I have failed as a mother because...

[Spagblog]

DD wanted two french plaits down the back of her head and after 30mins of fiddling and silent cursing...I gave up.

So, are there any top tips to creating french plaits? Can I get a device to hold on to the hair?

Or am I just too ham fisted?

[theUrbanDevil]

i'm soooo glad i have a boy, and he doesn't have much hair. i'm rubbish at plaits, can't do it on my own hair at all and hated barbie!

[ScaryScaryNight]

OH my niece always asked me to do them for her, as she had thick long hair to her waist, and only I could get them right....



No daughters of my own....

[PandaG]

I saw a girl with fishtail plaits ina bowling alley - I liked it so much I asked her mum how it was done and she demonstrated on my DD's hair! I do find the fishtail falls out more easily than a standard french plait though!

[pinkbubble]

I keep on trying but havent got the hang of it, I must keep practising!

[singyswife]

Hi these plaits are excellent. I put them in both dd's hair and they loved them, I also had loads of comments like "they are great how did you do that" if only they knew how easy it was. Thanks for the help.

[PrettyCandles]

I've found that if you take the small lock from behind the fat lock, then the fishtail pattern is more even and repeats itself very neatly on the back of the plait. If you take the small lock from the side of the fat lock, the pattern is not as clear on the back of the plait.

I've been having fun with dd's plaits! She's fed up, though.

[Boredveryverybored]

Also when doing the fishtail if you sepeerate really small sections to pass over it looks a lot more intricate and fancy..tis more time consuming though

[singyswife]

Thank you Im sure my dds will delight in me trying this. My eldest has as disco tonight so I may try this one. Thanks.

[colditz]

I have 2 boys and am excellent at French Plaits.

I am wasted I tell you.

[Boredveryverybored]

Sorry I wasn't sure. You only have two pieces of hair and you pass over small sections from one to the other.
So you break off a small bit from the left side and pass it over to add to the section on the right, then take section from right side and pass over to add it to the left etc etc

hth

[singyswife]

yes please

[Boredveryverybored]

Do you mean for a fishtail singyswife?

[singyswife]

HI, do you collect the hair with the original piece as you are going like a french pleat, I like the look of this one.

[Boredveryverybored]

Glad I could be of service PC
I knew all that playing with barbies would never be wasted! lol

[PrettyCandles]

Hey that's fantastic, Bored! I couldn't picture what you meant, so I had a go on dd's hair. It is so easy and does look ever so nice. I shall add this to her repertoire of schoolday hairstyles. Thanks!

[Boredveryverybored]

I can do fishtail plaits Pinkbubble, they are very easy.

you need to get the hair ready as if you were going to do a normal simple plait. It might be easier if you put a bobble at the top so you are starting with a ponytail.

Then split the hair in two pieces instead of three, you then pull a very small section from one side and pass it over to the other, then do the same on the other side.

and just keep passing small bits from side to side

It looks great when its done! and people always think its really complicated lol

[foofi]

Like singyswife, I find it easy to do french plaits as I used to do my own. I use my thumbs to pull back the extra bit of hair each time if that helps! Don't know what the fishtail one is though!

[Boredveryverybored]

this video is really good, is a really simple way of doing it and shows you what xactly to do with your hands

[PrettyCandles]

Very difficult to describe how to do french plaits! But a compromise that might work - and is easier to do - could be to gather the hair into successive scrunchies.

Comb through.
Part from forehead to nape of neck (easiest done first from crown to forehead with her facing you, then turn her around and part from crown to neck.
Gather one side loosely in a scrunchie to keep it out of the way.
Use the pointy end of the comb handle for the following partings.
Part one side from top of ear to top of head and gather in a scrubchie.
Part again a bit further back and gather both this lot of hair and the previously gathered lot in another scrunchie.
Part again yet further back and gather as before.
Repeat until all the hair is gathered on that side. You should get the effect of a rope of hair arching down one side of her head. You can then leave loose or plait, as you choose.
Repeat for the other side of the head.

This looks very nice, and keeps the heair gathered all day, too. It also gets you used to handling lots of locks, and you might find you slip into plaiting it as you go along - it's how I learned to french plait my own hair.

[pinkbubble]

Does anyone know how to do the fishtail plait? I would be interested to know how!

[howlingatthefullmoonmother]

agree with chippyminton its easier to do if their hair is wet or damp.

Keep practising,it took me ages to 'get' it right,I used to sit down with Dd in the evenings and just 'play' with her hair.We found some of her favourite hair styles that way.

Does help if their hair is long and all one length,I would imagine its harder to do on shorter hair(like in the picture)

[singyswife]

My daughters love getting their hair french pleated. I practiced on my hair as a teenager and now I can do it on anyones hair. The trick is to not get too big a bit of hair to add in otherwise it all goes lumpy. Does your daughter have a styling head??? Try getting a cheap on and practising on that.

[Spagblog]

Mmm, will try it wet.
I know how to do it...I just can't make my hands comply LOL