Sorry if this has been discussed before! Those of you that have tried Easybraid...is it worth it? Does it help at all? I am completely braid-challenged. I can't french braid my own hair to save my life. I need at least another set of arms! :shock:

It's not that I don't understand the technique. I just can't the sections even, I can't get the tension even. I can't see what I am doing so it just ends up looking like a mess. It probably doesn't help that I have curly, layered hair. :rolleyes: The longest layers are bra-strap length. Maybe my hair just isn't long enough yet? Or maybe it would be better to braid wet than dry?

Any of you master braiders care to share your techniques? Just how do you do it? I have been wetting my hair every day because I don't know what else to do with it, but if I could figure out this braiding business, I would have a lot more options! TIA!

I had no luck with Easy Braider at all. But my hair is totally different from yours so maybe you would have better results with it. My hair is one length and almost straight. I thought I needed a couple extra arms too but I found out you also need eyes in the back of your head with that thing :D It seems like a good idea but it just didn't work for me. They are inexpensive so maybe give it a whirl and see if you like it.

I had something very similar to the easy braid (braidini) and it did not work at all. In fact, my braids were looser and came out faster when I used it. --Cheryl

I dry braid 24/7 without any problem, but my hair is essentially all one length (well, except for my tufts and frizzies). I think having layers would make braiding more difficult (I've heard that French braids are easier for layered hair). My hair is wavy, and although I can get a much neater braid when my hair is damp, my hair prefers to be braided dry (it gets kinky and frizzier and more difficult when I braid wet). Ducli has curly hair and she wet braids daily. I think you'll have to experiment to see whether wet or dry is better for your braid and/or your hair.

I've been braiding for quite a number of years. I have absolutely no talents in this area -- I can only do one type of a braid: a single braid down the back, starting at the nape. I guess it's kind of boring, but I'm happy, my hair is happy, my husband likes it, it's convenient, so who's complaining? ;) But, getting it right took lots and lots and lots of practice. If you've just started braiding, be patient with yourself. Perhaps take a half hour (or hour) now and then just to practice braiding. I just do about two or three crossovers behind my head, then I flip the braid over my shoulder to finish it. Although I could braid my hair in the dark, I find it helps to look in the mirror (or at least have the mirror there in case I need it) as I go (but only after I flip it over my shoulder -- I never, ever use a mirror when I am braiding behind me). I keep the tension light down the length. It DOES take practice to get the tension even! I also smooth the strands as I go, which helps keep the braid neat.

Getting the sections even from the get-go is essential for a good braid. You may need to practice this, or, once you get going, if you feel they aren't even, start over. Some days I redo my braid three times (or more), though most of the time these days I get it right from the start, but this is only due to practice, practice, practice.

You might want to keep your braid tail (or "tassel") extra long for now, especially since you are growing out layers. Many of us who braid have a six inch or longer tassel. Dulci braids to the wee ends of her hair, though, so it's a bit of personal preference. My tail is about 6-8 inches long most days (though some days it's closer to 4-5 inches).

Don't fight your braid! :evil: If you get into a battle, you can bet your braid will win! Just patiently start over and try again. Braiding really does help us learn patience, but when you get it right (and you WILL get it right!!) you will have every reason to feel proud!! :mrgreen:

i have thick layered and wavy (bordering on curly) hair just past BS-length and i can do all sorts of braids.

it's just a matter of practice and patience.
for me, all styles work best on damp hair.

I dry braid 24/7 without any problem, but my hair is essentially all one length (well, except for my tufts and frizzies). I think having layers would make braiding more difficult (I've heard that French braids are easier for layered hair). My hair is wavy, and although I can get a much neater braid when my hair is damp, my hair prefers to be braided dry (it gets kinky and frizzier and more difficult when I braid wet). Ducli has curly hair and she wet braids daily. I think you'll have to experiment to see whether wet or dry is better for your braid and/or your hair.

I've been braiding for quite a number of years. I have absolutely no talents in this area -- I can only do one type of a braid: a single braid down the back, starting at the nape. I guess it's kind of boring, but I'm happy, my hair is happy, my husband likes it, it's convenient, so who's complaining? ;) But, getting it right took lots and lots and lots of practice. If you've just started braiding, be patient with yourself. Perhaps take a half hour (or hour) now and then just to practice braiding. I just do about two or three crossovers behind my head, then I flip the braid over my shoulder to finish it. Although I could braid my hair in the dark, I find it helps to look in the mirror (or at least have the mirror there in case I need it) as I go (but only after I flip it over my shoulder -- I never, ever use a mirror when I am braiding behind me). I keep the tension light down the length. It DOES take practice to get the tension even! I also smooth the strands as I go, which helps keep the braid neat.

