Since this has become a fairly popular subject I'm moving my braid instructions out of my journal and into this article. These instructions should help you with starting a 3 strand braid that is secure and snug against the head, without having to make a ponytail first.

The most important step is how you part your hair before putting it into a braid. I decided to draw up some crappy MS Paint diagrams showing how I part my hair for various types of braids. I use a pointy hairstick to part my hair right at the scalp, instead of just separating the hair into chunks several inches from the scalp.

This is the standard Y-shaped part that I use for my daily 3-strand English braids, which I will demonstrate in these braiding instructions:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/part3y.jpg

Occasionally I will create a T-shaped part for the 3-strand English braid. This looks nicer from the front because all of your front hair goes into the first strand (with the earlier pattern sometimes the bottom strands get baggy around the ears). However, it is harder to part evenly with this parting scheme:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/part3t.jpg

Start with hair combed or brushed straight. It helps if it is lightly (or heavily) oiled, this will make a nice sleek braid. In other words, I braid my hair when I'm a greaseball.
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid1.jpg

Partition off 1/3 of your hair. It takes a lot of practice to know what this feels like. I usually start at a specific place on my temples and draw back in a V shape. The bottom of the V part is where the vertical part will go to separate the two bottom strands.
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid2.jpg

Holding the first top/center strand in one hand, I use the other hand to make a vertical part to separate the lower part of my hair in half to pick up the second strand. I stick out one finger of the hand holding the first strand and hang the second strand on it like a coathook:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid3.jpg

Another view of the second strand hanging on my index finger. Between the last shot and this one I used a BBB to align the hair back towards the crossover point.
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid4.jpg

Cross the second strand over the first one and hold the first & second strands in that position with one hand (I usually switch hands at this point). Stick the index finger out and hang the third strand on it like a coathook:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid5.jpg

Another view of the third strand hanging on my index finger, after being smoothed with a brush to straighten the hairs. We are now ready to start braiding.
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid6.jpg

Braid down as snugly as you can for as many crossovers as you can manage. Then hold all 3 strands in position with fingers between each to not mingle them. We are about to come over a shoulder now:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid7.jpg

Carefully start to bring the braid around your shoulder. I usually tilt my head in one direction and twist my hands to try to keep the braid as straight as possible. My eye is not usually so droopy, though:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid8.jpg

More braiding goodness continued in next post due to image-per-post limitations...

With the braid pulled around, I am ready to continue braiding with my hands in a tilted position to keep the braid from twisting:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid9.jpg

When it gets a little longer you can pull it into a more straight natural position to finish:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid10.jpg

Occasionally you will find that your braid is getting lopsided because one strand is fatter than another. In this case, you can do a hair transfusion from the fatter one to the skinnier one. You may need to do this several times to get a fully even thirds distribution. In this picture, I am going to donate some hair from the right-most strand to the middle strand. Here I have separated a little chunk from of the bottom edge of the right-most strand:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid11.jpg

Cross the right-most strand under, so now you have the little chunk and the former center strand right next to eachother:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid12.jpg

Join the little chunk to the new right-most strand (former center) when it is time to cross it under and continue braiding. If you look closely you can see the place where the strand transfusion occurred (between the 3rd and 4th bump from the bottom):
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid13.jpg

The finished braid:
http://diane.rokatek.com/hair/engbraid14.jpg

Wow Dianyla!

I've long know how to braid my own hair, but the parting ahead of time was a revelation! I never parted it before, I just grabbed it at the base on my neck and split it with two fingers. Yours looks lovely and just goes to show that attention to details make the finished product better! (scurries off to practice)

Thanks!

HoiLei.

Cool! :)

I'll have to try that when my hair gets long enough. Right now, I can only get it into french braids. Thanks!

Thanks Dianyla! However, I part my hair on the side and do not wear it pulled back like you do. Can I start the same way? Otherwise, I braid exactly like you do.

You have the most gorgeous hair. I'm feeling a little discouraged, but it's okay - I'll get over it.

Oh, Dianyla, thanks so much! I think my bangs might almost be grown out enough to stay in that braid!! I'm going to try it for work today.

MariahL.

I'd never thought to part it like that. That is very nifty, and something I'm definitely going to have to give a try. Thanks!

That's really neat!!

Thanks Dianlya I always wondered how you got that even all the way down to the end braid.

Now that I know, I can't wait to try it.

Jeannie

Thanx for this perfect article! I never did the parting thing actually, now I know, and I will follow up your instructions.


Your braid looks so beautiful by the way. You have so pretty, thick and healthy hair!! :cloud9:

WOW! I have been braiding my hair in a classic braid nearly every day for almost 20 years, and my braids have never looked as good as yours. I am going to try this method over the weekend. Your method of parting hair into three "pie pieces" instead of three vertical "slices" is revolutionary. And, I have always suspected that I could blend the larger pieces into the smaller ones as I get to the end, but I have never tried it. I imagine this will take practice to get it where you can't see it.

