4 strand waterfall braid

When you've mastered the regular waterfall braid and when you've leaned the 4 strand braid, then this 4 strand waterfall braid is easy for you. It's a super fun braid, that's easy and beautiful. Tip: make sure you're always going under on the side closest to the part line, this gives the best result.

The technique:
4 strand waterfall braid tutorial

Ideas:

A 4 strand waterfall braid on the right side, combined with a French braid on the left side.

Two 4 strand waterfall braids

Again two 4 strand waterfall braids, finished off with a bubble braid

A double 4 strand waterfall braid

A 4 strand waterfall braid, combined with a braid that's a combination of a regular braid and a fishtail braid

Two 4 strand waterfall braids, finished off as a flower, with a mermaid braid below.

Ladder braid

The ladder braid is a combination of a waterfall braid / waterfall twist (or a feathered braid) and another braid. This other braid can be any braid you like: a twist, a lace braid, a 5 strand braid, a knotted braid... For the waterfall braid you can also use any technique you like: a regular waterfall braid, a fishtail waterfall braid, a 5 strand waterfall braid... The most important thing for a ladder braid is to add the waterfall strands to a new braid. This creates an effect that looks like a ladder and gives the braid the name ladder braid!

The technique:
Ladder headband braid tutorial
Waterfall snake braid tutorial

Ideas:

The ladder headband braid as explained in my tutorial.

Two ladder braids, both made out of a waterfall twist and a lace braid. Combined with a small fishtail braid.

A ladder braid made out of a knotted waterfall braid and a lace braid.

A ladder braid made out of a 4 strand waterfall braid and a lace braid.

A ladder braid made out of two 4 strand ribbon waterfall braids.

A fun variation: a crossed ladder braid. For this effect first add waterfall strand 2 to the lace braid, then waterfall strand 1. Then waterfall strand 4 and then waterfall strand 3, and so on.

How to: a 4 strand waterfall braid with combination braid

Helpful tutorials:
4 strand waterfall braid
Fishtail braid
Regular 3 strand braid

You'll need:
Two small elastics
A flower or a bow (if desired)

How to do this hairstyle?

1. Start by doing a 4 strand waterfall braid. Start on one side of the head and continue until you've reached the other ear. Finish off with a small elastic.
2. Take all of the hair together and bring it to the side. Try to hide the waterfall braid elastic under the rest of the hair.
3. Now divide the hair into 3 strands and start a regular braid.
4. Stop after 3 stitches. Divide the hair into 2 strands and start a fishtail braid.
5. Do about 6 or 7 fishtail stitches and then stop again.
6. Now divide the hair back into 3 strands and continue a regular braid for about 4 or 5 stitches.
7. Then divide the hair back into 2 strands and do a fishtail braid again.
8. Depending on the length of your hair you can stop after 6 or 7 fishtail stitches or go back to doing a regular braid. Finish off with a small elastic when you've reached the end of the hair and if you like, add a flower or a bow.

Good luck!

Loop braids

Loop braids are - as the name already says - braids with loops. You have to use the technique of feathering a braid: removing a small strand of hair from your braid every time and adding it back in a little later. You can see an example of a feathered braid in my YouTube tutorial Ladder headband braid.

For a loop braid you're using the feathered piece to create a loop. Feather off three strands of hair from your braid first of all. Then cross the first feathered strand under the other two and add it back into the braid. Pull a little on the strand, so you'll have a loop.

The easiest version of the loop braid is the half loop braid (the first photo), in which you're only feathering off pieces and adding them back in. The second photo shows an option: a waterfall loop braid, in which you're using the waterfall strands to create loops.

Photo three shows an advanced option: a 4 strand ribbon loop braid. For this braid you'll have to braid with 4 strands (1 of which is the ribbon) and you're adding in hair. Maybe a little tricky at first, but it gives a beautiful result!

The last photo shows the 'melting' braid: a triple loop braid. You can find a tutorial on this in the YouTube tutorial Melting braid from the channel Hair 4 my Princess.

Good luck trying out this technique!

The half loop braid

The (4 strand) waterfall loop braid

4 strand ribbon loop braid

The 'melting' braid

Double

In my articles I'm often writing about 1 braid: a French braid, a Dutch braid, a side braid, a waterfall braid... But why only do 1 braid?

The double French and Dutch braids (a part down the middle and 1 braid on each side of the part) are probably the best known double braids. A fun variation is to do a double waterfall braid. This may seem complicated, but it's not that difficult:
- First do a regular waterfall braid (or a waterfall twist or a 4 strand waterfall braid...)
- Then take a new strand of hair below the first waterfall braid, making sure you do not take any of the waterfall strands from your first braid.
- Now start a second waterfall braid. The hair you're adding in at the top, are the waterfall strands from your first braid.

The photos show two examples of double waterfall braids: a double waterfall twist and a double 4 strand waterfall braid. If you're doing a double waterfall braid for the first time, I'd advise the waterfall twist as it's the easiest.

Good luck!

Double waterfall twist

Double 4 strand waterfall braid

Basic techniques - level 4 and further

The 4 strand waterfall braid

Basic techniques - level 4 and further

Those who have mastered the level 1, 2 and 3 basic techniques, will be able to create loads of different hairstyles already. If you wish to challenge yourself even further, then try to master these last basic techniques:

• Dutch / French braiding with 5 strands: the 5 strand Dutch braid is one of my favorite braids. A beautiful big braid that's actually quite easy as you can hold your two left strands and your two right strands together every time.
• 4 strand waterfall braid: again one of my favorite braids. Again not very difficult, as you only need to master a 4 strand braid for this. For the best result I advise to start with under-over, so crossing the strand closest to the part under first of all.
• 4 strand Dutch braid: a regular 4 strand braid turns into a French/Dutch braid when you're adding in hair. By adding in hair a little different, you'll have a completely Dutch braid. This is how it works: start with a regular braid stitch - under-over; over-under. Now add hair to the left strand and cross it under-over. Now take your right strand and cross it over the strand next to it (for now I'll call this strand X). Now add hair to the right strand, but cross this hair under strand X first before adding it to the right strand. Now cross the right strand with the hair added to it under the strand next to it. Keep repeating this until you have no more hair to add.
• French (Dutch) 3D braid: the 3D round braid is very beautiful too when you're adding in hair. This is the same as for a regular French / Dutch braid: add in hair and then cross the strand under the two strands next to it and twist it around the second strand.

When you've mastered all of these techniques, there's of course even more difficult braids to try. These more difficult braids often have more strands (6, 7, 8 or even 9) or one or more ribbons. For the advanced braiders, I'll share the link to my tutorial on the 6 strand braid and the 6 strand slide up braid with ribbon, but if you've mastered all the techniques I've explained, you can call yourself a real braiding champion!