For an elegant night out or to keep hair out of your face for a school day, braided hair is a great way to style your hair.The cascading waterfall braid is a simple and romantic style that anyone can do.The waterfall braid is an easy braiding technique that gives a unique look while allowing you to keep your hair down and flowing.
Step 1: Take your materials.
You won't have a lot of things for braiding your hair, perhaps only a brush, some small hair ties, and a few bobby pins.It's important to have all of these things close to you so you can secure your hair when you're done braiding.Someone will start a braid only to realize they don't have a tie or pin to secure it, and then they risk messing up their hair when they have to search for something to hold their braid.You might want to keep a hair tie on your wrist.If you want to secure your braid when you're finished, you need to slip the tie off your wrist, rather than changing hands to pick up the hair tie.
Step 2: You need to brush your hair.
If your hair is wet, use a wide-toothed comb or a natural bristle hairbrush to brush it.You want your hair to be easy to manage while braiding.There are knots at the ends of your hair.If the ends of the hair are tied together, it can be difficult to separate them.
Step 3: Consider making a side part.
Adding a side part to your braid adds to the waterfall appearance.Your hair is taking on the nature of a waterfall if you parted it in a deep side part and then flipped it over to the other side of your head.A cascading waterfall braid that is parted down the middle is still possible, however a deep side part adds a nice touch to the braid, and enhances the waterfall look by having your own hair "cascade" on the other side of your head.
Step 4: Leave in conditioner or apply a smoothing cream.
If you aren't going for a stylish messy look, a leave in conditioner can help keep your hair manageable while braiding.It's easier to manage damp hair if you leave it in conditioner.If your hair is fine, has small, flyaway hairs, or is more than one length, you should apply a styling cream.Stray, flyaway hairs can be kept out of the braid with a smoothing serum.
Step 5: Take your hair out of your first section.
The area of your bangs is where your first section of hair should be.Depending on how thick you want your braid to be, the section that starts out is usually about an inch in length.The thicker the beginning of your braid is, the bigger it is.Start your braid on the side of your head if you parted your hair deep.
Step 6: Take your first section of hair and divide it into 3 equal parts.
You can make 3 pieces of the same size by running 2 fingers through the section of hair.It's important to position your hand when braiding hair.If you want to hold hair as you braid, you should hold 2 portions of hair in one hand, and the third portion in the other.The fingers usually stay in a curled position to hold the strands of hair as you braid them.
Step 7: One braid sequence.
The first section of hair should be braided using the 3 strand braiding technique.The 3 strand braiding technique is the method used to make any traditional 3- strand braid, which is also known as a box braid: Start by crossing the left portion of hair over the middle portion, and then cross the right portion over.Once this sequence is complete, you will be able to add more hair into the braid outside of the three original portions.Adding hair to the braid outside of the original three portions of hair is a key component of a french braid.The waterfall braid starts out with a typical three strand braid, but then becomes an altered french braid.
Step 8: Add more hair into the braid.
If you want to add more hair into the braid, you can collect hair from the top of your head and the left portion of hair in your hand.Once the left portion of hair is combined with the new, additional left hair, braid it over the middle portion.If you want to create a braid, instead of crossing the right portion of hair over the middle portion, let it hang and drop down normally.The waterfall effect occurs here.Your first piece of hair is the dropped, right portion.This will make a waterfall braid on the right side of your head.You should reverse the instructions for the left side.
Step 9: Continue braiding with new hair.
Once you have dropped the right portion of hair, you can use a french braid technique to add hair to the braid from both the top and bottom areas.The hair portions you are using in the braid should be the same size as the piece of hair you grabbed.If you want to use the normal three strand braiding technique, cross the right portion of hair over the middle portion.Add more hair to the left part of the hair.Take a piece of hair from the top of your head and combine it with your current hair.When you first began adding hair to the braid, it was the same process.If you want to drop the right portion of hair, cross the left portion over the middle section.The illusion of a waterfall is created by the dropped right portion of hair across your head being horizontal.Keep your hair tight as you braid it.If you want a smooth style, pull your hair back.If you pull your hair away from your face, you'll end up with a lump in your braid.Don't forget to reverse the instructions if you're braiding on the left hand side.
Step 10: The braid should be finished.
Once you have braided around your head to your ear, you can braid the rest of your hair like a normal braid.The bottom of the braid can be secured with either a small elastic band or a bobby pin.To keep strands in place, consider spraying your braid with a small amount of spray.