11 Strand Braid Tutorial

According to The Tempest, braiding has been around for over 30,000 years. There are many different braids you can do. Starting with French braids, Dutch braids, to fishtail braids. But have you ever heard of an 11-strand braid? It may sound complicated, but I can promise you it's not. Using these step-by-step instructions, you will be learning how to do an 11-strand braid.

You will need all of the following items:

• Hairbrush
• Sectioning Clips (optional on what kinds of clips)
• Styling Comb or Ratail Comb (optional on which one you use)
• Bobby Pins
• Elastics

When using your hairbrush, make sure to brush all of the tangles and knots out of the hair. You can also wet down the hair, or use detangling spray to help get the tangles out.

Use a ratail comb or a styling comb to part the hair down the middle of the head. And then use the sectioning clips to clip the hair on the left side of the head.

Section the hair from the arch of the eyebrow. Move that section of hair over to the left and clip that section.

Then section from the tail of the brow back. Move that section over to the left with the others and clip that section of hair. Once you complete that, clip the last section of hair on the right side of the head.

You should have three sections of hair clipped on the left side of the head, and one section on right side of the head.

Take out the clip going from the tail of the brow back. Brush that section of hair.

Grab a section of hair at the front of the head, run your fingers through the hair and grab five pieces of hair.

If you need to, practice holding the five stands of hair in both hands. Make sure when you are holding the hair, you're holding the five strands close to the head. This will help the braid to be tighter and stay in longer.

Remember to keep your hands close to the head. (This is not the official 11 strand braid video.)

Once you complete the five strand braid, take down the section of hair on the left side of the head.

Take a section of hair the front of the section you took down. Then run your fingers through to create three strands of hair.

Start with the right strand going under to the middle (blue strand), then move the left strand (yellow strand) under in the middle as well. You will be creating a dutch braid while doing this. (Only start off with doing this once)

Once you start the dutch braid, take the rightmost strand (blue strand) and inter- loop that strand into the five strand braid.

While you are inter-looping, be sure to add hair only to the left strand.

Continue inter-looping and adding hair all the way down to the end of the five strand braid.

Once you complete that, drop down the section at the arch of the eyebrow and repeat the inter looping on that section.

Finally repeat all the steps on the other side of the head.

Use the bobby pins to pin any loose hair you may have under the braid. Or any hair that is sticking out on the top of the braids.

Enjoy your new fabulous braids!