Q&A for How to Make a Fishtail Braid

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  • Question
    How do you make a fishtail braid on short hair?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    You can braid sections of shorter hair to make an accent braid. Simply separate out a strip of hair and create a regular fishtail braid.
  • Question
    Why does my fishtail keep turning into a normal braid when I am following the instructions?
    Community Answer
    If you pull pieces that are too thick, it can start to look like a regular braid. You want to pull thinner pieces from the sections to cross over to the other side.
  • Question
    Can a fishtail braid make your hair wavy?
    Community Answer
    Yes, keep it on for a night or two and then gently take it out, separating chunks of hair to make it even more wavy. A French fishtail braid will make it even wavier.
  • Question
    Is a fishtail braid better than a normal braid?
    Community Answer
    It's just a matter of personal preference.
  • Question
    Can you turn a fishtail braid into buns?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Just make a regular fishtail braid, then twist the braid into a knot and secure it with a hair tie. You can also make two fishtail braids, twist them together, and then twist the whole thing up for a more elaborate bun. These two braided hairdos look great with hair pins and earrings.
  • Question
    What should I do if I braid in the back, but I can't reach my hair?
    Community Answer
    Just pull your hair over your shoulder and continue braiding.
  • Question
    Can I do two fishtail braids, one on each side?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Make two pigtails, one on each side of your head. Braid your hair following the article, then slide the top elastic off.
  • Question
    If I have curly hair and don't want to straighten it, will this work if I brush it well?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it will work.
  • Question
    My hair is curly, so it's hard for my fishtail to look good. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    You can get a straightener to straighten it out a bit before braiding. You can also wet your hair, and brush it out as you wet it, but don't dry it. Just squeeze some water out to make sure it's still straight. Make sure that you braid it while it's wet, and then your hair will dry into the braid, so it won't look bad.
  • Question
    Are fishtail braids easy to make?
    Community Answer
    It's easy enough, but you have to do some practice to do it fast.
  • Question
    When you take the fishtail out, do the waves zigzag?
    Community Answer
    Normally your hair comes out in waves, but if you do it tight, it can zigzag.
  • Question
    What's an easy way to do a fishtail braid?
    Community Answer
    The second strategy looks like it makes the most sense. If you don't want a French fishtail braid, then just do the steps without that little piece of hair.
  • Question
    Is a French tail and a fishtail the same type of braid?
    Community Answer
    No, in a french tail, you cross over the whole section of hair.
  • Question
    How do I do two french braids?
    Community Answer
    Divide hair into two equal parts down the middle, then do each side as if it were one braid.
  • Question
    Can I make two fishtail braids separately?
    Community Answer
    Yes. You can do it on either side by following the same method. Just make sure you don't mess it up by taking thinner portions.
  • Question
    Can I braid hair extensions into my hair and make a fishtail braid with them?
    Community Answer
    Yes, just don't pull too hard! They should work if you are careful enough, I braid mine all the time.
  • Question
    What can I do if I understand the concept, but my result doesn't look nice?
    Community Answer
    Try variations, such as thicker strands, thinner strands, on the side, on the back, multiple braids etc. until you find something that works for you.
  • Question
    What do I do if my hair is uneven?
    Community Answer
    Do a French fishtail braid, and tie it off as a ponytail rather than continuing to braid it.
  • Question
    How do I make a fishtail bun?
    Community Answer
    Make the braid and then just wrap it around into a bun like you would a ponytail, and secure with pins or a hair tie.
  • Question
    How can thick hair hold a fishtail better than thin hair?
    Community Answer
    You have more hair to work with. The more hair you have to work with, the easier it is to braid/bind together.
  • Question
    How do I create the messy tousled look without destroying the braid?
    Community Answer
    You need to gently pull it, making sure you are not pulling anything out. Also, make sure you are not doing in just one area of your hair.
  • Question
    Can I fishtail braid shorter hair, like shoulder length?
    Community Answer
    Yes, if you do the French style. You won't have much left, so it looks great if you just tick the short tail and secure with bobby pins.
  • Question
    Will the French fishtail take up time from my morning routine?
    Community Answer
    It depends on how good you become at it. Practice makes perfect and it makes you faster at doing it.
  • Question
    Will this be easy enough to do on my own hair?
    Community Answer
    If you practice enough, it's really easy. I'm 11 and it's fairly easy for me. Just make sure you follow the directions carefully, there are really great tips included.
  • Question
    Will a fishtail braid work on neck-length hair?
    Community Answer
    Fishtail braids work best with longer hair, at least shoulder-length.
  • Question
    Can I still do a pretty good fishtail if I have short hair?
    Community Answer
    You can do a French fishtail until it reaches your hairline, and then tie it without braiding further.
  • Question
    I really don't understand how to make it. Can you help me?
    Community Answer
    If the instructions aren't helpful, look for a video demonstration on YouTube.
  • Question
    How do I finish it?
    Community Answer
    To finish off the look, secure with a hair tie.
  • Question
    My fishtail braid always looks bad\weird at the top but good at the bottom. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    You just have to keep practicing and you will get it, looking in a mirror helps too.
  • Question
    Can the faux fishtail braid make my hair wavy, without it being wet beforehand?
    Community Answer
    This depends on your hair type. If you leave the faux fishtail braid in long enough, say overnight, your hair might be a little wavy when you take the braid out. You could try using a curling spray or foam before braiding your hair, and the waves may stick a bit better once you take the braid out.
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