Lots of people wish that they knew how to braid hair. They think that it is difficult to braid hair and do not bother learning. In reality, braiding hair is extremely easy and can be done by anyone! Thanks to my mother and the number of times I have been to camps, I have learned how to braid my own hair along with the hair of others. Just like any new skill that is being learned, practice makes perfect. Here are some simple steps with pictures below on how to braid hair.

How to Braid a “Regular” Braid

Step 1) Separate the hair into three sections

Step 2) Cross the right piece over the middle piece. (This will make the right piece the new middle piece.)

Step 3) Cross the left piece over the middle piece. (Now, this will be the new middle and the original right piece will be the far-left piece.)

Step 4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have reached the end of the hair

Step 5) Place a hair tie on the end of the braid to hold it in place

It is okay if your braid ends up a little wonky at first and you have one strand that is much shorter than the other two. (That’s normal!) To make the braid appear cleaner, try pulling a little bit tighter after each crossover of the hair strands. Overall, just keep practicing and it will come! 

How to Braid a French Braid

Step 1) Using a brush or your fingers, pull your hair back on your head.

Step 2) Grab a small section of hair from the top and separate it into 3 pieces

Step 3) Start the braid like a “regular” braid. (Cross the right hairpiece over the middle and then the left hairpiece over the middle only once.) 

Step 4) Before crossing the right hairpiece over the middle one again, grab some hair from the side, and include it along with the right piece. Cross the whole section over the middle piece. 

Step 5) Before crossing the left hairpiece over the middle hairpiece, that is the old right one plus the new hair, grab some hair from the left side as well. Include this hair in the crossover of the left hair section over the middle. 

Step 6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 until no more hair is able to be grabbed from either side. 

Step 7) Once you run out of hair to grab, continue to braid the hair like a “regular” braid

Step 8) At the end of the braid, secure a hair tie to keep the braid in place. 

This type of braid can be styled in numerous cute looks. You can leave it as one or two braids, add it into a ponytail, or even into a bun. Have some fun and experiment with different styles. Always keep practicing more and more! 

How to Braid a Dutch Braid

Step 1) Using a brush or your fingers, pull your hair back on your head.

Step 2) Grab a small section of hair and split it into 3 strands.

Step 3) Cross the right hair piece UNDER the middle hairpiece. 

Step 4) Cross the left hairpiece UNDER the middle hairpiece. 

Step 5) Before crossing the right hair piece under again, grab some hair from the right side. Include this in the Under crossing of the right piece under the middle piece. 

Step 6) Before crossing the left hairpiece under the middle hairpiece, which is the old right plus the new hair, grab some hair from the left side bringing it under the middle strand along with the left hairpiece. 

Step 7) Repeat steps 5 and 6 until no more hair is able to be grabbed from either side.

Step 8) Finish the braid down like steps 2 and 3, crossing the hair strands UNDER each other. 

Step 9) Place a hair tie on the end when finished to keep the braid in place.

This braid is similar to the French Braid but is the opposite process. The end result should kind of “bubble up” and appear higher on the head. Like the French Braid, this once can also be styled into many different designs. Have fun and it is okay if it does not look the best on the first attempt. A tip would be to pull it a little tighter to make it come out cleaner. Some people also like it loose and “pancaked” out. 

I hope that you will now see that braiding hair is not that hard, it just takes time and patience. Learn how to braid now and you can thank me later! This will come handy at camps, school events with a team, or even just because. There is no end to the number of hairstyles that can be done with a simple braid. Have fun and keep on working at the braiding, it will come!