Creating a Two Strand Overlap Braid with Fishtail Bottom

Tired of those old fashioned braids? Be it a wedding ceremony or a party, women end up letting their hair loose or with a simple knot. But there is a variety of hairstyles you can try at home and yes you won't need assistance once you get the hang of it. One of such simple yet beautiful hairstyle is the two strands braid that you can flaunt around at any occasion or ceremony.

You just need interest and lots of patience to learn the art of making this adorable two strands braid with fishtail bottom. For the novice, braid is an easy technique of parting the hair into sections and then overlapping them one over the other to give it a chain like look.

Getting ready

This elegant two strand braid is more effective and looks better on long hair, at least to shoulder length. Your hair should be dry and not oiled or wet. Remove tangles from your hair to make the hair partition smoother. To keep hair dry and supple, apply shampoo a day before you plait your hair in this style. Shampooing in the morning to groom into a two strand overlap braid should be fine also.

Use a branded shampoo that can boost the volume of your hair instead of making it soft. Do not use shower conditioners, as this tends to make your hair silky and unmanageable to make a braid.

Remove the tangle with your fingers. Do not pull or force to detangle as this may damage or break your hair. Imagine a braid with hair spiking out here and there - awful isn't it? So, be careful while you detangle or brush your hair. Brush your hair thoroughly to get it as smooth as possible before getting a two strand overlap braid done.

You can even add quality to your braid with the help of large heated rollers that give texture and volume to your hair. Depending on your hair structure and type, experiment with more textures that can help the braid withstand for a longer time.

Blow-dry your hair right before you start plaiting the braid. While you dry your hair make sure you dry it upside down to add volume to the hair. If your hair is too frizzy, use setting gels to set the hairstyle the way it should look.

Creating A Two Strand Overlap Braid

1. Even your hair before you start with the two strand overlap braid and also after every cross made.

2. Part a triangular section of hair from the front or crown part of the head. For those who have bangs make sure you take the triangle strand after the bangs.

3. Split the triangular section into two equal parts and hold them in your right and left hand.

4. Bring the right piece of hair to your left and hold both the sections in your right hand with your forefinger in between to differentiate between the two.

5. Take an inch of hair lock from your left side of your hair and bring it to your right over the previous strand to work out a big X formation.

6. Hold the hair strands on your left now with your left forefinger separating the two strands.

7. Now take an inch of hair lock from the right side of your hair and bring it to your left crossing the earlier line.

8. Repeat this process till you get to the neck's scruff. Fasten the plait with an elastic band.

Next create a fishtail bottom to give the braid a trendy look.

Creating A Fishtail Bottom

1. Part the left over hair into two equals.

2. Bring a small lock of hair from the rear side of the left section and pass it to your right.

3. Hold the right section of hair with your left thumb and pick a small lock from behind the right section of hair.

4. Cross it to the left and now hold the strand in with your right thumb.

5. Repeat the process to get a braid that typically looks like a fishtail! Tie it with a satin ribbon or a hair-friendly band.

Use a simple tiara or headband in the front and pin a beautiful jewel hairpin, barrette or pearls between the cross section of the braid to give an adorable finishing touch to your hairstyle.