There are so many things to do with hair and we have been discussing braids. We have talked about pigtails and double french braids, about wavy hair from braids and today's topic is a single french braid.
If you would like to read the first 2 posts, you can do that here:
Pigtails and French Braids
Easy Wavy Hairstyle
For my daughter, we like to start with freshly washed hair that is still damp. I make sure it is all combed out nicely with no snarls.
Starting up near where the bangs are, just gather a portion of the hair, divide it into 3 parts and begin braiding them.... just pull a bit of hair in each time you cross the hair. Continue straight back on the head and if the hair is long enough, finish out with a regular braid at the bottom, as shown here.
You can see that it pulls the hair back and it is all woven together into one long braid.
If you are dealing with hair that is not all one length and if it doesn't all stay in place... combs or bobby pins can be used to help hold it.
If you would like, you can put some gel on the hair before braiding and it will help hold it. We don't use the gel at all because I don't like the hair getting stiff, sticky or heavy.... or having a hard time brushing it out afterwards, but if that works for you, go ahead and try it.
The style can be neat and tidy... a bow can be put at the bottom to cover the hairband, if desired... or when my daughters were younger, I sometimes put a big pretty bow up on the crown of the head, with maybe a thin matching hair ribbon at the bottom. They probably wouldn't like that now. :)
A french braid can also be done on dry hair... it still needs to be all brushed out with no snarls.
The braiding is the same.... although the process is done differently when you do it on yourself. :)
Some mentioned that they don't know how to french braid... and it can seem quite intimidating at first, if you've never done it. It isn't very hard, though, once you get the hang of it... and practice will really help.
I taught my kids to braid with yarn... and ropes. :) It works for adults too. The rope would only really work for a regular braid, and the yarn could work for french braiding. If it doesn't work right at first, just keep trying... it is a skill worth knowing. Practice a little at a time... do a simple small braid on your hair... or a daughter's hair... and you will start to get the feel of doing it.
Up close, you can see how the hair is gathered and woven into the braid.
As a completed french braid, it can be worn like this... just left down with a band around the end. It is great for keeping the hair out of the way when working, tending to children, gardening, cooking or whatever. It can help keep you cool in the summer and can also help to keep hair from getting as tangled in the wind.
That same braid from above, can be changed into a different hair style, with just a few bobby pins.
I just rolled it up and tucked it under, then held it in place with hair pins. Sometimes I wear a hair decoration in it, usually not. This can be used for around the house, or for dressing up.
There are so many things to be done with hair... and it is fun to change styles sometimes. I keep my hair long enough to be able to braid, although sometimes it is several inches shorter than it is here... and I usually have it layered into long layers, as well. The braiding still works.
Thank you for visiting today. Do you use braids for the children? For you? Have a great week. :)
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I love the braids, but I cannot do them on myself. My spatial concepts just can't work it out! Maybe one day it will click.
ReplyDeleteI hope so... it is a blessing to be able to do them. Thank you for visiting.... it was nice to have you. :)
DeleteJust beautiful! Thank you for sharing the wonderful ideas. You do a great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you.... I have been thinking and praying for you.
DeleteThis is so beautiful!! I used to do Queen's Anne's Braids on my girls and still do French braids on myself. I love how the braid is rolled under in one of the pictures. I can't do that because my hair is to my hips and too thick.
ReplyDeleteI am not familar with Queen's Anne's Braids.... I will have to check that out. :) I love that style with tucking the braid under... and it is fast to do, usually. Your hair is really long... mine used to be that long, but the headaches were too strong, so I have enjoyed the shorter length, but keep it plenty long enough to do things with it. :) Thank you for visiting.... so nice to have you.
DeleteLove French braids! That was my go-to hairstyle when my kids were toddlers. I got to the point I could do it extremely quickly and it would make me more presentable - even if I only did it to my neck and left the rest in a pony tail.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like your daughter's hair is long enough that you could do a drop French braid - I don't know if that's the "official" name. My mom used to have me sit on a low stool and instead of keeping the braid tight to my head she would keep the braid straight out from the top of the head - pulling the hair up to meet the braid. Does that make sense? When it's done being braided gently "drop" the hair down and it becomes a loose French braid. It's for fancier/calmer occasions than every day, I think.
Best wishes!
Yes, I think I do know what you mean... this daughter, though, likes things tight and contained more... she doesn't like for it to be too loose. :) My older daughter and I are helping her adjust on that a bit, so maybe we will be able to try that soon. :) Thank you for the great idea... and for visiting. It was nice to have you.
DeleteThese braids look great, I especially liked the one where you tucked the ends under. I am going to try this on my daughter. Thanks for linking up at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
ReplyDeleteThank you... I really like wearing that one... it has a nice and elegant look, yet is really easy. I hope it works well for your daughter. :)
DeleteYour braiding is just lovely and so neat! I haven't done any braiding, but I have a friend...and a few sisters who would me to try!
ReplyDeleteThank you.... it is a skill that has come from many years of doing it. :) I am glad to be able to do it... there are still types of braiding that I would like to learn sometime.
DeleteI can't get over how lovely and thick your hair is and that of your daughter's :) Yes, your braiding is very neat and quite beautiful. Thanks for sharing and inspiring us at ROI. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.... my hair is healthier again now because of some natural things I have done with it for the last few years... it will be in a future post. :) Thank you for the encouragement.
DeleteVery nice!
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
DeleteI wear my hair in a French braid, usually tucked under. It's my go-to hair style when traveling and often in the summer to get my hair off my neck. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI agree... it is easy to do and helps me to keep cool... :)
DeleteI love braids. I usually do Dutch braids which is like a French braid except that you pass the strands under each other instead of over each other.
ReplyDeleteI do not know how to do that... actually I have tried, but I just can't seem to do it... I will have to try again. :) Thank you.
DeleteOooh, lovely. I haven't done braids for such a long time (we all have short-medium hair).
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Thank you... so glad you stopped by. I hope your weekend is lovely too. :)
DeleteI've just learned to braid. So fun! I love doing my daughter's hair but she is three and has a mind of her own!
ReplyDeleteGood for you!!! Braiding on a 3 year old IS a challenge. :) It will get easier...... eventually. :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteBeautiful hair! I love a classic French braid. My 2.9 year old twin girls' hair isn't long enough (and too curly) to braid yet, but I look forward to it in the future, I know they will love it!
ReplyDeleteThat will be fun...and twins... wow, what a blessing. :) Thank you.
DeleteBeautiful, i will try this on my little ones hair, thanks for sharing with hearth and soul blog hop. pinning.
ReplyDeleteThank you.... I hope it works well as a new style for your little ones... I know we like it. :)
DeleteIt took me absolute ages to figure out how to do this on myself but now that I do I love it! Thanks for sharing on Talented Tuesday we hope to see you again this week!
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun style... thank you for visiting. :)
DeleteI can set up my new thought from this post. It gives top to bottom data. A debt of gratitude is in order for this profitable data for all,.. short hairstyles for women
ReplyDeleteThank you... nice to have you visit. :)
DeleteI have made a video tutorial on french braiding here suggest me
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SwoVMnrIm8
Beautiful hairstyle. I have tried it on my daughter a few times but it is so hard to hold onto the hair and then get the rest into the braid! Yours looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you... it is a learned skill that's for sure.... I find it can help to use wet, or damp, hair. I have wanted to learn how to do a Dutch braid and have been unable to do that, so gave up and just do French or regular braids. :) Thank you for visiting.
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