How to: Braiding

A braid is against the scalp, a plait is a free hanging plait.

Equipment (for all)
-hair elastics
-hair spray
-tail comb

5 Strand Plait

1. Section off the front two sections, drawing a straight line from just behind the ear to just behind the ear.

2. Split the rest of the hair in 5 even sections.

3. Take outside section over the one next to it and then under the next section. 

4. Take opposite outside section over the on next to it and under the one after that.

5. Repeat this until you secure it with an elastic.

I am happy with how this came out; however I think I could have made the sections more even. I struggled with knowing how to handle the hair in my hands because I kept feeling like I was letting go of hair that I needed and I felt like the plait kept getting too loose. If I were to do this hair style I would make sure that the hair elastics matched the hair colour to make them look more discreet.

8 Strand Plait

1. Starting with the 5 strand plait, plait the outside sections as normal, but each time you go down the hair and loop one side into the 5 strand plait.

(Always keep the hair coming forwards)

5 Strand Plait.

8 Strand Plait

The thing I found most difficult with this plait was how to position all the hair in my hands. I found it hard to hold all three strands and then open up a space to fit one of the strands through, so I found myself dropping pieces by accident and then having to reposition them. I also found it difficult to get the sections of hair through the other plait because I found the hair got tangled and looked frizzy if I didn't do it precisely enough. I found the more I did this look, the easier these things became; however I still need to do more practising before I become confident with this look. I like how it came out; however it looks slightly uneven because I think the sections of hair on the right were slightly bigger. I will need to check all sections are completely even next time.

11 Strand Plait
This is exactly the same as the 8 strand plait, apart from you plait on the other side. So take three even sections, plait as normal three times and then loop that strand under one of the outer sections of the 5 strand plait and repeat these steps.

11 Strand Plait

I think I did this side better than I did on the 8 strand plait because I made the sections more even with the ones in the 5 strand plait so it blended in more seamlessly. I found it easier on this side to hold all the sections of hair; however this may just be because I had practiced on the other side. I am happy with how this turned out, although I think it would have looked better on longer blonde hair because I would have been able to make it bigger and I think the highlights in blonde hair would make it look more detailed and pretty. If I were to do it again I might add some oil in the hair to make it smoother and to make sure it didn't get frizzy like it did slightly this time. 

Backwards plait

1. Do a plait that goes backwards, meaning the hair goes underneath each section.

I was very happy with how this came out because I thought the sections were even and the plait looked neat. I am confident with plaiting normally, so I didn't struggle with doing it backwards. 

Dutch braid

1. Start off by sectioning the hair into three even parts.
2. Do a normal plait and cross the hair over each other three times.
3. Start doing a french plait, but instead of taking the hair over each time, take the hair under instead to create a more three dimensional look.
4. Continue this until you run out of hair to add into the plait and then finish it off with a normal plait.

 I am really happy with how quickly I picked this technique up and how neat the front part looks and how tight the plait looks; however I missed out a section of hair just below the crown of the head which made the plait look misshapen. If I hadn't of missed this section out I would have been very happy with this type of braid.

Waterfall plait 

1. Start at a corner to the parting and put hair in three sections.
2. Plait as normal three times, then let the third section hang free.
3. This means you will be left with two sections, so pick up another one, above the plait, closer to the parting and use this as your third section.
4. Continue this pattern all the way to the end of the plait and then finish it off with a normal plait.

I am so happy with how this turned out as I had never done anything like it before! I found it confusing at first but quickly got the hang of it and I think it turned out very neat and pretty looking. I think my sections were even so that water fall looked very neat and I liked how tight I kept the top braid.

Ladder Braid
1. This is a follow on braid from the waterfall braid. You start off my splitting the section of hair below into three equal sections.
2. Start plaiting with these sections as normal for three cross overs and then add one of the falling sections from the above plait to the next section that will be crossed over.
3. Do this in either two strand cross over or three strand cross over intervals to make the ladders as close or far away as you want.
4. You continue this technique as far back as you want and then finish it off with a regular plait, securing it with a hair elastic.

I am really happy with how this came out, especially considering I had never done it before. I found it confusing to start off with because I thought it was a french plaits, but it was actually only a regular plait but adding the falling hair into it. I think the plait looks very neat and tight and the sections look very even.