Minimum length to be able to French/Dutch braid?

[lucid]

I realize this depends on thickness, but approximately how long does the hair have to be to be able to French or Dutch braid it from the front? No shorter pieces poking out :p

I'm going shorter, but I absolutely want to be able to Dutch braid it. I'm not sure how short I'll be going, but I kind of wanna get rid of all the highlights. And I'll be doing a blunt cut, straight across the back, so the front pieces will be longer when pulled forward.

[guska]

Do you mean a single Dutch/French braid? I just did one on my CBL hair after reading your post, and my hair is just long enough to make one. I was able to double Dutch when I was only shoulder length, though.

ETA: Picture. I braided very quickly so it's a bit messy :rolleyes: The ponytail part was too thin, and with too many "shorter pieces poking out", so I couldn't braid further.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=33803&d=1540405549

[spidermom]

My hair needs to be at least APL for a single dutch braid down the back. I get a lot of face-framing fly-aways, but I got those when my hair was at its longest also.

[Aerya]

I'd say CBL, perhaps a bit longer if you want to be safe. Mine is in the middle between CBL and APL and I can Dutch braid just fine. Well, it doesn't look very neat, but that's due to my poor damaged texture and lack of skill. :p

[Milady_DeWinter]

Not sure. But last year I did a dutch braid quite neat on a doggie :lol:


https://i.imgur.com/x2MA33Y.jpg

[Joules]

I can do twin French braids on hair that is around 13-15 cm long (5-6 inches). I mean individual pieces of hair should be 5-6 inches (maybe even less at the back of the head), I did them on my Mom when she had shoulder length hair with layers. I could incorporate my bangs into twin French braids when they were just 5 cm/2" long, it used to be my go-to trick to hide my bangs if I had trimmed them too short :rollin:

If you have the time and skills to do three braids, then your hair can be even shorter than that.

If we're talking about just one single braid, then I'd say 25-30 cm (10-12 inches). But I don't have much experience with that.

Dutch braids are more complicated in that sense, because they will be messy if you have layers or growing out a pixie. You can use bobby pins to hide short pieces that stick out (I used to do so when I was growing out my bangs), but it's tricky.

[lucid]

I'm talking about either a single or double braids (preferably single), and that the hair is so long that all the hair can be tied in the elastic. My hair is too slippery to stay in a braid if not all the hair can be tied off, if that makes sense. So braiding layers doesn't work for me, everything slides out.

I'm not going shorter than armpit length, so by the answers given I should be safe at that length. Still haven't even decided, but not being able to braid is a dealbreaker.

Guska, that looks great. Your hair is a lot thicker than mine, so I guess that length would work for me too.

Milady, hahaha :p

[Suortuva]

lucid, we have same thickness, and I have always had shorter hair, not longer than APL since I was a kid, and I have always been able to do french/dutch braids. When I had neck length hair, I needed 2 braids, though. And I have always been able to include my short bangs in these braids too, if I have wanted. So you should be safe, and with armpit length you will have a decent braid.

[lucid]

Ok, that sounds good! Now I just have to decide, lol.

[illicitlizard]

You'll be fine at APL. I can get 2 dutch braids done in my (unwashed) normally slippery hair with like 6inches of length total.

[Suortuva]

I tried to take a picture for you of my almost APL hair. My bangs are somewhere between my eyes and nose, and they are braided too.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=33820&d=1540482405

Sorry for the weird angle and colour...

[M3DUS4]

Oh gosh he looks wonderful

[Hairkay]

I think length will vary with hair types when it comes to braiding. I have seen twin Dutch braids on type 4 hair that was about 3 inches long. Yes they used pins or some used gel to get the furthest hairs to comply.

[lucid]

Yes, that's why I specified that all the hair had to be able to be secured with the elastic. With my hairtype the braid will just unravel otherwise. :p

I cut my hair to apl, but haven't tried french/dutch braiding it yet as I'm enjoying wearing it down :)

Suortuva, that looks great!

[Ylva]

Not sure. But last year I did a dutch braid quite neat on a doggie :lol:


https://i.imgur.com/x2MA33Y.jpg

That's just too cute! :)

[*Wednesday*]

I'm having a hard time deciding who has the better braids? So adorable.




https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=33803&d=1540405549


Not sure. But last year I did a dutch braid quite neat on a doggie :lol:


https://i.imgur.com/x2MA33Y.jpg