- 1). Detangle the hair completely and dampen the hair slightly, since hair braiding on dry hair can be difficult as the hair has a tendency to slip between the fingers. When you braid hair that is damp the results are a cleaner looking braid with less frizz. You might also want to add a dollop of mousse or gel to the damp hair to prevent fly aways.
- 2). Split all of the hair on the head into four sections by creating a part that goes straight down the middle of the head from front to back and again over the top of the head from ear to ear. Use a butterfly clamp to secure each section, since you'll need to be able to remove them with one hand as you're braiding. The sections will be connected to each other in the final product, but must begin separately to prevent tangling and confusion.
- 3). Begin braiding the first section. You might find it easiest to start with one of the front sections. Use the dutch style braid (an inside-out french braid) for the figure eight so that it looks like the entire braid is sitting outside of the head.
- 4). Braid the front two sections back, toward the back of the head.
- 5). Braid the back two sections upside down and toward the front.
- 6). Criss cross the braids so that they form a figure eight by looping their tails around each other.
- 7). Secure with bobby pins if necessary.
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