Simple steps for a variety of fishtail braid styles
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This article was co-authored by Ndeye Anta Niang. Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 7,881,348 times.
The fishtail braid looks elaborate and will become a favorite for rushed mornings, especially if you have long hair. It turns out beautifully and is great for an average day or to wear to a formal event. Fishtail braids also tend to look better when they get a little messy, so you'll be able to wear them all day. These types of braids are similar to regular braids, but just use 2 strands instead of 3.[1]
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Expert Source
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
Go to source
If you're able to braid, then you'll easily be able to learn to fishtail and create amazing hair looks!
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:
Doing a Regular Fishtail Braid
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1Divide your hair into 2 even sections. You will have a left piece and a right piece.
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Take a thin strand of hair from the left section. Gather it from the outside. It should be no thicker than 0.5 in (1.3 cm).[2] X Research source Go to source
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Pull the thin strand up and across the left section. Move it towards the right 1.
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Tuck the thin strand under the right section. It will now become part of the right section.
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Tug gently on the 2 sections to tighten them. Move your hands up as far as they can go. The tighter you make your braid, the better; you can always tousle it for a messier look later.
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Take a thin strand from the right section. Gather it from the outside of the section, and make it no thicker than 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
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Pull the thin strand up and across the right section. Move it towards the left section.
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Tuck it under the left section. It is now part of the left section.
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Keep alternating sides until you reach the end of your hair. Leave at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of your hair unbraided so that you can tie it off.
- Try to use thinner strands the further down you go on your braid.[3] X Research source Go to source This will help make your braid look more even; your hair becomes naturally thinner towards the ends.
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Wrap a hair tie around the end of your hair. If you want, you can take a strand of hair, and wrap it around the hair tie to hide it. Secure the strand with a bobby pin.
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Create a tousled braid by rubbing it between your hands. You may want to skip this if your hair has lots of layers; it may end up loosening and getting tousled on its own.
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:
Doing a French Fishtail Braid
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Gather up a section of hair at the crown of your head. Try to keep it at eye level or higher. Make it as centered as you can.
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Split the section into 2 halves. You will have a left half and a right half.
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Pull up a thin strand from the left side of your head. Try to gather it from your hairline. Make the strand thin, and no larger than 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
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Pull the thin strand across the left section and towards the right.
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Tuck the thin strand under the right section. It will be a part of the right section from now on.
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Pull a thin strand of hair from the right side of your head. Make sure that this strand is the same distance from the center of your head as the strand you pulled from the left side. Again, make sure that it is no thicker than 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
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Pull it across the right section and towards the left.
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Tuck the thin strand under the left section. It will be a part of the left section from now on.
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9Pull up a new center section. This section should be equal in size to the first section you pulled up. Fold it across to the left side as you did with the first center section.
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Keep alternating sides until you reach the base of your head. At this point, you can tie your hair off, or keep braiding it.
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Continue braiding your hair in the fishtail fashion. Try to keep the braid as tight and smooth as possible. You can always tussle it up later.
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Tie the braid off towards the end. When you have about 1 in (2.5 cm) left of hair, tie the braid off using a hair tie.
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Create a messy fishtail braid by gently tugging on the edges. Keep in mind that if you have lots of layers in your hair, the braid will become messy on its own.
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:
Making a Faux Fishtail Braid
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1Find some thin hair elastics that match your hair color. You can also use clear ones if you can't find any that match your hair. You will be making several topsy-turvy ponytails, right after the other, so make sure that you have enough.
- This braid will work best on longer hair. It may not work very well on hair that is shorter than the upper arm.
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Pull your hair into a low ponytail. Try to make the ponytail as close to the base of your head as possible, but don't make it too tight.
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Create a topsy-turvy ponytail. Start by slipping your pointer and middle fingers through your hair, right above the elastic. Split your fingers apart, creating a hole. Pull the ponytail over the elastic and down through the hole. Tug gently and smooth down your hair.
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Tie another elastic around your hair a few inches down from the first 1. If you have thin or fine hair, tie the elastic closer to the first 1. If you have thick hair, tie it a little bit further away.
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Create another topsy-turvy ponytail. Slip your fingers through your hair, just above the elastic, and make another hole. Pull the tail down through the hole.
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Keep doing this until you have only a few inches of your hair left. Tie your hair off with a hair tie.
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Consider hiding the elastics. You can do this by gently tugging on strands of hair to fluff them out a little. You can also wrap colored bits of ribbon or string around the elastics. Add some colorful beads for a boho or festival look.[4] X Research source Go to source
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:
Fishtail Braid Variations
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Make a side fishtail braid. Start by gathering your hair into a low ponytail, and pulling it either to the left or right of your neck. Tie it off with a clear elastic. Fishtail braid your hair as usual and tie it off. Snip the clear elastic off when you are done.
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Try making a topsy-turvy ponytail before you start doing the fishtail braid. Start with a low ponytail. Slip your fingers up through your hair, right between the nape and the elastic. Pull the ponytail down through the hole. Once you have flipped your ponytail, start fishtail braiding as usual.
