How to Make a Fishtail Braid: A Step-By-Step Tutorial

The fishtail braid looks elaborate and will become a favorite for rushed mornings, especially if you have long hair. It turns out beautifully and is great for an average day or to wear to a formal event. Fishtail braids also tend to look better when they get a little messy, so you'll be able to wear them all day. These types of braids are similar to regular braids, but just use 2 strands instead of 3.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider

Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} If you're able to braid, then you'll easily be able to learn to fishtail and create amazing hair looks!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Doing a Regular Fishtail Braid

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Divide your hair into 2 even sections. You will have a left piece and a right piece.
Gather it from the outside. It should be no thicker than 0.5 in (1.3 cm).^{[2]
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Move it towards the right 1.
It will now become part of the right section.
Move your hands up as far as they can go. The tighter you make your braid, the better; you can always tousle it for a messier look later.
Gather it from the outside of the section, and make it no thicker than 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Move it towards the left section.
It is now part of the left section.
9
Keep alternating sides until you reach the end of your hair. Leave at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of your hair unbraided so that you can tie it off.
- Try to use thinner strands the further down you go on your braid.^{[3]
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  Research source} This will help make your braid look more even; your hair becomes naturally thinner towards the ends.
If you want, you can take a strand of hair, and wrap it around the hair tie to hide it. Secure the strand with a bobby pin.
You may want to skip this if your hair has lots of layers; it may end up loosening and getting tousled on its own.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Doing a French Fishtail Braid

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Try to keep it at eye level or higher. Make it as centered as you can.
You will have a left half and a right half.
Try to gather it from your hairline. Make the strand thin, and no larger than 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
It will be a part of the right section from now on.
Make sure that this strand is the same distance from the center of your head as the strand you pulled from the left side. Again, make sure that it is no thicker than 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
It will be a part of the left section from now on.
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Pull up a new center section. This section should be equal in size to the first section you pulled up. Fold it across to the left side as you did with the first center section.
At this point, you can tie your hair off, or keep braiding it.
Try to keep the braid as tight and smooth as possible. You can always tussle it up later.
When you have about 1 in (2.5 cm) left of hair, tie the braid off using a hair tie.
Keep in mind that if you have lots of layers in your hair, the braid will become messy on its own.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making a Faux Fishtail Braid

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1
Find some thin hair elastics that match your hair color. You can also use clear ones if you can't find any that match your hair. You will be making several topsy-turvy ponytails, right after the other, so make sure that you have enough.
- This braid will work best on longer hair. It may not work very well on hair that is shorter than the upper arm.
Pull your hair into a low ponytail. Try to make the ponytail as close to the base of your head as possible, but don't make it too tight.
Start by slipping your pointer and middle fingers through your hair, right above the elastic. Split your fingers apart, creating a hole. Pull the ponytail over the elastic and down through the hole. Tug gently and smooth down your hair.
If you have thin or fine hair, tie the elastic closer to the first 1. If you have thick hair, tie it a little bit further away.
Slip your fingers through your hair, just above the elastic, and make another hole. Pull the tail down through the hole.
Tie your hair off with a hair tie.
You can do this by gently tugging on strands of hair to fluff them out a little. You can also wrap colored bits of ribbon or string around the elastics. Add some colorful beads for a boho or festival look.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Fishtail Braid Variations

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Start by gathering your hair into a low ponytail, and pulling it either to the left or right of your neck. Tie it off with a clear elastic. Fishtail braid your hair as usual and tie it off. Snip the clear elastic off when you are done.
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Try making a topsy-turvy ponytail before you start doing the fishtail braid. Start with a low ponytail. Slip your fingers up through your hair, right between the nape and the elastic. Pull the ponytail down through the hole. Once you have flipped your ponytail, start fishtail braiding as usual.
- Try poking a flower or 2 into the hole of the topsy-turvy for a cute, boho look.
You can also tie a ribbon over the hair tie in a bow. This can help make your braid more interesting and complete your outfit.
Keep it in place with a few bobby pins. This will be especially effective if you have really long hair.
Add some colored hair extensions before you start braiding your hair. This will give your braid a spark of color, and make it look more interesting. Fold a single clip in extension over the base of your ponytail and then work it into the braid.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you make a fishtail braid on short hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You can braid sections of shorter hair to make an accent braid. Simply separate out a strip of hair and create a regular fishtail braid.

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Why does my fishtail keep turning into a normal braid when I am following the instructions?

Community Answer

If you pull pieces that are too thick, it can start to look like a regular braid. You want to pull thinner pieces from the sections to cross over to the other side.

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Can a fishtail braid make your hair wavy?

Community Answer

Yes, keep it on for a night or two and then gently take it out, separating chunks of hair to make it even more wavy. A French fishtail braid will make it even wavier.

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Tips

if you have short hair (shoulder length) you should do it tight so it will not fall out.

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Helpful 29 Not Helpful 0
Don't get too frustrated if you can't get it at first! Try doing it on a smaller piece of hair and slowly go bigger. It's recommended if you do it with strings/threads firstly.

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Helpful 15 Not Helpful 3
Make sure that your hair is firm and not slippery!

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

You won't need a lot of practice on this braid since it's pretty easy! The only thing I would advise is to make sure your hair isn't greasy or oily before you start. The cleaner your hair is, the easier the braid will be to make.
If you have layered hair, doing a fishtail braid can be a little difficult. You can just manage this by doing the braid tighter and keeping a firm grip as you work.
Stay clear of styling products like hairspray, gel, etc. These products can make your hair stick to your fingers and braiding will be more difficult.
If you do a French fishtail at night while your hair is damp, your hair will be super curly when you take it out in the morning!
Dampen the hair to make the fishtail neater! Or, for a messier look, pull out some strands of hair around your face.
If you want to experiment, try weaving small fake flowers into the braid. It looks really pretty.
Try practicing with other people's hair before doing a fishtail braid on yourself.