The part in your hair does not have to be a severe straight line. You can have a messy, uneven part for a chic bohemian style. A zig-zag part can add a bit of funk to your style.
You may want to secure the other, loose side with a hair band. This will help keep it from accidentally getting combined with the side you are braiding. This foundation braid will be on the side of the head. Since you are making French braid pigtails, you should be braiding down each side of your head. The braids will sit just between the ears and the part. If you’d like a looser braid, you can start with a larger section. If you have very thick hair, you may want to work in larger sections.
Keep your hands close to the head so the braid will remain tight. [3] X Research source Make sure to add an even amount of hair each time you add hair to the strands. This will keep the braids neat and uniform, instead of uneven.
When you run out of hair to add to the braid, continue braiding in a traditional 3-strand braid. Make sure to keep the braid tight as you braid. This can be achieved by pulling the sections away from each other. If you’re braiding your own hair, keep both of your arms on one side instead of holding them over your head since it will be easier. [5] X Expert Source Ndeye Anta NiangHair Stylist & Master Braider Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
If you would like an alternate style for French braid pigtails, instead of braiding all the way to the ends of your hair, stop at the nape of your neck. Secure the French braid with a hair tie. The hair hanging over your shoulders will be loose, so you can straighten or curl these strands. [7] X Research source Another alternate style for two French braid pigtails is a bun. After finishing one of the French braids, pin the tail of the braid into a bun at the back of your head by wrapping the tail around. Secure with bobby pins. Repeat with the other side, pinning the other braid on top of the bun. Use as many bobby pins as necessary to hold the bun in place. [8] X Research source
These braids will be small strands that curve around the back of the head to meet in the middle. You are not trying to braid all of your hair into the strands. An alternate way to do this same style is to create two larger braids. This will give a slightly different look to the style. Follow the same steps, but add more hair. The larger braids will angle downwards more than the smaller braids, which means they will meet just underneath the crown instead of in the middle of the head. [9] X Research source When you start the braid, angle the braid away from the face, towards the back of the head. Don’t angle it down.
Stop the braid once you get to the middle of the head. Secure with a clip or a hair tie.
The braids are forming a braided half-ponytail. Most of your hair will be loose.
If you style into a ponytail or bun, the two French braids will rest just above the ponytail or bun. You can also join the two braids into a single, 3 strand braid that goes down your back. To do this, combine the left and middle sections of your left braid into 1 left strand, combine the right section of your left braid and the left section of your right braid into 1 middle strand, and combine your middle and right sections of your right braid into 1 right section. Then, continue braiding in a traditional 3-strand braid.
Secure one side of the hair with a hair tie. This will keep it out of the way until you are ready to use it. An alternate style, you can part your hair to 1 side to create two different sized braids, or you can create a soft, messy part.
As an alternative, you can create a braided crown by simply French braiding your hair in pigtails, then wrapping each braid up and around your head. Tuck the ends under and pin the braid to your scalp.
A Dutch braid is also called an inverted French braid or a reverse French braid. The hair is braided under instead of over like in a standard French braid. This braid will be done from the bottom of the head up instead of from the top of the head down. You may want to comb the hair in an upward direction before you begin so the hair is already in the right direction.
Make sure that the amount of hair added to the strands is equal each time. This keeps the braid uniform instead of uneven.
If your hair ends at the part, simply tie it off. Since this style works best on long hair, the braid probably will end somewhere around the forehead.
Try to hide your tail behind your ear. If you have very long hair, you may need to wrap it all the way around your head, ending at the nape of your neck.