- Try poking a flower or 2 into the hole of the topsy-turvy for a cute, boho look.
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Use a clip or barrette to cover up the hair tie. You can also tie a ribbon over the hair tie in a bow. This can help make your braid more interesting and complete your outfit.
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Roll your braid into a bun at the nape of your neck. Keep it in place with a few bobby pins. This will be especially effective if you have really long hair.
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Add some colored hair extensions before you start braiding your hair. This will give your braid a spark of color, and make it look more interesting. Fold a single clip in extension over the base of your ponytail and then work it into the braid.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhy does my fishtail keep turning into a normal braid when I am following the instructions?Community AnswerIf you pull pieces that are too thick, it can start to look like a regular braid. You want to pull thinner pieces from the sections to cross over to the other side.
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QuestionCan a fishtail braid make your hair wavy?Community AnswerYes, keep it on for a night or two and then gently take it out, separating chunks of hair to make it even more wavy. A French fishtail braid will make it even wavier.
Video
Tips
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Fishtail braids seem to work better on hair that hasn't been washed for a day or 2.[5] X Research source Go to source
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if you have short hair (shoulder length) you should do it tight so it will not fall out.
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The French fishtail braid is great for short and layered hair.
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Things You'll Need
- Clear elastic tie (or any other cheap hair tie)
- Hair tie
- Brush or comb
- Bobby pins (optional)
References
- ↑ Ndeye Anta Niang. Hair Stylist & Master Braider. Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VKEtCwYc-5s
- ↑ American Eagle, How to Make a Fishtail Braid
- ↑ Free People, Easy Hair Trick: How to Fake A Fishtail Braid
- ↑ https://www.hairthoughts.net/can-you-get-braids-with-dirty-hair/
About This Article
Article SummaryX
To make a fishtail braid, first separate your hair into two equal sections, and bring both sections to the same side of your head. Grip each section with one hand. Then, use your index finger to separate a small section of hair on the outer edge of one of the bigger sections. Pass the small section over and into the opposite bigger section. Now, take a small section of hair on the outer edge of the other big section and pass it over and into the opposite bigger section Continue separating small sections of your hair and passing them over into the opposite bigger section until you’ve braided to the ends of your hair. Finally, use a hair tie to hold the end of your fishtail braid in place. For tips from our Beauty reviewer, including how to make a French fishtail, read on!
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 7,881,348 times.
Reader Success Stories
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"wikiHow, thank you so much for this article! I have super long hair, so I DO have lots of hairstyles to do my hair with. HOWEVER, I'm not a very good hair stylist. This fishtail braid is super, super easy. Now I can style my hair in something that's easy, and it also looks good!"
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"I can french braid my own hair even though it ends up being a dutch braid but never knew how to fishtail bread. This tutorial is very helpful even though I haven't tried it yet; at least I have the basics now."
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"My daughter has very long hair. She has always been asking me to do a fishtail braid in her hair, yet I have always told her no because I had no clue how to. This taught me how to do one. "
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"This is the best wikiHow on anything I've ever seen! Broken up into practical sections, the stepped/illustrated parts are very helpful, the accompanying text is actually understandable."
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"I think that when it said to start at the crown of the head, that was most helpful. I always started at the beginning of the hairline, but now I know to start at the crown, thanks."
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"I learned how to do a fishtail for my daughter's long hair. She's been asking for me to do one for a long time, and now I can do one. This article was really helpful."
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"I've been struggling to do this kind of braid for a long time but after watching this and practicing it made the process a lot easier."
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"I have been failing at trying french braids for thirty years, till your article had me fishtail braiding in 10 minutes, thank you!!!"
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"Easy to understand wording and illustrations. Especially methods 1 and 2, though I have not tried a French braid variation yet."
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"I'm a cosmetologist and just wanted some extra tips. It's been 25 years since school, so it was easy for me to pick back up."
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"I really enjoyed making fishtail plaits at my salon. It was great. I even tried new styles. I love wikiHow. "
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"The video with Zoella really helped. I'm a very visual learner, so having a video guide was very helpful."
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"The step by step was easy to follow & the arrows made which direction to move the hair very clear!"
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"The faux fish tail braid was the easiest. Thank you. I'm barely learning how to do my own hair."
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"Very easy-to-follow instructions helped by the small clips actually showing someone doing it."
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"The article helped because it had an extremely detailed step-by-step explanation."
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"The first story with the pictures and clear instructions was really helpful! "
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"It was an easy step-by-step followup on an easy and understandable braid."
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"I haven't quite gotten it yet, but it will soon! I loved the video. "
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"It helped me with learning my fishtail braid super quick. Thank you!"
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"I liked the little videos you put in to show how to do the steps."
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"I liked all of the sections. Was very helpful. Love wikiHow!"
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"All of it really helped me with the braid and it was fun!"
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"OMG! My regular fishtail braid has never been better!"
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"I think it is very great. The graphics are amazing."
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"The best (and easy) instructions! Thank you!"
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"Learned how to do a regular fishtail braid. "
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"The part about variations was very helpful."
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"I found the instructions so easy to follow."
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"Learning something new to wear to school."