PLAITS and BRAIDS

SAVI's HOW TO guide on plaits and braids

To avoid confusion throughout the instructions when SAVI refers to the middle strand it is the current middle strand not necessarily the middle strand you started with, this is the same for the the left and right strands.

THE CLASSIC - FRENCH PLAIT

1. Take three strands at the top of your head start by putting left strand over middle then the right strand over the middle.

2. Add a piece of hair to the left strand put the larger strand over the middle and do the same for the right.

3. Keep adding to the two sides when you reach the bottom of your head you should have included all of your hair.

4. Continue to plait normally

Here you can see British singer Leona Lewis with a side French plait. This is done in exactly the same way just started in a different place.

THE NOT SO CLASSIC - DUTCH BRAID

This braid is very similar to a french plait, but the difference is the braid stands out from the head.
Often done over the top of the head, for this style, see below, start above your ear and then follow instructions

1. Start with three strands at the top of your head, just like the French plait, take the middle and put it over the left strand, now take the middle strand and put it over the right strand.

2. Add a piece of hair to the left strand before placing the middle over it again, do the same to the right.

3. Continue adding hair to both sides, when you reach the bottom of your head all hair should be included in the braid.

4. Continue to plait

Cheryl Cole is trying out a dutch braid that is working it's way around into a bun at the back of her head.

THE FISHTAIL - It takes some time...

A normal fishtail braid would start at the nape of your neck

1. Split the hair in two, take a piece from the right side and put it in the left side, then take a piece from the left Side and put it in the right side.

2. Continue to do this and the fishtail braid will start to take shape.

3. For a more delicate braid use smaller pieces, this will take longer to do however

4. At SAVI we like to start the braid a little higher, this works very well if you have long thick hair. Instead of taking pieces from the other strand take pieces of hair not incorporated into the plait. Once all hair is in start your fishtail as normal.

Fishtail from behind



Fishtail from the side


THE WATERFALL BRAID - Simple once you know how...

This plait works it's way round the side of your head, and takes some practise to get right.

You need to decide whether you want a Tight or loose braid before you start, tight braids look better with more waterfall strands and loos ones look better with less.

1. Take three strands at the side of your head, place the upper strand over the middle strand and then the lower strand over the middle strand. Continue to do this.

2. When you want the first waterfall strand place the upper over the middle and then the lower strand over the middle, the strand that is now the lower strand you need to drop and bring in a new upper strand. Continue to plait normally until you want the next waterfall strand.

3. Try and keep the same amount of distance in between the waterfall strands.

4. Ending the waterfall braid is tricky. Once you reach the other side of your head some people like to continue plaiting normally then winding this plait round to have a flat bun on the side of your head. SAVI's not a great fan of this. For our look below we reached the other side of the head and used bobby pins to secure the plait then let the hair fall normally.



Waterfall braid

One of SAVI's most loved creations is a combined dutch and waterfall braid. Unfortunately pictures do not do it justice!!

It starts with a dutch braid going over the head then when reaching the other side develops into a waterfall braid. This works best on someone with long thick, preferably straight hair.

THE CLASSIC TWIST

This is a fun favourite at SAVI...

1. Take two pieces of hair and twist them round your fingers clockwise

2. Twist them once round each other anticlockwise. After you've twisted them round each other you have to twist them individually again.

3. Add a small piece of hair to each strand, twist individually to incorporate the extra strands and twist over each other again.

4. You can either finish it half way up the head like we've done or carry on twisting the hair into a long twist.

5. This twist look works well when you start one from each side of the head, work them downwards into a bun at the nape of your neck.

The Twist Braid Side view



The Twist Braid Back view



Here at SAVI HQ we'd love to hear your suggestions, so give us a tweet @SaviHQ or an email to savihq@gmail.com

With Love,

SAVI

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Not all pictures are Savi's