Types of Hair Braids

Here are some beautiful ways to braid hair in different shapes and types, from the French or English braid to the Fishtail or Rope braid hairstyles.

There are many types of hair braids depending on the braiding technique and how complex they are.

• English Braid It's the basic three strand braid. Beginning at the nape of the neck you divide the hair into 3 sections and start switching the sections from left over the middle and then from right over the middle.
• French Braid It is the same as the English Braid but instead of starting at the nape of the neck it starts from the forehead working it's way down.
• Dutch Braid It is an inverted French braid because instead of switching the sections left over the middle, right over the middle, you need to do them left under the middle, right under the middle.

• Biker Braid A ponytail secured at different intervals with hair elastic.

• Swiss Braid Two braids made on each side that are crossed around the head in the shape of a crown.

• Rope Braid This type is usually done with wet hair. The hair is pulled back into a ponytail, secured with elastic and divided into two sections. Each section is twisted clockwise and then the right one is wrapped tightly over the left one counterclockwise until the end of the ponytail.

• Multi Strand Braid This type of braiding uses 5 to 9 hair strands and it is a very complex technique.

• Fishtail or Herringbone Braid The hair is pulled back into a ponytail, secured with elastic and divided into two sections. Take a very small part of the left section and cross it to join the right one, making the same with a small part from the right section to the left. Keep crossing small sections until there is no more hair you can cross. You can tie an elastic around the braid or you can simply leave it like that because they are hard to undo.