French braiding your own natural hair involves sectioning the hair and incorporating new strands into a three-strand braid as you work down your head. It requires practice, especially mastering the technique of handling sections precisely. As mentioned in a video discussing the process, developing a good technique, perhaps similar to skills used in hair cutting, is crucial and, once learned ("Down pat"), allows you to complete one side and then "move on to the right side and just finish off my hairstyle."
Here is a step-by-step guide for beginners:
Tools You'll Need
- Wide-tooth comb or detangling brush
- Sectioning clips
- Spray bottle with water or a moisturizing leave-in conditioner
- Edge control (optional)
- Hair tie or elastic band
Preparing Your Hair
- Detangle Thoroughly: Natural hair needs to be well-detangled to braid smoothly. Start from the ends and work your way up to the roots using a wide-tooth comb or brush.
- Moisturize: Ensure your hair is moisturized but not soaking wet. Lightly spritz with water or a moisturizing spray. This makes it more pliable and reduces breakage.
- Section Your Hair: Decide how many French braids you want. For one braid down the back, start by sectioning off a triangle or square of hair at the very front crown of your head. For two braids, part your hair down the middle from front to back, and then section off a small triangle at the front of one side. Use clips to hold the rest of your hair out of the way.
The French Braiding Process
- Start the Braid: Take the initial section of hair at the front and divide it into three equal strands.
- Begin a Standard Braid: Start with a few passes of a standard three-strand braid. Cross the right strand over the middle strand, then cross the left strand over the new middle strand. This establishes the base.
- Add Hair to the Braid: Now, for the French braiding part:
- Take the rightmost strand. Before crossing it over the middle strand, pick up a small, equal amount of hair from the unbraided section adjacent to this right strand.
- Combine the original right strand with the new hair you just picked up.
- Cross this combined strand over the middle strand.
- Repeat on the left side: Take the leftmost strand. Pick up a small amount of hair from the unbraided section adjacent to this left strand.
- Combine the original left strand with the new hair.
- Cross this combined strand over the new middle strand.
- Continue Adding and Braiding: Keep repeating step 3, picking up new sections of hair from the sides and adding them to the corresponding outer strand before crossing it over the middle. Try to pick up consistent amounts of hair each time to keep the braid uniform.
- Maintain Tension: Keep a consistent, gentle tension on the strands as you braid. Too loose, and the braid will look messy; too tight, and it can cause discomfort or breakage on natural hair.
- Braid to the End: Once you've incorporated all the loose hair from the sides into your braid, continue with a regular three-strand braid down the length of the remaining hair.
- Secure the End: Secure the end of the braid with a hair tie.
Finishing Up
- Once one braid is complete, as the reference notes, you can then "move on" to the next section or "finish off" your style. If you were doing two braids, unclip the hair on the other side and repeat the process.
- Use a little edge control to smooth down your hairline if desired.
French braiding your own hair, especially natural hair, requires patience and practice. The technique mentioned in the reference for handling sections precisely is key to making this process smoother. Don't get discouraged if your first attempts aren't perfect!
