Hair Braids

Hair braids are a great way to mix up your hairstyle that is easy to do and can be achieved in minutes.The trick to good braiding is to keep the tension on the strands evenly balanced. For those new to braiding, the biggest question is, how do you hold three strands with only two hands? What you do is hold two of the strands in one hand and one strand in the other. As you braid, the `extra' strand is passed between the hands.

English Braids

One of the most common braids techniques that is simple and easy to do.

Divide your hair into three even sections and comb each section until its is smooth and tangle free.
Cross the right hand section over the middle section. The original right hand section is now the middle section..
Pull all the sections away from each other to tighten the plait.
Cross the left hand section over the middle section. The original left hand section is now the middle section.
Continue this process alternating right and left sections over the middle section, tightening each plait as you make it.
Secure the end of the braid.

French Braids

This is a beautiful braid that looks much more complicated than it is.Actually it is just a simple english braid with an additional step.

Divide a small section of hair where you want the braid to start into three even sections.
Comb each section until its is smooth and tangle free.
Cross the right hand section over the middle section. The original right hand section is now the middle section.
Pull all the sections away from each other to tighten the plait.
Cross the left hand section over the middle section. The original left hand section is now the middle section.
Using the pointed end of a rat tail comb, lift a small section of hair on the right by drawing a line against the scalp from the hairline to the middle of the braid about a half inch to an inch beneath the first plait, depending on the thickness of your hair and how woven you want it to look.
Add the new section of hair to the existing section on the right and then cross it over the middle section; tighten the plait.
Again using the handle of the comb, lift a small section of hair on the left by drawing a line against the scalp from the hairline to the middle of the braid even with the section you just lifted from the right, add this hair to the existing section on the left and then cross it over the middle section.
Continue the process alternating right and left sections over the middle section, tightening each plait until you reach the hairline.
Secure the end of the braid.