How to French Braid Black Hair

Black women were French braiding their hair long before it was called a French braid. Women wore what was called invisible cornrows in their hair as part of a cultural hairstyles and because this hairstyle was beautiful and easy to maintain in black hair. With the influx of easy styling options like relaxers and perms, braiding has become less popular and so the art of braiding has suffered. Fortunately, this skill can be learned quite easily.


Instructions

Step1:Prepare your hair to braid. Moisturize or oil your scalp and hair before beginning the French braid. This will give the hairstyle great shine and make it easier to braid. Brush your hair with a good bristled hairbrush to remove kinks and tangles. After brushing your hair thoroughly, brush the sides in and upward motion to create a Mohawk hairdo. The cool thing about black hair is that in most cases the hair will stand up and hold this shape, making it easier to create the French braid.

Step2:Start at the front of the scalp and gather a 3-inch wide by 2-inch section while separating it into three parts. Hold the outside sections in each hand between the index fingers and the thumb. Hold the center section by wrapping the middle finger of the left hand around it.

Step3:Take the section of hair in the right hand and cross it over the center section taking hold of it with the middle finger of the left hand. You will drop the section currently held by that finger as you pick up the new section.

Step4:Using your free right hand, you pick up an inch thick section of hair with your index finger and grab the middle section you previously dropped with your thumb. This is your new right section.

Step5:Repeat the last step, this time leading with your left hand. Cross the hair you are holding in your left hand over the center section and grab it with your middle finger of your right hand dropping the middle section. This will free your left hand to pick up a section of hair and the middle section.

Step6:Continue Steps 4 through 6 while alternating hands braiding all the way down the center of the head. When you get to the end, braid any remaining hair and secure it with a band or hair clip.