French Braids/Plaits

Janepig

DD is in a cheerleading competition at the end of the month (her first) and has to have her hair in two french plaits (or braids, whatever you want to call them). I know there are videos on youtube which show how to do it, but the thing is, I know how to do it, I'm just not very good. DD ends up with two messy plaits! Plus the plaits needed are the over type, not under (iykwim) which I do even messier!! The only time I seem to get the remotest success is when her hair is soaking wet from the swimming pool, but even then they're not as good as I'd like.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone's got any hints or tips. Another mum took her DD to a hairdresser who did them for £5 and she said they sprayed all sorts of gunk on there so I wonder if that helps. Looking at the hairdresser ones, I think one of my problems is that the pieces of hair I take are too thick, but if I take thinner pieces of hair I get bits everywhere.

Please help!

Jxx

hieveryone

If it's going to be important to your daughter and you'll just end up getting stressed out, then personally I'd pay the fiver and get the hairdresser to do it..

Waterfalls

i always do it whilst my hair is wet, and as i have some layers , put a bit of moose in first to get the fly away hairs.
i also use to do it the night before so i didnt need to rush in the morning and slept in it without any problems

Jei70

Practice makes perfect!

Keep the strands as taut as possible (obviously, without pulling on your daughter's scalp!) and run a brush or comb through after every couple of crosses to straighten them as you go.

I find the French (crossing over) and Dutch (crossing under) plaiting easiest on damp hair. However, if your daughter's hair is very fine and slippery, it might help to use mousse or gel spray to make it 'grippier' and easier to style.

Janepig

Thanks for the advice. I would like nothing better than to go to the hairdressers to get it done, but we leave for the competition at 7am so it would have to be done the day before and I'm not convinced it would still look good the following day as she does have such fine hair. My problem also tends to be keeping them high enough up on her head as well - she ends up with plaits down by her ears!! Practice, practice, practice!

Jxx

ailuro2

Plenty of products and not done on freshly washed hair.

Me, I'd go to the hairdresser the day before, and get her a hairnet, then tidy it up in the morning with a fine comb and some hairspray. The bonus is you get to watch how it's done properly, and pick the hairdresser's brains on how to do it better yourself next time, not bad for just a fiver!:D

IlonaRN

I taught myself to do this years ago when I was at school. The only way to get good at it is to practice lots.

xxvickixx

I am really good at doing these, used to do them on myself all the time. I find hair that hasn't been washed for a couple of days easier to handle as it's not too slippy.

Wet hair isn't the best idea as it puffs out when it dries and you loose the neatness.

If you have some clips or grips these can be used to secure the pleat to the head while you give your arms a rest. This helps you resist the temptation to rush if your arms ache.

Putting some dry shampoo (or a little talc if she's blonde) in the hair first might help.

What is her hair like? Mine is very thick and I find if I don't take teeny litte sections it ends up very lumpy with the bulk of hair in the plait against my head. If you take teeny bits then the weight will end up in the free plait which I assume is the desired effect?

Do you have any friends who would pop round and do it that morning?

If you live anywhere near me I'd pop round and help, I'm Essex

Finally sorry for the disjointed collection of thoughts, hope some help and wish your daughter luck in her competition x

msflowerfairy

It also helps if you put one side of her hair into a pigtail while you plait the other side, as it keeps the hair out of the way.

I have fine hair, and i used to put some body lotion into my hands and sweep it over the hair to give it a good base to plait, it smells nice too, just don't use too much as you will make the hair greasy, instead of shiny.

Can you not get one of the other mums to come over first thing, to give you a hand with the plait?
If not take her to the hairdressers the day before, and get her to wear a stocking/hold up on her head while she sleeps, the hair will stay where it is, and will just need a quick tidy up in the morning.

Janepig

Thanks again for the further advice. Sorry Vicki, I'm in Wales so a bit too far for you to drop in on the morning! She's got very fine hair, like me, so it's difficult to plait thin strands, which is why I do it wrong by using thicker bits. She's not going to have a shower/wash her hair tonight, so I'll have another stab at it before bed and I'll try the body lotion trick I think. She never minds going to bed with plaits in though because she knows it means lovely curls tomorrow!!

Jxx

shell_girl

Practice practice practice! It's the only way. And as other's have said- make sure her hair isn't clean as it will be much too flyaway to hold the style.

My sister used to be part of a dance troupe that needed hair done a certain way- are you travelling on a bus with other girls/ mums? Someone with a bit more experience should be happy to do your DDs hair- maybe you could offer to whiten/wipe dance shoes or something in return?