How to do a Dutch Braid by Yourself - TELETIES Tutorial

Dutch braids are a classic look that is easy to do, and only takes six steps. Although it is similar to the timeless French braid, there are differences.  The main one is the appearance.

Dutch braids are braided underneath giving them a 3D type of appearance and dimension (making them perfect for flat, fine, and straight hair), where a French braid requires the sections of hair to pass over one another to style the look. With the 3D appearance, Dutch braids stand out as part of the look where a French braid complements your look vs. being an accent piece.

This is why Dutch braids are better when you want to stand out from the crowd like a prom, red carpet event, a music festival, or as a soloist in cheer, dance, and theater.  Because they hold tight against your head, and keep your hair out of your face, Dutch braids are perfect for playing sports, races, and other times when you require comfort and focus. Best of all, doing a Dutch braid by yourself is easy and only takes six steps.

Classic Dutch Braid

Skill level: Beginner to Advanced

Face shape: Oval, Diamond, Long, Heart

Occasions: Formal, spotlight events, times you need to stand out

You will need:

• A small or tiny hair tie
• 1 hair brush
• Hairspray or mousse (optional)

The steps to do a Dutch braid:

1. Brush your hair to remove tangles and knots so that your braid is smooth.
2. Divide your hair into three equal sections at the top of your head near your hairline.
1. Left (A).
2. Middle (B).
3. Right (C).
3. Cross section A under section B, so that A takes the place of B and B takes the place of A. Next, cross section C under the new section B, so that C takes the place of B and B takes the place of C. This is the basic Dutch braid pattern.
4. Keep braiding and incorporate additional hair into the braid by grabbing a small piece of hair from the left side of your head and add it to section A.
1. Now cross section A (now combined with the new hair) under section B. 
2. Repeat this process for section C, adding a small piece of hair from the right side of your head before crossing it under section B.
5. Keep adding hair to sections A and C and crossing them under section B until you reach the nape of your neck, then continue with the basic Dutch braid pattern without adding additional sections as the hair from your head should be neatly braided already.
6. Use a hair tie to secure the end of your braid and spray a finishing spray to hold flyaways at bay.

And don’t stop there!  There’s lots of unique variations of the Dutch braid you can master.  Even better, this look is easy to style with ribbons, clips, weave, and adornments.  So if you're ready to mix it up, here’s a few variations to get you started.

Double Dutch Fishtail Braid

Skill level: Mid-level to Advanced

Face shape: Oval, Diamond, Long, Heart

Occasions: Sports, outdoors, when you’ll be traveling a long time

Perfect for sports, activities where you need to keep your hair in place, or any time your hair needs to stay put, the double Dutch fishtail braid is the perfect look to show you’re not “playing”, even though it is named similar to the popular jump rope game.  And if you’re wearing this look for sports, you cannot go wrong adding in your team’s colors with weave to show extra spirit.

1. Brush your hair so it is straight and easy to comb your fingers through.
2. Divide your hair into two equal parts, from the forehead to the nape of your neck and select one side first.
3. Take a small section of hair near the forehead and divide it into three parts like above.
1. Left (A).
2. Middle (B).
3. Right (C).
4. Cross A under B, then cross C under the new B.
5. Add a small piece of hair to A from the left side, then cross it under B. Add a small piece of hair to C from the right side, then cross it under B, and repeat until you reach the nape of your neck.
6. Continue the Dutch braid pattern without adding hair until you reach the end and secure it with a hair tie, then do the other side.

Pro-tip: Tease the edges of the braid to give a fuller look and appearance.

Dutch Braid Pigtails

Skill level: Beginner to Advanced

Face shape: Oval, Round, Diamond, Long, Heart

Occasions: Music festivals, school, summer time events, lounging around

The double Dutch fishtail braid is a tight, no-nonsense style, where the Dutch pigtail braids are friendly and relaxed.  The look is the same, but the braids are teased out a bit so they’re softer and larger giving the look more depth and dimension.  This is why they’re great for wearing when it's time to relax, for casual events, and because they hold in place, music festivals.

1. Brush your hair to remove any tangles or knots.
2. Divide your hair down the center of your head into two equal sections.
3. Take one of the two sections of hair and divide it into three parts like above.
1. Left (A).
2. Middle (B).
3. Right (C).
4. Begin braiding by crossing the right strand under the middle strand, and then crossing the left strand under the middle strand.
5. Now, as you continue braiding down, each time you cross a strand under the middle section, add a small section of hair from the outside of the braid to the section you are crossing it under.
6. Keep going until you reach the nape of your neck, then continue with a traditional three strand braid until you reach the end and secure it with a hair tie.
7. Secure the end of the braid with a hair tie.
8. Now do this on the other side so it is even.  
1. Use a mirror to make sure the rope look is even in size, but don’t worry about height just yet.
9. Gently tease the edges of each braid to loosen them up and create a fuller, more textured look, and so they’re even in height.

Dutch braids are the perfect alternatives to the French braid when you need something that holds tights, stands out, and shows you mean business. If you found this post helpful, subscribe to the TELETIMES blog by entering your email below and keep up-to-date with trending topics and style guides.