A herringbone or fishtail braid is a stylish and unique way to wear your hair that works for most occasions, be it casual or formal. It might look elaborate, but trust me, the fishtail braid is an easy two-strand braid, and the only problem is that it takes a little longer to do.
However, anyone can do it if they have patience, knowledge and practice.
If you want to know how to do it, stay with me here, because I made a step-by-step guide, especially for you, those who are ready to learn how to design herringbone braids like a pro.
More than that, during this article, you will get some more alternatives and hacks.
How to design a herringbone braid
If you don’t know how to do a fishtail braid, the best way to start is with your hair tied up so you don’t have to stress yourself out about holding it together while braiding.
So, in this tutorial, we will do the herringbone braid starting from the ponytail, skipping the braid in the scalp part, which is more advanced, because first of all, you need to know how to braid the basic version.
Steps to design a herringbone braid:
- Brush your hair and tie it into a ponytail. If you want to add extensions, you better fix them on your hair before you start braiding.
- Find a long, meditative song and let it play.
- Separate the hair into two equal parts. These pieces of hair will remain separate from each other.
- Use your index finger to take a small strand from the back (underneath) of the right section (or the left, it doesn’t matter which one you start with) and bring it to the inside of the left section, crossing it in the middle.
- Control the middle part with your thumbs. Do not let the strands fall.
- Take a small strand from the back of the other half (if you started with the right, from the left) and bring it to the inside of the right half, crossing over the middle.
- Then, do the same again with the right side. (Take a small section from the back and bring it to the inside of the left piece, crossing the middle).
- Do the “X” shape pattern over and over until the end, alternating left and right, keeping the size of the strands small and consistent. Always tuck the new strands under the hair.
- Finally, use a clear rubber band to secure the braid. You can cover the elastic with a piece of hair, which will be secured with the same elastic.
- Alternatively, you can fan the braid out to make it look thicker and more detailed. It will also give it a casual flair or a more effortless touch.
If you want to make a herringbone braid without tying the hair into a ponytail first, you will have to split the hair into two equal parts, and start braiding by crossing a small outer strand of hair on one side over the middle part, and do it symmetrically on the other side.
As you continue to cross the strands like this, you will also need to hold the hair tight, so that the braid does not come loose.
Herringbone braids can also be braided on the scalp, like French or Dutch braids. You can choose different ways to style them (two braids, buns, side braids, etc.). There is also an opposite method for the fishtail braid, which looks a little different, while the braiding technique is similar.
Therefore, herringbone braids have many different appearances, depending on how it was entangled.
For those who feel like a herringbone braid takes forever, and don’t have time for it, consider braiding it just a few inches, and loosening the strands to look thicker. A small fish is still a fish.
Another quick method for a thick and airy herringbone braid is to take a strand of hair from the middle of your future final fishtail braid (on the scalp) and cross symmetrical strands of hair over the middle strand, alternating left and right. side, and move down.
This time the strands can be a little bigger, but you have to take the parts of the strands in a very balanced way, from the top to the bottom of the braid, where you can secure it with a rubber band and tie it.
Still, if you’re having trouble trying to do a herringbone braid, you can use tips and tricks to create a similar look. There are many alternative methods you can try. I will provide you with a very easy one, where you only need to use one rubber band, and it takes less than one minute to do it. Note, it will not look as good and detailed as a real herringbone braid.
Fake Fishtail Braid Tutorial
- Place a rubber band at the beginning of the braid and create an opening in the middle of the ponytail, with the help of your fingers, just above the elastic band.
- Then, grab the hair and toss it through the opening.
- Then, tie the hair, move the elastic band down a little, create another gap above, next to the first one, in the middle, and flip the hair again.
- And again, like this, until the end.
- It will take less than one minute, and it will look just like a much messier, sloppy fishtail braid.
In conclusion, a herringbone braid is a versatile style that can be adapted to many circumstances. Hope this article helped, and don’t forget, “One fish in your net is better than ten thousand in the river.”“
Common questions
Yes, there are two words for the same hairstyle, but don’t ask me why, because I didn’t put them. The idea is that they look similar to herringbone, so… yes, some also call them herringbone braids.
Yes, you can sleep with a herringbone braid, but you’d better protect it with a satin scarf, that way you’ll increase your chances of looking good in the morning.