding 

French braiding has many advantages to your hair. Braiding can help reduce hair damage. This hairstyle is the perfect choice for women having frizzy hair. Moreover, this hairstyle can hold the moisture in your hair and not get rough easily when exposed to sunlight and dust. You can sleep with your French braids as your hair will not get tangled while you move your head when sleeping. Generally, this is also a perfect hairstyle to wear when working out or going to a party. 

Conclusion

If you are trying this hairstyle for the first time, you might not get the braids properly. It can turn loose and will not have a finishing look. But do not worry. You need to practice more to have a perfectly looking French braid. Nobody will get the perfect French braid the first time when they braid their hair themselves. If your hair is very silky and difficult to hold, you can use some hair spray. Usually, this can help in holding your hair easily and will not slide off from your hand. So, keep practicing by referring to this guide on how to french braid your own hair for beginners.