How to Do a French Braid in 6 Straightforward Steps
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First got here Zendaya‘s ethereal Athena-coded fishtail braid at The Odyssey premiere. Next got here Ella Rubin’s Sterling Point French braid. Then, I noticed Gigi Hadid carrying the basic coiffure. If the premieres, TV reveals and the tastemakers on my feeds are something to go by, then this coiffure is firmly again as a defining autumn 2026 hair trend.
Despite its title, the French braid would not really originate from France. The very first depiction of braids has deep roots in North Africa, the place historical stone work depict braiding strategies going again hundreds of years, which have been used to suggest age, identification, social rank and marital standing. The “French braid” is believed to have been popularised inside Western media within the nineteenth century.
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The three-stranded coiffure begins on the crown and weaves down, sitting near the pinnacle as items of hair are progressively added into every part. The French braid entails the plaits crossing over the center part, alternating from left to proper, whereas a Dutch braid entails the sections transferring beneath the center part, which ends up in a extra voluminous braid, while the French braid sits nearer to the pinnacle.
Whilst it would look and sound a bit sophisticated, fortunately, this coiffure is definitely fairly straightforward to duplicate with a little bit of follow (and a little bit of an arm exercise), and for those who can already do a easy plait, then a French braid solely takes one easy addition to the tactic. I’m notoriously cack-handed with regards to styling my hair past a easy ponytail or slicked-back bun. So if I can do it, you are able to do it. Scroll on for the step-by-step information to a French braid.
How to Do a French Braid
(Image credit score: @eleanorvousden for Who What Wear UK)
1. Prep Hair
Firstly, I’d advocate doing a French braid on second-day hair, particularly you probably have straight or slippery hair, as this can assist to provide your braid extra grip. So skip the shampoo. However, you can too mist in some texturising spray to assist create higher maintain, or these with straight hair can use a curling wand to twist the hair, which is able to create extra quantity, texture and maintain. If you’ve gotten pure curls or waves, then you could discover your hair has sufficient maintain to forgo further product.
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2. Section Hair
Brush by your hair to take away any tangles or knots. Then, to start your French braid, create a triangle-shaped part on the prime of your hair and divide the part into three equal-sized sections.
3. Begin Plaiting
Start plaiting by swapping the left facet with the center part, after which crossing the appropriate part with the center to start out the French braid.
4. Add Hair to Each Section
You wish to proceed plaiting, however add one other piece of hair to every part as you braid, repeating the movement and progressively including extra hair as you go. For a French braid, you wish to transfer the hair over the center part with every crossover. For a Dutch braid, you may transfer the sections beneath the center part, which ends up in a extra distinguished braid that sits outwards from the pinnacle. A French braid will sit nearer to your head.
5. Keep Braiding
Continue including extra hair into every part as you go, as you attain the nape of your neck, you may most likely have added the rest of your hair into the braid, and you’ll proceed plaiting the remainder of the size as you’ll with a regular plait. Secure the ends with a hair tie to complete.
6. Pull Out Pieces
You can loosen some face-framing layers and tendrils to make the French braid really feel extra easy, and in addition gently pull at sections to make the braid extra voluminous and fewer excellent. I like to complete with a light-weight mist of hairspray to assist the braid keep safe, however you can additionally add a hair serum or hair oil to the ends, mist by a texturising spray for a messier and undone end, or use a curl cream to outline any free curls or waves you’ve got pulled out.
The Result
And there you’ve gotten your French braid. You can experiment with the quantity of hair you add to every part, which is able to have an effect on the general look of your braid. It’s a mode that positively takes a little bit of follow initially, however is really easy after getting the cling of the approach.
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