french braid failure

[NebraskaChick84]

I wasn't able to make a french braid. I got about halfway and then my arms felt like they were going to fall off and started trembling. I couldn't bear the thought of my great start going to waste so I gathered the rest and made it into a bun. it looks kind of cute!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v414/NebraskaChick84/100_0777.jpg

from this photo you can see that 2 things are clear:
1.) I really do understand how to do a french braid, I just need more practice. I will do this every day until I can manage a full one.
2.) my bathroom mirror desperately needs cleaned.

[eadwine]

I think it looks great! :)

And you should see my mirror! ;)

[Alia]

That's the prettiest failure I've seen:).

[spidermom]

Nice solution. Don't worry -- french braiding is great for building upper body strength and stamina.

[SweetPea88]

Cute! :D I did something similar last week where I did sort of a half dutch braid and then put the rest of my hair in a ponytail.

[NebraskaChick84]

Cute! :D I did something similar last week where I did sort of a half dutch braid and then put the rest of my hair in a ponytail.
i may try a dutch braid...i found myself wanting to go under rather than over. my sister who self braids also does dutch braids, she says they are easier.

[Curlsgirl]

I used to do this and then bun with a pretty hairstick. It does wear out your arms after your hair gets longer to braid it all the way to the end.:silly:

[Gumball]

Your makeshift end result does look really good! With a little practice you'll definitely have the strength and stamina to get through a whole french braid. Muscles just need some time to adapt sometimes. :) You've got very pretty hair, too.

[MusingFrog]

Something I remember doing before I had the strength was, holding my hair tightly of course mid-braiding, was to lean over and rest my elbows on a table. I'd often sit down and just lean forward like that. It takes most of the strain off your arms so you get a little break. At the beginning I remember having to do this all the time. As in, every time I added new hair. After awhile you do build up the stamina, but until you do, try this. :)

[NebraskaChick84]

Something I remember doing before I had the strength was, holding my hair tightly of course mid-braiding, was to lean over and rest my elbows on a table. I'd often sit down and just lean forward like that. It takes most of the strain off your arms so you get a little break. At the beginning I remember having to do this all the time. As in, every time I added new hair. After awhile you do build up the stamina, but until you do, try this. :)
thanks I will try that. that will mean moving the computer though...not sure I can handle not being on here long enough for that hehe.

I will try it though, tomorrow. maybe I can get a little farther :)

[MusingFrog]

It doesn't have to be a table, just anything that you can lean over and rest your elbows on while your hands are still up on your head. If you are in your bedroom, a bed would work, a counter top, whatever. The point is to just take the strain off until your arms quit shaking, give yourself a few more seconds, then go for a little more. The braiding is definitely still hard, but this certainly helps.

[NebraskaChick84]

yeah we're definitely out of anywhere to lay anything. I am going to try it either later today after I clean the kitchen (waiting for nap time) and use the stove or possibly the counter. depends if I feel like towel drying my dishes. hmmm.

I feel good though about learning to braid and also being able to build up my upper body strength. perhaps then I can actually deal with my 3y/o during one of his fits (at 35lbs he's too heavy for me to pick him up mid meltdown)

[Anje]

Looks really cute.

Keep working on the french braids. In time, your arms will get stronger, and you'll get faster at it, so your arms aren't up for as long. Then on to 2 braids to increase your stamina.

Also, if you can get all the hair transferred to one hand (shouldn't be hard), you can lower the other one and shake it out a bit. I still resort to this when I attempt crown braids.

[amaiaisabella]

Your bun is gorgeous! I'm so envious :)

[sneakybea]

That looks really pretty! And don't worry; you will build up the strength in your arms. It just takes practice.

[Haith]

I say practise, practise, practise!
And it wasn't an epic fail, just incomplete. I used to be horrible at braiding, but perserverence has allowed me to become competent with my braiding skills.

[NebraskaChick84]

I'm really liking this half french braided bun...it feels really secure and also I don't have the *stragglers* that come out and hang out by my face. it's awesome. I may add this to my "ponytail, bun" list of updos I can do :)

[Pierre]

Mi laikim! :)

When you get tired, put a scrunchie where you quit, and then bun it, put it in a Buff, or whatever. Then when your arms are rested, resume braiding. I sometimes braid partway, go to sleep, and finish in the morning; the braid holds up better, since the hairs have aligned to the braid during the night.