However, as a side note: I did braid my hair much tighter today than I usually do (per your "non fuzz" instructions), and my braid has remained much smoother than usual. Thanks for your tips.

Dianyla, this is fantastic! I was just thinking today about looking your instructions up and thinking it would be nice if they were in a special post! Thank you so much!

Julie

Thank you so much for these great instructions, Dianyla. :flowers:

Don't feel too bad, nsanders: I've been plaiting my hair nearly every day for over 30 years and it never occured to me to part my hair pie-fashion. D'oh!

I tried it out yesterday, and even with it being my first ham-fisted attempt I could see how good it looked from the back. I want to keep practicing it until I can do it easily, but there's one drawback: the hair on the top/rear/left side of my head is not at all happy about being drawn back in the top wedge of the pie. The pain eventually forced me to undo the plait, and 12 hours later my scalp still hurts there. Any suggestions?

This reminds me of what happens when a certain friend of mine braids my hair, versus when Hubs does it. He starts braids the classic way, at the nape. My friend starts them up higher, like midback-head, and they turn out nearly identical to yours (except for color!). When you start them higher, you have to divide the hair on the head, rather than below it. It creates a more straight, even fall, too, with a small gap between braid and neck. Classic, standard braids, starting at the nape, lay on your clothes and have to angle out along your shoulder/back line. There usually is no gap, too.

I agree with what you wrote (elsewhere) about braiding tightly if you want to keep a braid looking good longer. Looser braids will look lovely for a while, and they do swing more gracefully, but tighter braids last much longer.

Yours is just beautiful, Dianyla! :grin:

That's lovely. It's always satisfying to look at one of your braids, Dianyla... I made my first single braid for sleep last night and I think one strand of that python of yours could swallow my entire braid and never notice! I liked it, though -- now I'll have to try starting higher up.

wow. thank you so much for posting this dianyla :flower:
my hair isn't long enough to braid (yet) but when it is, i am going to need some good instructions (like yours) to help me out.

i have a feeling it's going to take me several hundred tries before i get it to look the way i want it to though. i can honestly say that i have never braided my own hair before :oops: or attempted any "true" updo on my own for that matter.

excellent advise. Thank you.
I'll try this.

Diane, thanks for posting this in a separate article. I think I will try braiding this way tonight before bed. I am sure I will have to practice a lot before it's going-out worthy. :silly:

Speedy

No wonder your braids come out looking so perfect, Dianyla! It never even occurred to me that a braid would be done any other way than three parts, with all of the hair split evenly into sections.

Thank you for showing us how a braid should really be done! I'm going to try this later today! :flowers:

I like your braiding instructions, very thorough. I will try this hairstyle soon. :)

These instructions really helped me out a lot today, and will definitely continue to help. Thanks so much! :flower:

I used my very first attempt at the T-shaped parting to make the most wonderful braided bun !! And it lasted all night at work ! I have never been able to make a braided bun sit where I wanted it before. It was a little difficult getting started but absolutely worth the effort ! This is a technique that I will certainly continue using. Thanks again, Dianyla !!


MariahL.

The braid is stunning and I have to congratulate you on doing all of it and holding the camera!

So thats how its done!! I am able to braid my hair that way, but I always dislike how sloppy the start of the braid look, so I taught myself how to french brain my hair; now I can finally do both styles and have it look nice. Thanks so much for your instructions!

Good idea to post this more prominently! I've always admired it since seeing it in your journal. :thumbsup:

Tried it today for the first time. It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be, and it looks so much better than my regular braid.

Thanks, Dianyla!

Great illustrations, and the pictures are fantastic! :flowers:

Now how would you start a Dutch braid? I make a V with the point at the bottom of the nape.

Wow! I'd have never thought to part in sections like that. I'm definately going to give that a try! Thanks!

Hi Dianyla,

Thanks so much for posting the informative instructions and photos on the English Braid. I hate to sound uninformred...but in step 4 your used the term "BBB." What does that mean?
"D"

BBB = Boar bristle brush

Thank you so much for the pictures and walkthrough! Those made it much easier for me to figure out braiding.

A very beautiful braid. It may be the thickest one I have ever seen.

But that's not the reason for my post.

What amazes me is that you braided that while taking pictures! Do you have a third hand? Amazing!

I just tried this for the first time tonight. I love it! It looks great! :hollie: Thank you, Dianyla! Oh, is this sort of how you start your double braids? You should post an article/how-to on them as well. :wink:

You have such beautiful hair, and you illustrated your braiding technique nicely! Thanks!

