9 Different Ways to Braid Hair
Kasja enjoys learning new ways to style her hair and shares her tutorials with others.
Braided or plaited hairstyles are an easy way to dress up a hairstyle and showcase your many talents. Some braids are simple to do and can be mastered at one time, whereas others may take more time and patience to perfect. Either way, rest assured that popular and unique styles of braiding will not leave you disappointed and will definitely score you some compliments from both friends and strangers alike.
Continue reading on to see some of the most popular and trendy hair braids that circulate the internet and if you are really interested and want to learn how to recreate them, click on the accompanying video link and start styling!
3 Strand Braid
French Braid
French braids are one of the most popular braids to do. Often when one thinks of braids, they imagine a French braid. This style of braiding is the go-to style for a fix to moments when you need to tie your hair up quickly, a day with particularly windy weather, or one of those mornings where you just don't feel like styling your hair. They're easy to create and is a cute hairstyle that can be worn in almost any setting.
French braids can be worn in one single braid down the back of the head, one low braid to the side, or as two braided pigtails. This is known as the simplest braid that you can do and it can be done on any type of hair with ease. Hair is crossed over one another when creating this braid, as crossing underneath would make this braid a Dutch braid.
Four Strand Braid
Four Strand Braid
The four strand braid is an alternative to the three strand braid look and is done in the exact same fashion as its alternate. The only and obvious difference is that the four strand braid uses four strands instead of three.
This braid is not hard to do at all although it looks like it may take some time and skill to do. Four strands are great for days when you want to do a simple braid but also want to give it a classier and more unique look.
Practice with mastering the four strand braid and you may want to continue on with challenging yourself with five, six, and even eleven strand braids!
Fishtail Braid
From first glance, the fishtail braid looks complicated and complex to create, but it is really a simple two strand hair braid that can be done in under five minutes.
Fishtail braids are becoming increasingly popular over social networking sites and are often seen lying on one side of the woman's hair. This braid can also be done neat and tight or messy and loose. Either way, it looks great and can easily be copied.
Combine your fishtail braid with a hair ribbon or bow on the end for a cute look or tie it off with a transparent hair band for a very neat look. You can braid your hair to one side, down the entire back of your head, or even as two separate braids! Either way, it will look great.
Relaxed French Braid
Relaxed French Braid
How amazing does this unique take on a French braid look? Relaxed French braids are sure to get the comments stirring in your direction as well as others asking you to please create this look on their head.
First glance, this does look like a difficult braid to recreate and it does require a bit more patience and practice than most of the braids shown on this page. However, within time, you should be able to recreate this look at ease and even incorporate your own personal twists into it.
Relaxed French braids are very loose but are a great look for both casual and elegant outings. Match this braid with a beaded headband, a cute bow on the ends, or even a regular three strand braid for many different looks and outcomes.
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Lace Braid
Lace braids are a popular style of braid often seen travelling down one side of the girl's head. It is a style of the French braid and is a great braid because it holds well throughout the day. It is also a good way to frame your face and give you a simple, elegant look. Popular celebrities such as Rihanna and Kim Kardashian have been seen sporting lace braids.
Lace braids can be worn falling down the head or as a headband where they are braided across the front of the head. Often this braid is seen falling down the side of the head into a side ponytail, but you can wear it any way that you like!
Rope Braid
Rope Braid
Rope braids or twist braids as they are sometimes called is a great braid to master for quick hair fixes. As its name suggests, rope braids involve a lot of twisting and twirling but it is quite easy to do. Rope braids look best on those with long hair and can be intertwined with other popular hairstyles to create a truly uncommon yet glamorous look.
Rope braids are nothing more than two strand braids like fishtail braids. You can also use this braid and twist it into a bun or leave it in for a while and then take it out for fun and natural waves.
Ladder Braid
On first glance, it is quite evident why some people think that Ladder Braids are something that is best left for the professionals. In reality, Ladder Braids are simple to re-create.
Ladder Braids are a unique alternative to a simple waterfall braid and may require a bit of practice to master. However, once you master it, you can be sure that you will be flooded with compliments from friends and strangers alike.
This special type of braiding style is fairly new, but many individuals are beginning to catch on quickly. Ladder braids can be done neat and tight or messy and loose. They are a great hair style to try for elegant outings such as weddings or even prom nights. Hair can be left straight or curled with a curling wand for an even more glamorous look.
Dutch Braid
Dutch Braid
A Dutch braid is the same as a French braid, the only difference is that the Dutch braid is inverted. What this means is that instead of braiding strands over each other, you will braid them under one another. This hair style is great for those who want to do something simple and are pressed for time. It is also a great style that produces wonderful natural waves when the hair is braided wet and left for some time.
This braid can be done it a simple sense, or even in a zig-zag design down the back of the head for a totally unique take on this fairly common braid.
Waterfall Braid
The Waterfall Braid is one of my favourites and can be a little bit difficult to master if you are not patient with your braiding. This braid is normally done as one braid going around the head but sometimes, it can be seen cascading down an individuals head for a totally unique look. Waterfall braids are a three stranded braid that involves including strands of hair from the top of the head and leaving out or 'dropping' strands of hair from the bottom. It sounds confusing, but it can be done with practice.
Most times, this braid is worn with straight hair but in more elegant settings, it is not uncommon to see a waterfall braid worn with curls from a curling iron or curling wand. Either way, it is a great look for almost anywhere whether it be a formal setting or even a casual day at the beach.
Comments
AshimaTan on January 26, 2015:
Nice hub! Love the fishtail braid but always lazy to try it on..
But these pretty pictures are quite convincing to give it a shot at least once..
FlourishAnyway from USA on January 09, 2015:
I love this. have long hair but have never learned to braid it. Gonna see if I can master it now. Better late than never.
Nyesha Pagnou MPH from USA on January 08, 2015:
Thank you for such an interesting and well illustrated hub regarding hair braiding. Voted up and interesting.
Ana Maria Orantes from Miami Florida on December 09, 2014:
I like your braids. They are beautiful. I like the picture of the braid with the bird. Thank you for the amazing hub. You created it. I like all your braids. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Natalia M Aeschliman on November 16, 2014:
Awesome Hub!! Will definitely try some of these on my daughter!!!
Eagle Journal on October 22, 2014:
Well done
Jennifer Beckers from Palm Beach County on September 23, 2014:
The only braid I've ever done is the plain old boring normal one, so thank you this should really help!!
faith on September 18, 2014:
I really like the hairstyles I can never do a French braid on my self I did it on my mom for the first time and it turned out amazing and I can never ever ever ever ever do it on my own here since it's really really curly into showing the end so tangled every time I brush it but it always comes out you've know nice and neat but then after 5 minutes and it's just
Jemjoseph on September 11, 2014:
I thought there were maybe only three types of braids, I saw one or two of these on occasion but never knew the names, the French lace braid is awesome, a great style for long hair
msdielise on August 02, 2014:
Wow, thanks for sharing the nice hub. I really like the relaxed french braid. I hope I can do it by myself. It looks elegant and fantastic. Wait, can I get it done alone? I really want to learn how to do it.. :(
butterfly on July 24, 2014:
awesome
greeneyedblondie on February 17, 2014:
Don't forget there are two ways to do a four strand braid! 3D and the flat. Both have different techniques.
