The way I incorporate my hair into my practise is to use it as a form of knot (braid) magic. Braiding hair whilst having an intention in your mind is the perfect way to set that intention and wear it with you for the day. As you braid your hair, set your intention for the day within each weave. You can either visualise your intention whilst braiding your hair, or sing/ say it out loud. For instance, you can make a little rhyme to sing whilst braiding your hair, and be all Rapunzel like! Although the French braid is regularly attributed to North Africa (and rightfully so), especially Algeria, there are also early depictions of similar hairstyles in Greek and Celtic history, as well as imperial China. It also helps to think of the sections in terms of their position: right, center, and left. Essentially, as you complete the braid, you are repeating a pattern. Finish it off with a hair bobble with a colour that matches the intent, green or yellow will work well. To go a bit extra, weave your braids with green or yellow ribbon. Your hair will cover the tool so that it stays in your hair when the braid is complete. It is invisible to others since your hair is covering it up.

Consider your intent, make it as specific as you can. The intent will be active until you take your braids out, so keep it short-term. For instance, “I will be motivated to start writing my essay today.” If you like, you can create a little song or rhyme to sing whilst you braid your hair. Just focus on taking it from the outside sections so that you get a complete-looking braid. Smaller sections of hair will result in a tighter, more intricate braid. 5. Repeat the Process, Using All of Your Hair Finally, you need hair ties that won’t cause breakage, these rubber hair ties usually work pretty well. A French braid always looks classy and cute, and although it seems complicated, it’s pretty simple once you get the steps down. Keep in mind that it’s important to get your hand positions down so that you don’t get confused while continuing the braid. We recommend holding two strands of hair in your right hand and the third strand of hair in your left hand.Adding specific flowers to your hair imbues your hair braiding with the connotations of that flower or plant. Depending on the length of your hair, this process could take a bit of patience but hang in there. It will be worth it in the end. To add another layer to this, you can add ribbons, coloured threads, beads, flowers etc, into your braids.

For instance, you might do French braids down the side of your head, looping it around for an elegant braid. You can also section off different parts of your hair to create multiple French braids. Once you have added all of the hair from the sides of your face, you won’t have any more hair to add for a French braid. From salon braider to global beauty entrepreneur and inventor, Stasha M Harris, the award-winning, world-renowned licensed NYS Natural hair instructor, is breaking glass ceilings and inspiring her peers along the way.Similarly, use hair masks with specific ingredients to imbue your hair with magical properties. For instance, honey for self love (honey has mild bleaching effects so don’t use on coloured hair), avocados for nurturing and contentedness. It can help you get a cleaner-looking braid, especially if you aren’t confident in your own French-braiding abilities. To use it, part your hair and place the initial section in the braiding hair sponge. A French braid actually starts out as a regular braid. Therefore, you want to start as you normally would when braiding hair. You will also need a good detangler before you start French braiding your hair. Garnier’s Whole Blends 5-in-1 Lightweight Detangler Spray is a good choice.

For a multipurpose tool that will help you create a French braid, flip ponytails, and more, try the Topsy Tail Hair Tool. It works on many different hair types and textures and can help you achieve that elegant braided look without all of the effort. T ake the left section, cross it over the middle one. Then take the right strand, and cross it over the new middle strand. You've created the first stitch in your three-strand braid! Our research indicates that straight hair needs to be washed more often than other hair types since straight hair tends to more oily than wavy, curly or kinky hair types.The braid is also known as the tresse africaine, although it started being identified largely as a French braid around the 1870s. In addition to her numerous ventures, Stasha is currently the creative director/host behind “The Braid Up” and “Battle of the Braids,” a feature of Cosmopolitan Magazine where she invites other stylists to debut their talents. Throughout the years, variations on the French braid have emerged, such as the Dutch braid and the Fishtail braid.