i did a silly attempt yesterday at doing a french braid ... is it just me or are other people having the feeling they need two hands to isolate a hairsection (in the first part of the braiding on the head)??? is there a trick for hair that seems too long (and it's just waist length for crying out loud!) to work on with just two hands?
god i wish i had three!  :'(

I haven't had much success with French Braids, I need not just one extra hand but at least two. I also have trouble mentally keeping track of what I am doing and the braid gets all mixed up into someting really weird. :-/ :(

Is it too long because it is getting braided at the ends?  Or is it finding the finger positions on how to hold hair?  

If it is the first, what I do is every couple strands that I braid, I run my fingers to the ends to detangle, and once I do this a couple times it doesn't get tangled anymore.  

If it is the 2nd issue, all I can do is let you know that we've all been there and one day you'll just find the handholds that work for you.   :)

oh thanks .. so i will have to fight none the less (was hoping for some great secret to effordless braiding)

yes, tangling at the ends is a problem as well. and i suppose you more or less need a comb with a point too to isolate decently the added parts.

Yes, it is quite possible to french braid waist length hair with just two hands.  Unfortunately it just takes a lot of practice.  Sorry i don't have more helpful advice!

I braid my hip length hair with just my 2 hands (although I admit, a third hand would come in handy - hee hee).  I found using a comb to be more confusing than just using my fingers to pick up the new sections of hair.  Having fingernails helps too.

As Valerie said, sliding your hand to the end of the section will detangle the ends and prevent the re-braiding of longer hair.  I've also found that if I keep at least one hand damp and run it down the hair, I have fewer tangles - plus it helps to tame those pesky shorter hairs that like to fly away.

Practice is the best way to learn.  

after two decent trials i finally can do a decent french braid  ;D

does aloe vera leave residu on the hair? my braids look like hell after 30 min but i don't dare to put a huge amount of aloe everywhere.

A small amount of aloe vera gel won't leave enough residue for you to notice if you only use it on the length of your hair.  When I need braids to look neat the longest, I will have a light coating of the gel on the palm of my right hand.  I then run that hand down the length of my hair as I braid.  This will give more control on the hair that is on the outside of the braid.  If I have to rebraid my hair again, I will just use water on my hand which "reactivates" the gel.

thanks!
do i get it right that the gel better is still wet when you braid it? ... it seems to lose it's effect if you put it all over the hair first and then take ten minutes of struggles to finish the braid. but the water trick is smart!  :D

I don't think it matters initially if the hair is wet or dry when using the aloe vera gel.  When I'm using it, my hair might be damp or dry.  I don't use a lot of the gel, just enough to coat the outer hair.

I'm just learning, but when I try to french braid my hair I feel like I am damaging the hair just trying to section it and braid it.  I have very fine, tangly hair.

Is it best to have the hair wet or dry when trying to braid it?  It's easier to handle when wet, but also more fragile.

Braiding wet hair can be hard on it.  I usually wait until it is dry or mostly dry then keep one hand damp with water and/or oil and run that hand down the hair.  This helps to keep it from tangling and rebraiding as well as making sure the short ends stay under control.

Thank you, Bikerbraid.  I have your hair type, so what works for you might work for me.

I also find it a heck of a lot easier to french or dutch braid my hair when it's dry.  My hair tangles easier when wet and it's harder for me to control.

Just a thought.

wrote on Nov 26^th, 2004 at 6:28pm:

Braiding wet hair can be hard on it.  I usually wait until it is dry or mostly dry then keep one hand damp with water and/or oil and run that hand down the hair.  This helps to keep it from tangling and rebraiding as well as making sure the short ends stay under control.

My hair actually tangles worse when it's wet, so I wait until it's dry, and I don't use water while I'm braiding.
If you're trying to learn how to braid, do it right before you wash your hair-that is, when your hair is at its greasiest :).  Hair stays best when it's greasy, and it's easier to section.  Once you get used to braiding, you'll be able to do it when your hair is clean too. :P