[Elphie]

I think your solution turned out to be a success! I'm all for taking a break midbread, I just lean over on the sink and wait a bit till my arms feel better and continue.

[AnneAdeline]

Wow, looks great! I wouldn't call it a failure at all. Do you braid in front of the mirror? Because I've found that--for me, at least--not looking in a mirror makes it easier because you don't confuse yourself by moving the wrong direction. Just a tip.
When I first taught myself to braid, I sat every night in front of the TV and did one braid. I also lean and rest my elbows when my arms get tired. Instead of leaning forward, however, I put all the hair in one hand and lean sideways.

[plainjanegirl]

I would not call that a failure, just not what you intended. How did you make the bun? You must have thick hair ( by the look of the bun). Very nice.

[NebraskaChick84]

yes very thick hair!

I just gathered it all where I left off and put into a bun the same way as always. I have some sticking out because of the braid and my layers but I think it turned out great.

[NebraskaChick84]

AnneAdeline no I do not look in a mirror...I can't even do an english braid looking in the mirror. in fact i found that I can't do my hair at all if I'm looking in the mirror. it never seems to look right so I just do it wherever I am. usually in the living room.

[NeilTheFuzz]

I think your hair in the pic looks really lovely. It's different - a nice change from a standard french braid.

I remember once a girl I knew was playing my hair and put a really big french braid in my hair and later on it took me aaages to figure out how to take it out! :p

[NebraskaChick84]

taking it out is the fun part ;) it also takes way less time. I worked on that braid for 10mins and it wasn't even done! LOL.

[Elistariel]

I've done that before too. :D

Although I'm not sure if mine is a French or a Dutch braid.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c203/Ataralasse_Manveri/Abby/th_8b999a85.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c203/Ataralasse_Manveri/Abby/?action=view&current=8b999a85.jpg)

[Pierre]

I've done that before too. :D

Although I'm not sure if mine is a French or a Dutch braid.

Then maybe it's a Belgian braid ;)

[skay]

I wasn't able to make a french braid. I got about halfway and then my arms felt like they were going to fall off and started trembling. I couldn't bear the thought of my great start going to waste so I gathered the rest and made it into a bun. it looks kind of cute!




Nice save!

It came out quite nice. :)

[Juneii]

ah, no worries, I had trouble french braiding my hair at first but after a while I managed to braid my hair all the way without getting tired :D
that looks great! you should see my first attempts, hair sticking out everywhere!

[Ryanne]

It looks pretty!

[Mike]

I wasn't able to make a french braid. I got about halfway and then my arms felt like they were going to fall off and started trembling. I couldn't bear the thought of my great start going to waste so I gathered the rest and made it into a bun. it looks kind of cute!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v414/NebraskaChick84/100_0777.jpg

from this photo you can see that 2 things are clear:
1.) I really do understand how to do a french braid, I just need more practice. I will do this every day until I can manage a full one.
2.) my bathroom mirror desperately needs cleaned.


When your arms get a rest you can undo the bun and continue where you left off. Great hair btw.

[Mugili]

I had the same problem with braiding. I love the dutch braid (inside-out french twist) but could not do it.
So i made myself a braiding week and every evening i do this braid...and it takes only one week to do a double-dutch-braid. I have a picture in my album...it's not too bad, so i will try it every evening.

[Lissa]

hehe, I've done that before too. The bun looks really good,though!:) I've just put it in a ponytail when getting tired while braiding earlier, but I wish I was able to make a bun like that.

[sahiba]

That's the prettiest failure I've seen:).

Alia said it so well "prettiest failure " :thumbsup:

[moonchaser]

That's the prettiest failure I've seen:).

I totally agree! Very pretty!

[AnimaSola3o4]

My arms get very tired as well when I french braid! My solution is to hold all three strands with one hand and let the other arm drop and rest for a second, before continuing. Then holding it with the other hand, etc... it gives you frequent breaks. :)