How to Plait Your Hair

Tap to Read ➤ Smita Pandit

Here are instructions on plaiting hair, follow them on days when you don't wish to wear your hair down.

If you have medium or long hair, you have the option of donning a braided look. Braids look neat. There are several braiding techniques. So, don't just stick to the same hairstyle all the time. If you don't know how to plait hair, here are some different ways of braiding hair:

The Basic Plait

First of all, comb your hair and detangle them. Then, divide your hair in three sections. Make sure you are distributing your hair evenly in all the three sections. Go to the right section and cross over the strands through the middle section.

Now, take the strands from the left section and cross them over the middle section. Tighten your grip. Keep crossing over the middle section as you alternate between right and left sections. Stop braiding, when you are left with a couple of inches, and secure the ends with a cute hairband.

The French Plait

Comb your hair to detangle them. For the first layer, take hair from the crown between your thumb and index finger, dividing them into three sections. Once you have a grip over these strands, separate them into three sections, ensuring that you take equal strands for all the three sections. Take the left section and cross them over the section in the center.

Cross the section in the right over the section in the center. Repeat these steps one more time. For the second layer on the left, take some hair from the left side, and add it to the first layer on the left side. Now, cross the hair over the center portion.

For the second layer, take some hair from the right side and hold them together with the first layer on the right. Cross over the entire right section over the center portion. Continue braiding all the layers by crossing over through the middle till you reach the nape of your neck. Now, continue the basic braid and secure the end of the hair with an elastic.

Dutch Plait

Dutch braid is the reverse French braid.

Divide hair at the crown into three equal sections. The only difference between the French and Dutch braid is that while braiding, you have to cross the hair under the middle section. So, take the left section and cross them under the middle section. Cross the section in the right under the section in the center.

Take a section of hair from the left and add to the left section. Cross this section of hair under the middle strand. Similarly, take a section of hair from the right and add to the right section. Cross this section of hair under the middle strand. Keep adding strands from the side and cross them under the middle section, till you reach the nape of your neck.

Now, continue braiding like the basic braid. Don't braid till the entire length of your hair. Stop braiding When some hair is left. Secure the ends with a hairband. You can also twist the braid at the nape of the neck to make a bun, and secure it with pins.

Get Wavy Hair with Plaits

Shampoo your hair at night, and make 2-3 large basic braids while your hair is still wet. Open the braids the next day to get nice wavy hair. You could also make smaller braids with all your hair, and open them the next day to get the crimped look.

So, knowing how to braid will certainly give you more options, as far as hairstyles are concerned. Try the aforementioned hairstyles and see how these look on you.