Learning how to braid your own hair is a great way to enhance your look and add some style to your day-to-day. Dutch braids are one of the most popular styles of braids that can be done easily and quickly. With some practice and patience, you can master the technique and create beautiful Dutch braids of your own.
Preparing to Braid
The most important part of braiding hair is making sure it is properly prepped. Start by washing and conditioning your hair with a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. After washing, lightly towel dry your hair and brush it out with a wide-toothed comb to remove any tangles. Once your hair is detangled, part it the way you want your braid to be. You can choose to do a center part or a side part. If you want to add a bit of volume to the braid, you can lightly backcomb the roots of the hair. Then, brush through the hair again to smooth it out.
Creating the Dutch Braid
Once your hair is prepped and ready, you can start creating the braid. Start by taking three strands of hair, one on the left side, one in the middle and one on the right side. Cross the left strand over the middle strand, then cross the right strand over the middle strand. Now, take the left strand and cross it over the middle strand, then take the right strand and cross it over the middle strand again. From here, you will start to add in more hair as you cross each strand over the middle strand. Take a small section of hair from the left side and add it to the left strand before crossing it over the middle. Then take a small section of hair from the right side and add it to the right strand before crossing it over the middle. Continue to repeat this process, adding in small sections of hair until you reach the nape of your neck.
Adding in the Ponytail
Once you reach the nape of your neck, you can add in the ponytail. Take the remaining hair and secure it with a small elastic band. You can then secure the braid with a few bobby pins if needed. If you want the braid to have a more polished look, you can lightly spray it with a hairspray. And you’re done!
Finishing Up
Once you’ve finished braiding your hair, you can style it however you like. If you’d like to add a bit of texture to the braid, you can lightly tug at the strands of the braid to loosen them up a bit. You can also add in some accessories such as hair ties, clips or pins for a fun look. You can also add some waves or curls to the braid for a more romantic look.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re having trouble creating the Dutch braid, there are a few things you can do to make it easier. First, make sure that you’re not taking too much hair when adding in the sections. The smaller the sections, the easier it is to manage. If you’re having trouble crossing the strands over the middle, you can use a comb to help guide the strands into place. Finally, make sure that you’re keeping the braid tight as you go. This will help keep the braid in place and give it a neat look.
Variations of the Dutch Braid
Once you’ve mastered the technique of creating a Dutch braid, you can try out some variations. You can create a French braid by crossing the strands under the middle strand instead of over. You can also create a fishtail braid by taking two strands of hair and crossing them over each other in an alternating pattern. You can also create a waterfall braid by dropping a strand of hair and adding in a new strand as you go.
Conclusion
Creating a Dutch braid is a great way to add some style to your look. With some practice and patience, you can master the technique and create beautiful Dutch braids of your own. Once you’ve mastered the technique, you can try out some variations and create different types of braids. So grab a comb, some elastics and get braiding!
