French plait - how the hell do you do them?

[ScreamingBeans]

I mean, I know how. In theory. Everything goes swimmingly well until I get to about the nape of my neck. By that time, my arms have got really tired and I can't manouevre the hair round properly so it all falls apart at that stage.

Is there a trick to this that I don't know about?

I can't help with that bit but it's helpful to put a band in at the very beginning. When you section off the top put a band in then feed your hair over the band and down before you start plaiting, this hides the band, keeps the top bit firm and you don't have to start too far up.

When you get to the nape it turns into a normal plait. You don't have strands to pull into the plait.