How To Braid In Hair Extensions?

Braiding with hair extensions takes practice and time, but you'll be a master in no time!

You may need determination, a little effort, and simple steps to learn.

In this article, you will learn simple steps to braid with hair extensions and a few tips to guide you.

Are you ready to braid your hair? The steps are right below.

Gather Your Tools

A few tools and products you'll use throughout the braiding process are;

1. Some Clips: A few clips are fine to hold your hair in place while you braid. Most times, you use this after you've sectioned your hair.
2. Hair extensions: There are several types of hair extensions that you can use, like braiding hair, human hair extensions etc, but you need to be cautious in your selection. That’s because your choice determines how the braids will look and if the process will be easier.
3. Spray Bottle: This is to mist your hair with water if it's straight and you've recently got a haircut. It is optional since it depends on your hair texture.
4. Rattail Comb: You'll need a comb to section your hair neatly.
5. Blow Dryer: Using the blow dryer is optional. This is for those who want to dry their hair a little quicker after washing it. It does help to straighten the hair up a little as well, but usually, this is recommended for people who generally have curly or kinky hair.
6. Shampoo and Conditioner: Essentials to wash the hair with.
7. Moisturizers: They will help keep frizziness far. So, get hair oil and texturizing spray.
8. Hair Rack: Used to place the separated hair extensions before braiding.

These tools and products are all you need. Now, let's get braiding.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Braid Using Hair Extensions

Step 1: Prepare Your Natural Hair and Hair Extensions for Braiding

Prepare Your Hair:

Before you go ahead to braid, wash your hair first. This is to ensure your hair is clean, plus you'll be missing your regular shampooing and conditioning for the period you wear your braids.

• To start, go in with a shampoo, then follow with conditioner after you rinse out the shampoo. You can also choose to deep condition your hair. And this is good, especially if you haven't done that for some time now. Pro Tips: The most important thing is to follow your routine that works and your hair is set.
• You can air-dry or blow-dry your hair after washing. But if you want to speed up the process a bit, then use a blow dryer. Just remember to use a heat protectant on your hair.

Again, this is for those with curly or kinky hair texture. If you have straight hair, skip this part.

Prepare Hair Extensions:

Next up is the hair extensions. The hair extensions you bought also need to be taken care of. But we won't be recommending any steps for you since the package usually has instructions on what you should do.

Still, there are some braiding hair extensions you don't even have to prep so look closely at the package.

Then seperated your hair extensions to same size and place them on hair rack, this will save you much time when start braiding.

Step 2: Create Your Sections

Parting your hair into different sections makes the process less stressful and your hair easier to work with. We advise you to section your hair from ear to ear, following how you'll braid it eventually.

Do this in large parts and if you want to avoid parting again, go with the size you want for your braids. You can use your clips to separate the sections and hold them so they don't disturb you once you begin braiding.

Other methods to keep them secure are to use hair ties or braid them halfway.

Step 3: Smaller Braiding Sections

Now, divide the rows into smaller sections. These are the sections you add your hair extensions to for your braids. So, choose your desired size and you are ready to braid.

Bigger sections will give you jumbo braids and smaller ones will be micro or medium. Whatever your choice is, it's fine.

But as a beginner, going for medium-size braids is the best because larger ones might be too hard to plait, making your braids look rough. On the other hand, micro braids take longer, which might be tiring for a beginner.

Step 4: Include Your Hair Extensions and Braid

This step may be the most difficult since you begin the process. But take it slowly, you'll surely get it.

First Step: Pick some hair extensions from your bundle, let it be three sizes the amount of your natural hair section. That way, it will even your braids. You can go with a smaller size too. That usually works with knotless braids, but for medium-size braids, it won't.

Second Step: The next thing you want to do is fold the hair extension to create an equal end. Now there are different ways to attach your extension hair to your natural hair, but this is simpler for beginners.

Third Step: Add hair extensions and braiding.

• Hook your folded extension right on top of your hair section while it falls on both sides with your natural hair in the middle.
• At this point, you should have three parts of your hair. Starting from your right hand, turn downwards to the center, then do the same thing with your left hand and the one in the middle.
• Be sure you have a nice grip on your hair and the hair extension so it's well secured. Keep crisscrossing (right, left, and middle) your hair and the extensions till you reach the end. You can scoop a few hair extensions to add to whichever one is small.

Fourth Step: Follow with step 4 for the rest of your hair and the braids should look good.

As someone new to braiding or attaching hair extensions to braids, you may experience the need to rest your hands a few times while braiding. This isn't compulsory, as long as your hands are fine.

Tips for Braiding in Hair Extensions

Here are some tips to help you when you braid with hair extensions:

1. Go for Good Hair Extensions

As we've said, your hair extensions determine how beautiful your braids will look. Choosing high-quality hair extensions means your hair can last, look natural, and be easy to style. Also, consider your hair extension color if you want it to blend with your natural hair.

Straight Human Hair Extensions

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2. Use Hairspray

There's a need to protect your hair once you section and start to braid. With a texturizing spray or hair oil, you can keep it protected. Simply apply the oil or spray to the sections after dividing them. You can also do this while you braid.

3. Take Some Time to Practice

Don't be too hard on yourself if you don't get it right the first time. Just practice the technique outlined above and braid again. You'll become better at it.

4. Secure It Well

To keep the extensions from slipping off, ensure they are snug. While you do not have to attach them too tightly, securing the extensions well will give the braid a neat look and make it more natural.

5. Detangle When Braiding

While you braid, you must run your fingers through the hair extension. This is to keep the knots from forming or causing them to tangle. That's because some knots might start to form as you braid. So, after a couple of steps, run your fingers through it. It's like a way to comb the extension.

Other Braiding Styles with Hair Extensions

We noticed other questions relating to how to braid in hair extensions online are on braiding styles like French braids and fishtail braids, especially when using clip-ins or other extension types instead of traditional hair bundles.

If you're curious about these styles, check out the steps here.

1. Fishtail Braid

Styling a fishtail braid after clipping in your hair extensions is achievable with these few steps:

- Divide your hair into two parts, clipping a side if you want two fishtail braids. However, if it's one braid, after dividing your hair, instead of clipping it, you'll use both sides.

Note: This is after you've put your hair extensions.

- Remember you have two sides, take a few strands of hair from one side and add it to the other. You'll be picking from on top and not beneath your hair.

- Pull gently once it's on the other side to ensure it's secured. Then do the same thing on the opposite side: take a section and add it to the other side.

- Keep repeating the steps till you reach the ends of your hair. This is a two-strand braiding method.

- After that, hold it with a hair elastic.

2. French Braid

The French braid uses three strands. So, when you want to install your hair extensions, do that vertically. This will keep the extensions hidden while the braid stays in the middle.

Follow these steps after putting your hair extensions:

- Create three strands at the front of your hair. Simply divide your hair into three to start with.

- Braid using the strands, placing the right or left strand over the one in the middle. Do the same thing for the other side, then add a small section of hair to the strand and place it over once more.

- Continue to pick small sections and braid, combining it with one of the strands and bringing it across to the middle. Remember to take from each side, one after the other till you reach the end of your hair.

- Hold your hair at the end with an elastic to keep it secured.

Conclusion

The methods and steps in this post help you braid in hair extensions easily. Remember, it might not be perfect at the beginning, but if you practice continuously, with time, it will become flawless.

Do you have any other questions about braiding with hair extensions? Let us know below.