Learning how to 4-strand braid!

[gin]

I finally decided to learn how to 4-strand braid! I always thought braids were just the 3-strand variety but learned of all these new types of braids/weaves when I started looking up different hairstyles recently. I was surprised that it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be, though braiding on my own hair has always proved to be difficult. This didn't turn out so bad, definitely missed a handful of strands here and there, but hopefully it'll get easier over time. I can't imagine trying to do this straight back behind my head though. I can barely do a normal 3-strand braid straight behind my back!

Anyone have any tips about learning new braids? My issue is deciding how to position my fingers. Also, any tips on how to braid on the back of your head with really tight shoulders? Like, really, really tight shoulders!


https://i.imgur.com/0eFw5nN.png

[MusicalSpoons]

Ooooh that's so pretty!

Structurally speaking, I was able to work out a 4-strand braid relatively easily because it's a basic lacemaking stitch so I pretend I'm holding bobbins instead of hair :lol: but I have problems keeping the tension consistent and not making it a total mess at the start - in other words, I can't do a *neat* 4-strand braid. It's one hairstyle I would find much easier to do on someone else than on myself (usually it's the other way round, I find things easier on myself than on others). I've even tried starting from a ponytail base but it just looks bizarre, and I don't have the physical energy to practise - if I braid, it's once only and then I need to recover. (The fatigue is why I haven't tried learning more complex braids, so I don't have any tips. Plus my strands are thin enough even with only 3 that my hands start aching really quickly; it would be easier to hold thicker strands if only I had more hair.)

With tight shoulders, can you start higher up your head, and/or tilt your head forward? That way you might (in theory) be able to braid enough length within your range of motion to then bring the rest over one side to continue.

[Kat]

I like this video with some different 4-strand braids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=296&v=-iX55CV3u8Q

[gin]

Ooooh that's so pretty!

Structurally speaking, I was able to work out a 4-strand braid relatively easily because it's a basic lacemaking stitch so I pretend I'm holding bobbins instead of hair :lol: but I have problems keeping the tension consistent and not making it a total mess at the start - in other words, I can't do a *neat* 4-strand braid. It's one hairstyle I would find much easier to do on someone else than on myself (usually it's the other way round, I find things easier on myself than on others). I've even tried starting from a ponytail base but it just looks bizarre, and I don't have the physical energy to practise - if I braid, it's once only and then I need to recover. (The fatigue is why I haven't tried learning more complex braids, so I don't have any tips. Plus my strands are thin enough even with only 3 that my hands start aching really quickly; it would be easier to hold thicker strands if only I had more hair.)

With tight shoulders, can you start higher up your head, and/or tilt your head forward? That way you might (in theory) be able to braid enough length within your range of motion to then bring the rest over one side to continue.

Thank you! I'm the opposite, I braid infinitely better on someone else than myself. Part of it is perspective, part of it is not knowing how to handle how thick and slippery my hair is relative to my small hands. I'm a climber so hand/finger strength is never an issue :) But the shoulders... Definitely empathize with not having the energy to practice for sure. I'll try the tipping head forward thing though. I hadn't even thought about that!


I like this video with some different 4-strand braids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=296&v=-iX55CV3u8Q

That was one of the videos I watched when learning! :)

[Mariekeeee14]

When I play sports, I use a four strand braid with a ribbon since one strand always ends up significantly shorter than the rest. The ribbon needs to be almost twice as long as your hair for it to work so on your hair you’ll need a tall one! I always go over under under over in my head to help me remember what to do. I learned to do it from Torrin Paige’s vid: https://youtu.be/Vwr0ZMPOEMk the ribbon I learned to do from Cutegirlshairstyles but that video is no longer up on yt. I guess you can just look up any tutorial for that :)

[gin]

When I play sports, I use a four strand braid with a ribbon since one strand always ends up significantly shorter than the rest. The ribbon needs to be almost twice as long as your hair for it to work so on your hair you’ll need a tall one! I always go over under under over in my head to help me remember what to do. I learned to do it from Torrin Paige’s vid: https://youtu.be/Vwr0ZMPOEMk the ribbon I learned to do from Cutegirlshairstyles but that video is no longer up on yt. I guess you can just look up any tutorial for that :)

Oh wow I didn’t see torrinpaige’s video. That thought pattern is so much better than what I was doing!

[_fred_]

That looks so great, gin!

I recently learnt 4 strand braiding, cause it came up in a Morgan Donner video (she's a historical costumier who posts on Youtube). Hers was the first tutorial I could actually grasp!