Braids are EVERYWHERE. On the red-carpet, at the office, on the beach, almost every day I see someone rocking some sort of braid. Clients love braids, and I often get asked to do them when working on set and with celebrities. Braiding used to freak me out, but I soon realized that all those gorgeous braids are much easier to execute than they look. Plus, a few simple products and tools can make the whole thing really easy.
Check out some of the tips below to take your braiding skills to the next level. For any stylist who's looking to work in the bridal hair industry, or if you have an interest in doing editorial work, this article is definitely a must-read. Â
The way I learned to braid was by going on Youtube and watching the pros. There's an endless amount of braid tutorials online, and if you're anything like me (and most hairstylists) you learn by watching someone do the work.Â
The most enjoyable part about this process is you will quickly see how easy braiding can be. Most often a single braiding style can be made to look many different ways depending how you manipulate the hair. This was the most beneficial thing I learned by watching online tutorials.Â
Have you ever tried to braid someone's really clean, soft hair?  Well if you have, then you may have never wanted to braid hair again.
One of the simplest tricks to braiding is to wet the hair slightly or add styling cream to build texture. This will make the hair much easier to braid because you can actually hold onto it and create clean sections.  Soft, clean, dry hair will make your braiding adventure hell.Â
Helpful Braiding Products
Speaking of sectioning, this is the second most important step when braiding. It's almost impossible to make clean, multiple braids without sectioning the hair first. This will cut down the time it takes to braid the hair, and you'll avoid having to start all over again because a piece of a part is crooked.Â
One of the funnest tricks to some of the hottest braided looks, is to deconstruct the braids like crazy. Get comfortable with pulling those suckers apart. Braids can often look too girly and juvenile when left un-mussed. More is usually more when it comes to deconstruction. I've often thought I'd thoroughly ruffed up a braid, but when I look back at the photos, I'll see I could have taken it further.Â
Tip - When working on set, take photos of you work as you're styling the hair. Sometimes we can get too in our heads when we've been working on the same style for awhile. Take a step back, snap a photo, and get another look at your work. This will tell you if you need to scale the hair up a little, or scale it back.
Further Reading
The Hair Products that Every Editorial Hairstylist Can't Live WithoutÂ
How to Build Your Bridal Hair Business
How to Become a Celebrity Hairstylist
Check out some of the tips below to take your braiding skills to the next level. For any stylist who's looking to work in the bridal hair industry, or if you have an interest in doing editorial work, this article is definitely a must-read. Â
1. Get Inspired
The way I learned to braid was by going on Youtube and watching the pros. There's an endless amount of braid tutorials online, and if you're anything like me (and most hairstylists) you learn by watching someone do the work.Â
The most enjoyable part about this process is you will quickly see how easy braiding can be. Most often a single braiding style can be made to look many different ways depending how you manipulate the hair. This was the most beneficial thing I learned by watching online tutorials.Â
2. Prepping the Hair
Have you ever tried to braid someone's really clean, soft hair?  Well if you have, then you may have never wanted to braid hair again.
One of the simplest tricks to braiding is to wet the hair slightly or add styling cream to build texture. This will make the hair much easier to braid because you can actually hold onto it and create clean sections.  Soft, clean, dry hair will make your braiding adventure hell.Â
Helpful Braiding Products
- Rusk Wired Flexible Styling Creme
- ShamPhree Masterbraider Braid and Wave Spray
- Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
- Oribe Dry Texture Spray
3. Sectioning
Speaking of sectioning, this is the second most important step when braiding. It's almost impossible to make clean, multiple braids without sectioning the hair first. This will cut down the time it takes to braid the hair, and you'll avoid having to start all over again because a piece of a part is crooked.Â
4. Get Comfortable With Deconstruction
One of the funnest tricks to some of the hottest braided looks, is to deconstruct the braids like crazy. Get comfortable with pulling those suckers apart. Braids can often look too girly and juvenile when left un-mussed. More is usually more when it comes to deconstruction. I've often thought I'd thoroughly ruffed up a braid, but when I look back at the photos, I'll see I could have taken it further.Â
Tip - When working on set, take photos of you work as you're styling the hair. Sometimes we can get too in our heads when we've been working on the same style for awhile. Take a step back, snap a photo, and get another look at your work. This will tell you if you need to scale the hair up a little, or scale it back.
Further Reading
The Hair Products that Every Editorial Hairstylist Can't Live WithoutÂ
How to Build Your Bridal Hair Business
How to Become a Celebrity Hairstylist
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