French Braids: What Do You Do With The Ends?

[spidermom]

I think braid waves look best if you don't comb them. And especially don't brush them!

[JamieLeigh]

I apparently have a bit of taper, although it doesn't seem to show from the back in my length shots as much, because my braids get slightly thinner as they go down. For this reason, I like a longer tassel...I find my ends kink up outrageously if I braid all the way to the tip, and I don't go for the kinky stuff.

[AnneAdeline]

I usually have a 2" tassel or so. I don't have as many layers as I used to, so it is not as much of a problem.
I might try spidermom's idea for the ribbon and elastic. What kind of ribbon do you use?

[GlassEyes]

I think braid waves look best if you don't comb them. And especially don't brush them!

Agreed. Even though I can't wear them that well...yet.

[Wind]

I braid down to the bitter end, and then poke the tail back up underneath. At shoulder length with layers, the pathetic little tail just looks sad. And at this point, braid waves give me triangle head.

[Melisande]

I normally try to keep braiding until the end or very near to the end, and I use little silicone thingies to hold the braid. But from time to time, I keep a long tassle. I'm the either-or-type it seems ;-) I don't want to stress my ends always at the same spot, so I vary.

[Nyghtingale]

Wow, those braids are so pretty.

[Cassi]

I have to braid my hair wet or slightly wet; I braid as far as possible. I wrap the end with a cloth elastic soaked in monoi oil or jojoba oil and my tail is about 1 cm sticking out past the elastic. I have to admit I usually bun it up. My braids actually bun better when I do a Dutch braid instead of French.

[Samikha]

It depends on the braid. If I do a five-strand, for instance, the tassel tends to be really long. I don't really like that so I usually herringbone braid the tassel itself. A herringbone works with much less hair than a five-strand. That way, the braid has two elastics - one where the five-strand ends and one where the herringbone ends.

For other braids, mostly I leave it as-is.

[Braidmaid]

I like to have a long tassle on my braids. I usually have it at least 6 inches or more. I just like the way it looks.