When you start them higher, you have to divide the hair on the head, rather than below it. It creates a more straight, even fall, too, with a small gap between braid and neck. Classic, standard braids, starting at the nape, lay on your clothes and have to angle out along your shoulder/back line. There usually is no gap, too.



This is an interesting observation LG, I had not noticed that objectively. I just notice that I get a longer lasting braid and stuff that way. That alone could account for why!

Great instructions Dianyla - I will be checking this out later on in practice.

Impressive and helpfull. Thanks muchily for this I too shall give this a go next I braid my hair.

You have lovely thick hair by the way. Impressive braid.

:L

I just found out another advantage to the English Braid: It is cooler! Not only does it sit just a bit away from your neck as was pointed out further upthread, but because you are pulling the side sections "up" sooner into the braid, instead of resting on your neck and creating a big wad of hair at your nape, they are up in the braid long before reaching that area. My braids have always been too hot in the summer because of the neck issue...but I think this solved it! :D It was quite hot and incredibly humid here yesterday, and I felt fine! Normally I would have to do a french twist to achieve the same level of cool. :cool: LOL And here's one last thought: Since this is such a cooling style, those who literally cannot get their hair into a french twist or who can't do longterm updos because of scalp pain CAN do this and remain like the proverbial cucumber. How about that?!

:bowtome: Diane :bowtome:

The entire South thanks you! :lol:

Speedy

Well, I seem to be the odd one out as it isn't working for me... :sad

Tried it for about a dozen braids last night with the same result everywhere. Pulling scalp hairs, bulges at the neck line, strange fall to the braid and not comfortable at all.

On the other hand - dividing hair into three pieces just at the nape and braiding them downwards creates a snug, comfortable braid for me. My guess is that if you have thick hair like Dianyla and others this have worked for it's a good method, for a fine and (relatively) thinhaired person like myself it's not 100%.

I've tried both ways of parting the hair, I prefer the second, because it looks neater.

But my braid looks kind of pathetic compared to Dianyla's.

Beautiful!! I wondered how you got those braids to look so beautiful. I am going to try it as soon as possible that's for sure!

Thanks Dianyla's - I'm going to try this tomorow. :)

BTW I really like your hair!

I tried this today and it worked really well! I expected it to be more difficult than it turned out to be. It was much neater than my usual type of braid and stayed in well.

It's great to have another alternative way to wear my hair! Yay!

Julie

Thanks Dianyla, I tried your instruction and the braid turned out very nice:inlove:

I tried this for the first time just now, and I love it. My new favorite braid! Thanks for the helpful instructions. :)

Well, I seem to be the odd one out as it isn't working for me... :sad

Tried it for about a dozen braids last night with the same result everywhere. Pulling scalp hairs, bulges at the neck line, strange fall to the braid and not comfortable at all.

On the other hand - dividing hair into three pieces just at the nape and braiding them downwards creates a snug, comfortable braid for me. My guess is that if you have thick hair like Dianyla and others this have worked for it's a good method, for a fine and (relatively) thinhaired person like myself it's not 100%.

Fia, I also have fine, thin hair. I am enjoying this braid, but I think that I am starting it way too high on my head. So, as I practice (I wear a braid every day), I am going to try to deepen the "V" so that the braid starts a little lower on my head. Do you think this might make it better for you as well?

Well, I seem to be the odd one out as it isn't working for me... :sad

Tried it for about a dozen braids last night with the same result everywhere. Pulling scalp hairs, bulges at the neck line, strange fall to the braid and not comfortable at all.

On the other hand - dividing hair into three pieces just at the nape and braiding them downwards creates a snug, comfortable braid for me. My guess is that if you have thick hair like Dianyla and others this have worked for it's a good method, for a fine and (relatively) thinhaired person like myself it's not 100%.
Fia, I'm having the same problems as you; also, one strand ends waay before the others, making the braid thin out towards the end.:sad And I do have thick hair!

I'm glad Dianyla's method works for so many people; however, if I just do a low braid, it's more comfortable, and thick to the very end.

*chants* I must not have braid envy, I must not have braid envy, I must not have braid envy.

I wish my braids were that neat and tidy. Maybe when the damaged hair grows aout a little better they will look more like that.

Oh, is this sort of how you start your double braids? You should post an article/how-to on them as well. :wink:

What she said. My twin braids always look goofy and I find them really hard to do on the back of my head. Any help would be just peachy :

Thanks for posting this, Dianyla! I've been practicing over and over again. I have a constant prob with my braid "torquing" sideways like it's on it's "side" instead of flat, if that makes sense, why?! am I pulling too hard on one side or something? :(.

I am still at work, they must be wondering why I keep spending 10 mins in the bathroom *lol*

What she said. My twin braids always look goofy and I find them really hard to do on the back of my head. Any help would be just peachy :

There is a twin braid thread (I believe) over on the Mane Board.

