Q&A for How to French Braid Short Hair

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  • Question
    What is a fishtail braid?
    Ndeye Anta Niang
    Hair Stylist & Master Braider
    Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
    Hair Stylist & Master Braider
    Expert Answer
    It's actually the same thing as a French braid, except you add a step. While the French braid uses 3 strings along a sequence, with the fishtail you keep layering the strings over one another with a stop after every 2 strings. Then, you regather the 2 together and layer those together. It's just a slightly different process.
  • Question
    How long do short French braids last?
    Ndeye Anta Niang
    Hair Stylist & Master Braider
    Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
    Hair Stylist & Master Braider
    Expert Answer
    They probably aren't going to last super long. When your hair is super short, it's easy for the pressure to pull them apart. But that's okay! It just means you get to try something new soon.
  • Question
    How do you do a double French braid?
    Ndeye Anta Niang
    Hair Stylist & Master Braider
    Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
    Hair Stylist & Master Braider
    Expert Answer
    For a double French braid, you part the hair in the middle from the front to the back. Then you do French braids one each side so they're symmetrical.
  • Question
    How long does hair need to be for a French braid?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If you follow the curve of your head from front to back as you braid, your hair doesn’t have to be very long at all! For example, you can create a short French braid crown on one or both sides with chin-length hair by starting at the middle of your forehead and working back around the sides. You’ll need to use a texturizing spray to keep the short pieces of hair from falling out of the braid.
  • Question
    What braid is best for short hair?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Crown braids or French side braids work great for short hair. If you have short natural curls, classic cornrows are another great option.
  • Question
    Can you do a fishtail French braid?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Absolutely. In fact, most fishtail braids are done in the French style, incorporating more pieces of hair as you work your way along the head. It just requires a little more intricate sectioning and weaving than a standard French braid.
  • Question
    What should I do if I have really short hair?
    Community Answer
    Shoulder-length hair should work, but anything shorter is hard. You can still french braid a bob, a pixie cut, or even a mohawk but any style that is shorter than one inch (2.5cm) won't work. You can either use hair extensions or grow it out.
  • Question
    Is it easier to learn to French braid on another person and then to move onto yourself or to just learn to do it to yourself?
    jasmine
    Community Answer
    It's better to learn on someone else or a hair doll because you can see what you are doing and what you messed up so you can learn to do your best. When you have that down, then move on to braiding your own hair.
  • Question
    What type of spray do you recommend?
    Community Answer
    Sexy Hair is one of the best; it holds all day with whatever you do.
  • Question
    I don't have hairspray, what to do?
    KY_GirlatHeart
    Community Answer
    You can make your own spray by filling up a spray bottle with water and adding a bit of conditioner.
  • Question
    how long does it take ?
    KY_GirlatHeart
    Community Answer
    If you're new to French braiding, it'll take quite some time, so you'll need to be patient. However, if you're experienced with French braiding, it shouldn't take too long.
  • Question
    i've tried putting hair extensions to grow my short hair but it did not work so what am I supposed to do
    KY_GirlatHeart
    Community Answer
    You could try out the French braid pigtails, or you could wait it out until your hair grows long enough to do so. It'll require a lot of patience, it's going to be at least another year or so before hair will grow out the way you'd like it to!
  • Question
    Do these work if you have long hair? (Hair halfway down your back.)
    KY_GirlatHeart
    Community Answer
    Sure! You could do the French braid pigtails to give it an eccentric look, or you could check out other articles on how to do French braids on long hair.
  • Question
    I can braid someone else's hair but It is difficult to braid my own.
    KY_GirlatHeart
    Community Answer
    You could ask somebody to do the braid for you if you want, such as your mom or an older sister/cousin. You could also spend at least 5 to 10 minutes a day practicing your braiding skills on yourself. Just take it slowly, and pretty soon you'll get the hang of it!
  • Question
    Do you have to use hairspray ?
    KY_GirlatHeart
    Community Answer
    It's recommended to do so. Hairspray works great on braids because it holds them in place and can tame flyaways. If hairspray isn't readily available for you, you can easily make your own by filling up a clean spray bottle with water and a bit of conditioner; this works just as well as normal hairspray would!
  • Question
    How do I stop my hand from getting tired?
    KY_GirlatHeart
    Community Answer
    Try holding onto what you have finished with your braid with one hand and relax the other by rotating your wrist. Then repeat this, but let the relaxed hand hold the braid and the other hand rotate. You can do this as many times as you need to, but don't do it too often that you accidentally let go of the braid and have to do it all over again!
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