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And I know Im not the only one with a braid horror story in my history.
Courtesy of The Braid Book
Hint: Just like the perfect winged liner, a neat plait requires practice.
When your hair is just washed, it is very slippery.
Hiscox argues that the most important step of a stellar braid is a straight part.
Courtesy of The Braid Book
And youll need a rattail or pintail comb to get it just right.
Use the long wire end of the tool to part.
Then, section off the hair with clips so that the hairs dont wander back into the parting.
Courtesy of The Braid Book
So what about the back of the head?
Use two mirrors: one stationary and one handheld to see hard-to-reach areas better.
Knotty strands will cause hair to snag and tangle while you attempt to braid.
confirm to detangle all your sections from roots to ends before braiding.
And clip away the sections youre not working on to avoid getting tangles midway through your plait.
Dont be shy about coaching yourself on how to braid your own hairespecially if youre a beginner.
Celebrity stylist Sarah Potempa calls this a braid mantra.
Start by creating a tight braid, and secure with an elastic.
Work your way from the top of the braid down to the ends.
Potempa calls this special technique pancaking and your braid will double in size.
The finishing touches you put on your braid are all about the look youre trying to achieve.
If you want a sleek, shiny finish, spray the hair around the hairline with hairspray.
Then, use the rattail comb to smooth everything back before the spray dries.
Then, use a blowdryer as a wind machine to get a subtle halo of texture.
The biggest question we get: How to get longevity out of the braids, says Hiscox.
It stops friction, so it stays neater for longer.