Getting the sections even from the get-go is essential for a good braid. You may need to practice this, or, once you get going, if you feel they aren't even, start over. Some days I redo my braid three times (or more), though most of the time these days I get it right from the start, but this is only due to practice, practice, practice.

You might want to keep your braid tail (or "tassel") extra long for now, especially since you are growing out layers. Many of us who braid have a six inch or longer tassel. Dulci braids to the wee ends of her hair, though, so it's a bit of personal preference. My tail is about 6-8 inches long most days (though some days it's closer to 4-5 inches).

Don't fight your braid! :evil: If you get into a battle, you can bet your braid will win! Just patiently start over and try again. Braiding really does help us learn patience, but when you get it right (and you WILL get it right!!) you will have every reason to feel proud!! :mrgreen:

I'm glad I read this, Pixna! I'm one of those who is definitely braid challenged. I posted on the Polls board that I can only do a side braid. How retarded is that, huh? :(

I'm going to take your advice and practice. Hopefully, one day I'll get it! :)

Thanks for posting your technique and being so encouraging to everyone! :D

Elle

I might splurge :D and give the EasyBraid a try just to see if it will help, but I am definitely going to try everyone's suggestions.

Have you read the Klutz book "Hair" by Amy Akers Johnson? (Not the kid's "Beautiful Braids" book, which isn't bad but has mostly kid's styles, and the emphasis is on doing things on other people's heads.)

I could never French braid my own hair until I got this book. The "even strands" problem is just a matter of practice, but this book explains in very clear terms, with lots of pictures, a technique for holding all those strands without needing extra arms. :)

I have an Easy Braider. I haven't used it much. I thought it might be good for doing crosswise French Braids but as far as I can tell it produces loose braids very slowly -- loose because the devide holds the strands so far from your head, slowly because there's a lot of swapping and tugging necessary. Also, I don't like tugging my hair in and out of those foam things as many times as is necessary to produce a braid. It's also hard (for me) to work out which-slot-is-which while the thing is on the back of my head (although that might improve with practice.) It still won't solve the problem of getting the strands even, either.

I'd save the money and put it towards the Klutz "Hair" book, myself.

Adding to what everybody already said (and Pixna's post was very thorough) I have BS coarse, wavy naughty hair and I can put just about any braid in my hair.

What helps me is that it be 'day old' or older. I have a much harder time on freshly washed hair. A light mist of water, leave in or oil helps my hair stay tamed long enough to wrestle it into a braid. I keep a wide tooth comb on hand to smooth strands if needed to prevent those dreaded loops and bumps.

Practice makes perfect. Eventually your fingers learn how much hair makes good sections, where to grab the hair and just how much tension it takes to make it smooth. But they can't learn what not to do unless they do it, repeatedy. Mirrors might help, but I find them distracting and don't dare look in one until I'm done. The same memory that makes it so you can dial a number faster than you can recite it is the memory you use to make braids.

Having your hands up in the air for a long time hurts after a bit. I end up resting my hands 2-3 times during a crown braid. Just leave them in position, sit down and rest them on your knees. You'll have to bend at the waist to do that, but it helps the blood get back to your hands :)

HTH a little anyway

I had no luck with the Easy Braider; it just made my hair tangle badly. :no

bunniee

I have an Easy Braider and I can't french braid without it! My hair has tangled before while using it but if I'm careful it doesn't.
I don't have much more to say, other than I don't know what I'd do without it! Give it a try! :D

is this easy braider thing you're talking about the Conair thing that just twists ropes together? i'm just wondering, as it's the only thing i can find and i'm really unsure as to how that thing would ever help to learn braiding. the only thing i've found that helps is this wonderful little thing they invented a long, long time ago called practice. ;-)

Well, I am definitely going to practice more! I have to admit that I have just been getting frustrated and giving up because I was convinced there was some braiding secret out there that I wasn't aware of!

Bethany...Thanks for the book suggestion. i am going to look for it this weekend!