How to Do a Basic Fishtail Braid

I love the fishtail braid because it is a less chunky version of a normal braid. I showed you how to do another version of the fishtail braid before. Here is the more traditional method.

Thank you jessyratfink for letting me play with your hair :)

Step 1: Getting Started

You can have your hair parted down the middle to start, but it isn't necessary. You don't really need any supplies for this hairstyle. Just a brush and a small hair band.

Start out by separating your hair into two equal sections.

Step 2: Starting the Braid

*For this type of braid you are just taking sections and moving them back and forth. You can take as big or as small of sections as you want depending on the look you want. The bigger the strands, the chunkier the braid and the smaller the strands the smaller the braid.

1. Separate your hair into two sections (red) and (yellow)
2. Start by grabbing a small section (blue) of hair from the outside of the right section of hair (yellow).
3. Bring that small section of hair (blue) over the top of the right section (yellow), bring it down between the two sections, and then add it to the inside of the left section (red).
4. Repeat on the left side, taking a strand from the outside of the left section (green) and bringing it over to join the right section (yellow).
5. At this point you have red and blue together, and green and yellow together.

Now just continue on over and over again until you get to the end!

I always grab from the outside of whatever hair section you are on and bring it to the inside of the other section. This ensures you aren't just grabbing the same strands and bringing them back and forth. If you do, those strands will get short way to fast. You want to evenly distribute which strands you are using.

Step 3: Continue Braiding

Continue braiding. You can keep the braid tight, like we did for the other fishtail braid, or keep it looser.

When you reach the end, tie it off with a hair band and you are done!

Step 4: Finished Basic Fishtail Braid

Isn't it cute!

Comments

[ForTheLoveOfFood]

i can never fishtail braid, even though i try really hard

[Luna Lovegood1]

same :)

[KatelynnW]

The first time I tried it, it didn't look too flawless. I practiced and now I CAN DO IT PERFECTLEY!!!!!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Awesome! I always do it when I want something just a tad fancier than a regular braid :)

[ffionmarshall190]

Amazing idea with the colours! It is sooo cute!!! I have always wanted to do this braid and doing it like this has been very helpful! xx

[jdawg99]

I can never do a fishtail braid but you have made it easier to learn!!! Thx

[midsummermuse]

It IS very cute! I've always admired this type of braid and the French braid for looking so fancy, and now I know how to do it. Now, to see if I can do it myself to my own hair... And--I wanted to add a voice to the crowd complimenting your addition to colored lines for braid clarity. It reminds me of instructions I've seen in knot books.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Thank you :) I've been able to do it to myself, but it is easiest to do on your own hair if you pull it over one shoulder and then braid it. So it's an over the shoulder off center braid :)

[Poppy Ann]

I use to do it by seperating the hair into 4 sections then it is outside over inside then cross the middle two that was both outside ones over both the middle ones then cross the middle two and just keep doing that until no hair left.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Sounds like an awesome 4 section braid! I'd love to see it :)

[Poppy Ann]

Hi Penolopy,

I would love to show you a photo but i can no longer manage to do it on my own hair and i do not know anyone near here who would let me do it on their hair.
it is an easy braid to do and easy braid to show others how to do.

regards Poppy Ann.

[keng]

The coloured line are awesome. What a great way to show the braid!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Thanks!

[fred27]

Just for a second I thought that tattoo said "instructables"

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Haha! No :)

[HollyMann]

That is adorable - looks like Jessy's hair :) I love all types of braids. I like doing my nieces hair like that but it's hard as their hair is so fine. But it always looks very cool!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Thanks for taking a look! I hope you are able to get it to work with your nieces hair :)

[doodlecraft]

I've been fish braiding my daughters hair lately...but I am super impressed to see the instructions all written out, that's hard to explain! :) Love it! Perfect Elvish hairdo! :)

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Thanks!

[sunshiine]

Love the demo colors! You can see that it is less chunky, I like this version best. Thanks for sharing and do have a great day.

sunshiine