French braiding takes some practice, but can be mastered if you take the time to learn. It's only a little bit more complex than a regular braid. How to French braid hair will show you how you can create this sophisticated braid and use the basics of French braiding to make more elaborate hairstyles.

A French braid is a more elegant version of a regular braid. If you learn to French braid well, people will be impressed at your ability to master this more complicated hairstyle. You'll also have a great look for fancy events at your fingertips.

1. Practice on someone else before trying to French braid your own hair.
2. Make sure all layers of the hair are at least shoulder-length.
3. If braiding your own hair, use two mirrors so you can see the back of your head.
4. Add the same amount of hair into the braid each time.
5. Pull hair evenly to keep the braid straight.

• Wide-tooth Comb with a Rat-tail

• Two Mirrors

• Ponytail Holder

• Hairspray

• Hair Dryer (optional)

• Aloe Vera Gel (optional)

• If you take the time to prepare the hair properly, you'll end up with better results. Here's a few ways to prep your hair.

1. To be able to French braid hair, the shortest layers must be at least shoulder-length.Updo Princess: How to french braid hair
2. It might help if you work with wet hair.The SouthtownStar: How to French-braid hair (March 3, 2008)
   • -Let the hair dry for 30 minutes to an hour before you start to braid.Buzzle.com: How to Braid Hair
3. Blow dry curly or wavy hair so that it's straight and easier to work with.Buzzle.com: How to Braid Hair
4. Your wrists and fingers should be free of jewelry, and your fingernails should be smooth.LongLocks.com: Hair Braiding Basics
5. Try applying aloe vera gel to help keep hair in place.Dreamweaver Braiding: Making Smooth Braids
6. Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle and smooth hair.LongLocks.com: Hair Braiding Basics

• There are two parts to a French braid: the braid that runs along the back of the head and the braid that hangs down the back. The first part is a bit trickier, but if you already know how to braid you should be able to get the hang of it.

1. If possible, stand in front of a mirror when braiding your own hair, and place another mirror behind you so that you can see the back of your head.LongLocks.com: Hair Braiding Basics
2. Comb the hair straight back from the top of the head.How to Do Things.com: How to French Braid Your Hair
   • -If you want some loose, wispy strands in the front, arrange them during this step.How to Do Things.com: How to French Braid Your Hair
3. Take a two-inch section of hair from the top of your head and divide it into three sections.Seventeen.com: French Braids - How to French Braid Hair
4. Comb each section until it lies flat.LoveToKnow: How to French Braid
5. Hold the right section in your right hand and the remaining two sections in your left hand, making sure to keep the sections separated.ViewDo: How to French Braid (Time: 4:08)
6. Fold the left strand over the middle strand so that the left is now the middle strand.
7. Tighten the braid by pulling the hair sections away from each other.Cosmo Girl: How to French Braid
8. Fold the right strand over the middle strand so that it's now the middle strand.
9. Tighten the hair again.
10. Take a small section of hair from the left hairline by drawing a line against the scalp using a rat-tail comb.Expert Village: How to French Braid Hair (Time: 1:20)
    • -You can also use your fingers.The SouthtownStar: How to French-braid hair
11. Run your fingers through this new section in order to get it to lie flat.How to Do Things.com: How to French Braid Your Hair
12. Combine this new section of hair with the strand already on the left.ViewDo: How to French Braid (Time: 4:08)
    • -You can control how loose or tight the weave is during this step. For a tighter weave, combine the strands further up towards the scalp.LongLocks.com: Hair Braiding Basics
13. Fold the left strand over the middle strand and tighten the braid.
14. Repeat steps 9-12 on the right side, and then again on the left. Try to add about the same amount of hair in each new strand.Updo Princess: How to french braid hair
15. Keep braiding until you reach the bottom of the hairline.The SouthtownStar: How to French-braid hair

• From this point on, you're just creating a regular braid.

1. Gently comb remaining hair smooth.Howcast: How to Braid Hair (Time: 3:08)
2. Separate the loose hair into three equal sections.
3. If you ended the French braid by folding over the left strand, start the regular braid by folding the right strand over the middle.Seventeen.com: French Braids - How to French Braid Hair
4. Comb the remaining hair while you braid and keep the strands separate.Dreamweaver Braiding: Making Smooth Braids
5. Alternate crossing right and left sections.Howcast: How to Braid Hair (Time: 3:08)
6. Again, after each fold, tighten the braid gently.Dreamweaver Braiding: Making Smooth Braids Be sure to pull hair evenly to keep the braid straight.Buzzle.com: How to Braid Hair
7. When you're almost out of hair, wrap a hairband around the end to secure.How to Do Things.com How to Braid Hair If you like, you can also add a ribbon or barrette.Buzzle.com: How to Braid Hair
8. Spray the hair with hairspray to finish.Seventeen.com: French Braids - How to French Braid Hair

1. Practice on someone else before trying to French braid your own hair.suite101.com: French Braids: How to Give Your Hair Elegant Style

2. Slow and steady wins. If you make a mistake, remember that you can always just try again.Dreamweaver Braiding: Making Smooth Braids

3. If your arms begin to ache, just use a clip to secure the braid while you give yourself a rest.LoveToKnow: How to French Braid

• As with a regular braid, there are many ways that you can use French braiding to create unique hairstyles.

1. If you prefer, you can skip step three and end the braid with a regular ponytail by securing the hair at the top of your neck with an elastic or barrette.How to Do Things.com: How to French Braid Your Hair
2. French braid a section on each side of your head and then join the two sections together with a hair elastic.Seventeen.com: French Braids - How to French Braid Hair Leave the rest of your hair free.
   • -You can create French braid pigtails by continuing to braid both sides and using two hair elastics.Seventeen.com: French Braids - How to French Braid Hair
3. Use a curling iron to create some loose curls, and then French braid a small section that goes down along one side of your head towards the back of your neck.LoveToKnow: How to French Braid
4. The Dutch Braid is closely related to the French Braid. Instead of folding each strand over the middle one, fold it under.Expert Village: How to Dutch Braid (Time: 4:26)