The Ultimate Guide To Braiding: 5 Styles You Need To Try For Yourself

Braiding is a wonderful hair do that completely transforms the look of your hair. The art of braiding may seem complex and time consuming in the beginning but after a little bit of learning and practice you’ll be able to braid like a pro.

These super trendy braided hairstyles will change your look depending on which braid you decide to recreate. It is the perfect lazy girl hairstyle, as it looks complex but is so easy to do.

This guide will help you pick which is the perfect braid for you and how to achieve the look.

Rope braid

If you are looking for a simple braided hair style, the rope braid is the simplest to achieve. With this sleek and clean cut look, it is perfect for those bad hair days where you just want your hair out or your face and tied up but still want to look cute. Owing to its resemblance to a rope, this braid is the easiest to learn. Step one: brush your hair and secure it into a ponytail with a hair tie Step two: split the ponytail into two large strands, and twirl each section inwards Step three: continually cross the two twisted strands over each other, until you reach the end of the hair Step four: secure the end with another hair type and secure the braid off

Classic braid

As the name suggests the classic braid is used to achieve a classic, timeless and simple look. Almost everyone will already know how to braid the hair the classic way. It is commonly worn during sport or in the workplace as it is so easy and simple to achieve. Step one: make sure hair is brushed and smooth, then separate the hair into three equal sections Step two: hold two strands together in the left hand and the other strand in the right hand Step three: begin by passing the middle stand from the left hand to the right side Step four: then pass the middle strand from the right side back to the left Step five: continue by passing alternating strands to each hand crossing over the middle Tip: you can decide to braid your whole head of hair or just take a small section of the hair to achieve the classic braid look.

French braid

The french braid is the next step up from the classic braid, but incorporates the full head of hair by starting at the crown of the head. In this look, you can either keep your hair out of your face or you can loosely braid and achieve the messy look – up to you! Step one: section off the small front section of the hair from the crown of the head Step two: section hair into three equal stands, and start to classic braid Step three: each time you cross the hair over, be sure to incorporate a small section from the rest of the hair Step four: continue feeding sections through until you reach the ends of the hair and all remaining hair is incorporated Tip: be sure you are always collecting similar sized strands of hair when incorporating them into the braid, so that your french braid is balanced.

Fishtail braid

If you have tried all simple braid techniques and are looking for one level higher, you can try the Fishtail braid. It is a little more complicated and needs some practice to achieve. It is more advanced, and can be quite difficult to begin with, but with a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to fishtail in no time. This braid has a beachy, messy feel and isn’t as structured and clean as the previous braids. Step one: after combing through the hair, split the hair in half into two large sections Step two: hold one section in your left hand and one in your right hand. Grab a strand of hair from the outer left side, and bring it back to the right side. Step three: continue to repeat the process with the other section of hair, and continually cross each smaller strand over and onto the other side. Step four: Secure the braid with a hair tie and begin to pull the edges apart to achieve a messy, undone look Tip: rather than one large fishtail braid, at step one section the hair off into pigtails first then fishtail each section of hair.

Chain-link braid

The hardest and most complicate of the 5 braids is the chain-link. Although it is harder to learn it gives off a beautiful, complex look that will have everyone enticed with your hair. With four strands weaving through one another, this style mimics the pattern of a chain, perfect for those that want to add a bit of pizazz to their look. Step one: brush and smooth the hair and section off into four even strands Step two: to begin, take the third strand and cross it over the second strand, then take the fourth strand crossing it under the stands and over strand three Step three: drop strand two, then cross the first stand under strand three and four Step four: continue this process until you reach the end of the hair, and secure off with a hair tie Tip: this style is really all about practice, don’t worry if you want get it right the first time. To make it easier, try securing all of your hair into a ponytail before you start your chain-link.

Need professional help? Step into Rebecca Oates Hair Salon

If you are not able to do braids at home and your attempts at hair braiding aren’t quite at professional standards, the skilled stylists at Rebecca Oates are here to help! Our team is committed to upholding excellence in hair and beauty and are always keeping up with the latest trends, which can cater to your every desire. Whether you require braiding or hair styling for occasions, weddings or special events, book your next appointment with us today or call our Bicton salon on (08) 9319 1748.