To ask you if your hair will stay in a plait?

[GilbGeekette]

Because mine won't! Why the hell won't it?? I have normal, dull brown streaked with grey hair that I've painstakingly grown because DH likes long hair, and before anyone jumps on me, I know I can cut it and it's my hair. The deal is that I have long hair and DH shaves every day and I don't put up with horrible scratchy stubble

I have an amazing claw thing (see, this is why I've had short hair forever, I don't even know the right name for hair thingys) that holds it up in a pleat thing but if I plait it, it just falls out. What is wrong with my hair?

[Proudnscary]

No-one over the age of 21 should wear plaits

FACT

[GilbGeekette]

Not even one? Oh, maybe my hair is saving me from myself then!

[mumnosGOLDisbest]

proudnscary what the op and dh like is up to them --and probably not for the ears of us MNers Do you wear a school uniform with your plait. I think my DH would shave more for that too!

[GilbGeekette]

Oh blimey. I'm now. I'm decorating, wanted to keep hair under control. Am also clearly v boring and never looked good in school uniform

[OHforDUCKScake]

Its too clean. It'll stay in on day 3.

This is my prediction.

[squeakytoy]

Proud, my great grandma had a long plait even when she died at the age of 103.. :)

[OvO]

Mine stays in a plait just fine. I have boring long straight hair.

I wear it in a plait sometimes as I like it back off my face and sometimes a ponytail just feels too tight and is sore.

I sometimes wear 2 plaits! My DH scowls when I do as I then look about 12 and he looks like a dirty old man.

OP, if your hair is freshly washed that might be the problem. Mine is useless when just washed as its so soft it just slips out of any clips or bobbles.

[GilbGeekette]

Ah-aha. The too clean thing might explain it. Will try again day after tomorrow. And chalk it up to another page that was missing from my 'how to be a proper woman' manual (along with how to walk in heels, how people keep lipstick on for more than 30 minutes etc etc!)

[EdMcDunnough]

Well, I put mine in one sometimes (not two) and it seems to wriggle its way out, so that I just end up with a bobble at the end and a lot of loose hair waving around.

[Proudnscary]

Squeaky

Oh yes, old women are the exception to the rule. My great aunt wore a plait until she died at 89.

[sundancegirl]

Try plaiting it when it's still damp. Hair expands slightly as it drys and so it should help it stay in.

[Pandemoniaa]

First of all, you need quite long hair. Longer than you might imagine. Secondly, clean hair is usually too slippery. I'd also advise plaiting when damp.

[maillotjaune]

And if you have hair that is so thick it's like having 3 people's hair on one head (at least) then you have no hope. Even when I had long hair at school, it would only go into a plait sticking out at 45 degrees from my head and then work its way out half an hour later even when in desperate need of a wash.

[BupcakesAndCunting]

Ooh I've got my hair in a (very messy) plait right now

[GilbGeekette]

maillotjaune This "And if you have hair that is so thick it's like having 3 people's hair on one head (at least) then you have no hope". This is my hair! Maybe I should just give up?

[maillotjaune]

Well I gave up when I was about 12 I'm afraid, so might not be the best person to ask. I struggle to find a clip that will hold some hair up behind my hair when I'm cooking etc as they just break. And people always said I would be able to do anything I like with my hair when I grew up. What a big fat lie.

[Brodicea]

The claw thing sounds like it might not be tight enough? I might have the wrong end of the stick, but could you try a stretchy hairband instead (not head band I hasten to add). Also, use a bit of hair putty in your hands when you do the plait and it should stay a bit better (probably works the same as the natural grease!)

[jellybrain]

Try a different kind of plait. A traditional 3 strand plait is rubbish on dd but if I do a fish tail plait it stays in until deliberately unravelled looks nicer too.

[Paiviaso]

I wear my hair in plaits sometimes (and I'm 27 thank you very much!) and it always stays in just fine. I have thick long hair.

I don't even understand what you mean really - which bit is falling out? You divide hair into three strands, intertwine them, and wrap a small hair tie tightly around the bottom. How can the hair escape?

[GilbGeekette]

The claw thing is wunnerful! It was in some boutique-y shop in Brighton, the sort of place that charges £15 for a scrunchy but does claws that have laccy band type things, not just a spring. Keeps my hair clasped in a french twist thingy all day long.

Jellybrain I don't know what a fishtail plait is.

[sashh]

Your hair is either too clean or too greasy.

Wash your hair and put it in a plait when it is wet - really tight, as tight as you can.

If it's a couple of days since it was watched put hair spray on first, or mouse or gel - nOT WAX.

45 with a french plait

[GilbGeekette]

Paiviaso - just... I don't know. Wispy bits unplait themselves, which turns eventually into strands unplaiting themselves which ends up with me having a tiny bit of hair left in a hair tie. I think I just fail at hair stuff

[ShabbyChit]

Im 27 and regularly do a plait. (not pigtails though - that's wrong!)
My hair is very fine and does not hold shape very well but it will stay in a plait, best if I plait it when wet as I find I can get it tighter when wet.
Because my hair is layered I tend to get a few wispy bits sticking out all the way down but I'm sure that could be solved if I could be arsed to put some wax or gel in it!

[WhereYouLeftIt]

Lay off the conditioner when you wash your hair, this made my hair too soft to hold a plait.

[dancemom]

im 32 and i wear my hair in two plaits

In my defence, i think its more flattering to my (fat) face than a ponytail!