Hair: Advanced Plaiting

5, 8 and 11 Strand Plaits

Equipment:

• Paddle brush
• Pintail comb
• Sectioning clips
• Small hairbands

Steps: 5, 8 and 11 Strand Plait 

1. Using the paddle brush, brush hair to remove any knots.
2. Section off the front sections of the hair, just behind the ear. 
3. Take the back section of the hair and and split it into 5 strands and then start to plait 3 strands. You will always end up having two strands on one side, one strand in the middle and three strands on the other side. 
4. Then take one strand over one the side piece of hair and then under the middle strand. It will create a weaving technique. You will then be left with three strands on the other side, one in the middle and two the opposite side. This alternates each time you create a weave.
5. Once the five strand plait is complete, take one of the front sections and plait as normal, however each section you take over needs to be threaded through the five strand plait to keep them together. 

5 Strand Plait

8 Strand Plait

11 Strand Plait

Dutch Plait

Equipment:

• Paddle brush
• Pintail comb
• Sectioning clips
• Small hairbands

Steps: Dutch Plait

1. To create a dutch plait, use the same technique you would to create a french plait, however instead of going under, go over so that the hair sits on top of the head. 
2. Take 3 sections at the top of the head and weave them under each strand and incorporate the outer sections, bringing them in to each strand and plaiting.
3. Carry this technique all the way down to the bottom of the head and until you run out of hair.

Waterfall Plait

Equipment:

• Paddle brush
• Pintail comb
• Sectioning clips
• Small hairbands

Steps: Waterfall Plait

1. Take a section of hair at the front of the head and start plaiting normally. 
2. Take a section of hair from the top of the head and drop one piece of hair, taking a piece from the bottom section to replace it. 
3. Have your model hold each 'dropped' sections of hair. 
4. Carry this technique until you run out of hair.

Ladder Plait

Equipment:

• Paddle brush
• Pintail comb
• Sectioning clips
• Small hairbands

Steps: Ladder Plait

1. In order to create a ladder plait, you will firstly need to create a waterfall plait. Follow above instructions to do so.
2. Once the waterfall plait has been done, take the sections of hair that you 'dropped' and use this to create another waterfall braid. Taking each dropped section and dropping a new one.
3. You can either keep going with the waterfall plaits to create a long drop of ladders, or you can end the ladder by not dropping any sections and tying the hair at the ends to stop.

Overall I found this lesson enjoyable. I had already learnt how to dutch plait, waterfall and ladder plait but it was interesting to do the 5, 8 and 11 strand plait. This was a new technique which I found quite difficult at first as I wasn't sure how to correctly hold the hair in my hands and found it a bit fiddly. However, the end result looks really effective. I do need more practice as it could be a great technique to use in future work.