Using this new (for me) way of dividing my hair has helped tremendously with the dreaded nape tangles. My hair hangs higher and not down the back of my neck. Thanks a bunch :flowers:
Daneille

That is a beautiful braid. Can't wait til my hair is long enough to braid.

this is almost exactly how i braid mine without a band. i even do the transfusing of hair to even out the sections so i dont really need to look at this post but i just have to say i am really just looking at your finished long braid. lol its so long and thick and doesn't taper. beautifull. its an inspiration to those of us trying to grow out colour(to get that virgin shine)and even up the ends to get rid of the tapering braid. you are doing everything right and i for one cant wait to see your braid when you hit ankle length.

Wow! I love your braid. The directions are great and even I can do it. Of course I just washed my hair and I don't have near as much of it.

I started mine lower than yours,but it worked!It worked!I can finally make a braid! :rockerdud

Too bad my braid is short.But it is decent!Yes!

I want to add my thanks :flower: Its such a good idea, especially the T shape which makes it look much better from the front. Shame I still end up with a short stumpy braid at the back :silly:

Heh-heh. I finally got around to trying this today, and was so impressed with the results. Neater looking all the way around, it's up off the neck, and as someone else mentioned, it's positioned better for a braided bun (my previous efforts to start those higher on my head had met with very mixed results.)

Popped in here to add my accolades for Dianyla, and discovered that I didn't do it right! LOL, true to my directionally-challenged nature, I made the "T" upside-down. Something like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/Winddragon/Braidpart_diag.jpg, where I grabbed hold of the side hair and made the lower parts with my thumbnails. The upper line I didn't really 'part', just separated in the middle just below my crown.

I left out a strand and already redid it once, so I'm afraid I'll have to try it Dianyla-style another time. My shoulders are tired. :face: But I wanted to go ahead and throw this version in here as a possible alternative for the few that haven't had as much luck with the other two.

Still, all thanks go to Miz Dianyla. :bowtome: :bowtome: :bowtome: Silly me, never thought of separating the hair any way but just up and down. :flowers:

ETA: I finally got around to doing the thing per Dianyla's instructions, and have to say it worked better for me than my upside-down version - tighter and held its place better. :thumbsup:

Great thread. Love the way this feels. I just had my sister do it for me since I'm braid challenged and it is so comfortable.

Funny, the way you make an "English" braid is the only way I have ever made one. I haven't ever put my hair into a ponytail first. That seems like it would be just extra work. *shrug*

Thank you, Dianyla! I tried your way of parting the hair just now, sitting here in front of the computer. LOL! I am really impressed at how you did the braid and took the photos at the same time; I could not scroll the screen and braid all at once! I will go try this again.

Another note, the only time I put my hair in a pony before braiding it, is when I want a braided pony up high on my head. Sometimes I put in three ponytails, one at the crown, one halfway down my head, one at the nape. Then I braid all three, and it is a cascade of braids.
I keep thinking it would be good to make each of the three pony's into three braids. As soon as I have time, I will do it, nine braids look neat.
Dianyla's braid would be neat as a cascade, doing one higher than in your pictures, then the second just a bit lower than where your pix began. And you have enough hair to do it!

Well, I seem to be the odd one out as it isn't working for me... :sad

Tried it for about a dozen braids last night with the same result everywhere. Pulling scalp hairs, bulges at the neck line, strange fall to the braid and not comfortable at all.

On the other hand - dividing hair into three pieces just at the nape and braiding them downwards creates a snug, comfortable braid for me. My guess is that if you have thick hair like Dianyla and others this have worked for it's a good method, for a fine and (relatively) thinhaired person like myself it's not 100%.
i am totally with you :wail:
i thought it would solve the silly loops i get at the nape of a braid, but i feel like i haven't enough hands to do the bbb trick. i even wonder how one avoids getting knots a bit further below. :disbelief

I'm just gonna say a group thankyou and this is just what keeps us continuing the hair journey, different or new things to succeed at. Will try this.

very nice! i tried it this morning... very quick and easy!

Wow... You have real talent. I have a hard enough time using both hands to braid my hair and you manage to take photos as well. O_O You have lovely hair by the way!

What beautiful hair. Even with my much thinner hair, I was able to get a nice braid. Another time it could be the base for a bun. Thanks for the clear instructions and I second all those who are impressed with your dexterity -- photographing whilst plaiting -- WOW.

very nice, ill' try!

This method is wonderful. My braid looks much more even and stays in place better. The idea of the different way to part (instead of vertical stripes) and pulling the strands horizontalish helps my hair tremendously.

OMG. you have such beautiful long hair. I cannot see photo journals yet and i'm starting to think that when i do, seeing everyone's lovely long hair might just put me in shock. I sooo envy your hair, really. Look at that fat long shiny braid! i wish i had that much hair!! lucky u