I am one of those people who adores the look and the idea of fancy styling but never seems to manage this trickery myself. Despite wishing it were otherwise, beyond the basics I am either pretty clueless or just don’t have the patience for all the intricacies.
Personally, I keep things simple and confess hair styling is one of my weakest areas. I usually put my hair up most days, let it out with some product for going out and that’s about it. I have a curler I’ve only tested but never used!
A budding fashionista, my girl child Miss 6 has been bugging me to make her a fish plait. I would have loved to try but I had no idea how; all the verbal advice I’d received and instructional videos seemed to make it far more complicated than it is. Hands get in the way and it isn’t clear.
Somehow I managed to work it out without someone demonstrating and realised how incredibly simple it actually is. If you can French Braid, it will be easy for you. Admittedly, the process does take longer to progress than a regular plait or braid.
So this is what I will do today: break it down into easy, visual steps for intimidated beginners like me!
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Best results are with dampened, detangler sprayed or not quite dry hair, so it can be combed neatly and therefore easier to pick up sections. As my daughter’s hair is super fine, I can only do it this way.
Ta da! I was amazed I did this and my girl was thrilled with my effort. I posted it to Facebook and Instagram and it was a hit but I also received feedback that echoed my own experience.
1. Divide hair in half. From the right side, take a small, defined wisp of hair from the outer underneath, crossing over the top to join it as one with the left.
2. If you're doing it right, your hands should look like this. Then, holding onto both groups of hair with your right (or preferred) hand, take a small wisp of hair from the outer side of the left, bringing it across to join the right half. Continue alternating like this! That is all you need to do. As long as you are holding onto the hair sections and not losing them, you're doing it!
3. Eventually your hands will get a sense of how to hold and move the hair smoothly.
4. You can see the pattern take shape. The main thing is to try to keep the smaller strands tight and not lose them. Continue to the end.
If you’re a beginner and you try this, please let me know how you go, I’m sure your girls, or you, will be as impressed with you as my daughter was with me.
PS As I am the family photographer, it was impossible to demonstrate and shoot, so I hope these photos will do.
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