There are many different ways to braid long hair, and there is a classic braiding
look called the Invisible Braid (or the French Braid in America) which is very popular. But
there is a variant of the Invisible Braid that adds a nice "twist" to the classic look.
This classic braid with a twist is called a Rope Braid. Here's how to create the Rope Braid:
Step One: As always, you want to start with clean hair either freshly washed,
conditioned and towel-dried, or if you prefer, it can be fully dry. (I prefer damp hair for
braiding, personally.) Spray the hair with a detangling spray or leave-in conditioner and
comb through the hair until all tangles are removed. Comb the hair back and away from
the face. Section a triangular wedge of hair, starting at the forehead and extending
back toward the crown of the head. This will be the starting point of your braid.
The model in this demo had curly hair, which makes braiding easier in many ways. You
can always add some styling product (mousse, gel, setting lotion, etc.) to add some
texture and "grip" to the hair if you have trouble braiding the hair you are working on.
Step Two: Divide the triangular section into three 'strands' and hold them in one
hand, and separate them with the fingers of the holding hand. Begin the braid by
crossing the right strand over the center strand, shift the strands to the opposite hand,
and then cross the left strand over the 'new' center strand. Shift the strands back to the
original hand.
Step Three: Now for the "twist": While holding all three strands in the holding hand
firmly, "flip" the holding hand to "twist" the braid. Reposition the strands, so that you
have them back in the original hand, but with the previous order reversed.
Step Four: Continue the braid by taking a thin slice of hair from the right side of
the head and combine it with the right strand, then cross this over the center strand.
Shift the strands to the opposite hand. Now, take a slice from the left side of the head
and combine it with the left strand and cross it over the center strand. Return the strands
to the starting hand, and "flip" the braid again. Reposition the strands to the original
hand as before.
Step Five: Repeat step four until you have braided your way down the head to the
nape of the neck. You can make the braid as tight or as loose as you want by
maintaining the tension with which you hold the hair.
Step Six: Once you've reached the nape of the neck, finish the braid however
you want: gather the hair in an elastic band at the neck and leave the remaining hair
to flow freely, or continue crossing the strands right-over-center and left-over-center
until you reach the ends of the hair.
For the demonstration, I stopped the braid at the nape of the neck, gathering the
hair into an elastic band. The finished braid can now be decorated with clips, ribbons,
bows, flowers, etc. Virtually anything could be used to decorate or add additional interest
to the braid. There is also the option when stopping at the nape of the neck to use a
curling iron to style the tail of the braid into ringlets, or you could use your imagination
to come up with a number of fun ways to finish the style.
The Rope Braid finishes as a tidy look with a prominent ridge feature down the
center of the head. The style holds well, and is an excellent way to wear long hair when
engaged in all kinds of active endeavors, like sporting events, swimming, and housework.
