Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Savvy Girl's Guide To A Fishtail Braid


The hottest hairstyle for this summer is the fishtail braid, as seen on numerous stars, runways and magazines. The fishtail braid is a more complex take on the regular braid that we all wore to mask those school day hair blues. It may seem daunting to try out at first, but according to blogger Akanksha Chawla from Fictitious Fashion, it's as easy as pie. After seeing Akanksha wear a fishtail braid on her blog, I asked her to do a guest post on how to recreate the look. She's written a step-by-step guide, along with corresponding photographs - which makes this hairstyle easy enough for anyone to achieve.

How to Create a Fishtail Braid


In the Words of Akanksha:

A Warm Welcome to Everyone. I wanted to share my favourite hairstyle, the fishtail braid.

Step 1. If you’re doing it yourself then I’d suggest making a side braid or one at the back. Tie up all of your hair to the side with the help of any rubber band.

Step 2. Divide your hair into two sections. Hold each piece separately.

Step 3. This step is very important - Take a thin bunch of hair (see picture) from the end of one of the divided sections.

Step 4. Take the thin bunch over to the other half of the hair, making a cross. Hold it tightly.

Step 5. Now, take a thin bunch of hair from the second half of your hair.


Step 6. Take this second thin bunch over to the first half of hair, making a cross.  (This is the equivalent of pulling smaller strands from outside the larger sections, and drawing them into the center).

Step 7. You should get your first Fishtail.

Step 8. Repeat steps 3-6 until you get to the the end of your hair. Secure with a  hairband.

Akanksha's Tips:

*You could spray gel onto your hair for a solid and sophisticated look.
*My hair is a little silky and cut in layers so you would see tiny hair hopping around. Not to worry, long hair wouldn't have an issue.
*Remember to make this hairstyle your own by adding beads, colourful rubber bands, tic-tacs, etc.

Feel free to ask her any questions on http://fictitious-fashion.blogspot.com/
Special thanks to the very sweet Akanksha for sharing this tutorial and tips with us.


Celeb Inspired Looks

Now that you have learnt to do the simple side swept fishtail braid, you can move on to more intricate braided styles, as shown off by these celebrities.

Top Row
Kim Kardashian lets a few strands hang loose from her braid and wears a side-swept fringe.
Wear a blunt fringe and tie a ribbon around your elastic hairband like Bella Thorne.
Hilary Duff used thin strips of black leather to style her fishtail braid.
Ashley Tisdale added some volume to her look by teasing the front of her hair.
Center-part your hair, make two separate French braids then pin them up like Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Bottom Row
Blake Lively's version of an unkempt fishtail braid. She added a pretty gold hair brooch.
Amanda Bynes used her smaller braid as an Alice band, with the rest of her hair loose.
Nicole Richie plaited her hair in two sections from the roots.
Try a high ponytail braid like Diane Kruger.
Mary Kate Olsen combines tousled waves with her fishtail braid.

I hope that this post will inspire you to create your own fishtail braid.
Happy Styling from Akanksha & I!


35 comments:

Alexandra said...

THANK YOU for posting this! Seriously, I taught myself very roughly how to do one a long time ago and have since totally lost the touch for it, this was the perfect refresher. Also loving the selection of images of braids you posted on the bottom, great post love :)

Alexandra xo

http://tovogueorbust.com/

lucia m said...

wow! love the post! i'll do my first fishtail braid today!!

www.aroundlucia.com
www.aroundlucia.com
www.aroundlucia.com

Anonymous said...

Great post every girl needs to know how to do one!
I've tried so many times and watched endless tutorials and still haven't got the hang of it!
Hopefully this one helps! :)
x

Paolita@BerryHaute said...

I really like braids, it's an easy way to wear hair during the summer when it frizzes pretty bad, this style is certainly more interesting than a plain-old regular one. Will be giving it a try soon!
BerryHaute

The Little Magpie said...

Awesome! I need to try this out once my hair grows a wee bit xx

www.amybell-thelittlemagpie.blogspot.com

Puski's Closet said...

Thanks for your lovely comment and nice post :)

Following u :)

xoxo
http://puskiscloset.blogspot.com

UnA said...

I love it. But it never looked good on me :( maybe I'm not really good at this lol//

Thanks for sharing <3

Unknown said...

This braid technique is so beautiful! I've seen girls wearing it and it's very cute :) thanks for the tutorial!

http://daphyin-makeupisart.blogspot.com

Nicole said...

Love fish braids. Going to take full advantage this summer :)
xx

Enara Girl said...

I really like the fishtail braid. But it was difficult to do for me.
xoxo

Vanisha @ Vanisha's Life In...Australia said...

Argh! Grow hair! Grow!

PS Sam, Timor Leste (or East Timor or Timor) is a country. People from Timor are Timorese. We're spending Christmas in Timor. Here are some posts about Timor that I've written that you may enjoy :) http://vanishashaves.blogspot.com/search/label/Timor%20Leste

A Daft Scots Lass said...

I just did my first fishtail! Awesome!

Sam said...

@Serena - I hope that you get it right this time.

@Enara Girl - it was also difficult for me to do, but I think I'm getting the hang of it now.

@Vanisha - Thanks for the education, I learnt something new today ;)

@A Daft Scots Lass - Yay! I'm so glad you got it right.

Rakhshan said...

i'm loving kim kadarshian's fishtail plus style even though i dislike the woman! x

Denise said...

The best tutorial I have seen! I always made normal braids, but wanted this one! I'll try it! Thank you!

Purvi said...

Just the tutorial I was looking for :)

Pratishtha Durga said...

Love the fishtail, and I knew how to make one. You have done a great job with the tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

Fictitious Fashion said...

Thank you Sam :) Just so very much :)

http://fictitious-fashion.blogspot.com/
Akanksha

Indistinctive Writer said...

i love this hairstyle ^_^ it just takes me a long time to do this...

RochellekeCloset said...

love this post, i love braids on my hair ;-)

www.rochellekecloset@blogspot.com

lapetiteblonde said...

great tutorial!!
like it=)thanks!
kisses pretty!

Pandora`s Box said...

This looks very boho chic. Love it. I don't even know how to make a plain braid *Hides face*

fashion kats said...

great styles :)
http://fashionkats.blogspot.com/

Courtney Erin said...

I wish my hair were long enough to try this!


xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.com

KD said...

THanks for visiting my blog back! Hope you follow me back if you haven't!

This fishtail tutorial is exactly what I needed!!!! :)

Nitika Bhatia said...

The fishtail braid looks sooo cutee !! i wish I had longer hair !!
PS- following you now.. Plz visit my blog and follow if u like
http://shopaholicutie.blogspot.com/

Judith said...

Thanks for the tip! I love the fishtail braid :)

Sayantani Saha said...

The braid looks so nice! Wish my hair wasn't so short in front!

Anonymous said...

I really like how Diane Kruger wore hers but I think yours is the best :D

Gobble til you Wobble! May your Turkey Day be full of Blessings and Dressings!

Squared said...

very nice! I'll be trying this one out soon! I love it.
Following you now xx

Unknown said...

Hey! Thanks for your comments! This tutorial is great, i need to try it at the weekend :)

Christina Lala Lamz said...

Blake Lively's my favorite! Her style is impeccable. great post ;)

http://landoflamz.blogspot.com/

Elisabeth said...

Lovely braids! Hello from Helsinki!

xxx
E
http://dragonflyelisabeth.blogspot.com/

Fashion-Bridge said...

I sooooo love these braids! Such a fav look! Very boho chic!

Xx

Alexandra

www.fashion-bridge.blogspot.com

Miu said...

Thank you so much!