Criss-Cross Braids

Hi everyone, welcome or welcome back to my blog. I was browsing Pinterest the other day and came across many variations of this particular hairstyle. The original hairstyle was on a little girl but I thought it was great versatile hairstyle that can be tweaked to fit any age group and decided to share it with all of you.

I've named this braid the Criss-cross braids for the way it crosses in the back, but feel free to rename it whatever you want. These criss-cross braids is simply is play on the classic double french/dutch braids. Criss-crossing your braids is a fun and new way to mix it up and gives a unique texture and look to the hairstyle. It might look difficult or confusing at first, but it really only uses the simple technique of french braiding.

I hope you enjoy this hairstyle, comeback soon for another one. Thanks!

Difficulty: Easy - Medium

Tools:

- 1 comb/brush

- 2 - 4 hair elastic(s)/ hair tie(s)

Method:

(for more detailed instructions on how to create a normal 3-strand braid, see the post "Double Braids")

1. Part your hair in half, straight down the back of the head. Then divide each half into half again ( from the ear to the first part line). Now, the hair should be divided into 4 quadrants. Temporarily tie up the hair on the bottom left side and top right side.

2. Pick up a chunk of hair 2 inches above your left ear, near the hairline.

3. Separate the hair into 3 sections.

4. Cross the right section under the middle section. Then, cross the left section under the new middle section.

5. Pick up some hair from the right side of the braid and add that hair to the new right section. (To create a cleaner finish, pick up hair nearer to the partline created in step 1.)

6. Cross the right section under the middle section.

7. Pick up some hair from the left side of the braid and add that hair to the new left section. (To create a cleaner finish, pick up hair nearer to the hairline.)

8. Cross the left section under the middle section.

9. Keep repeating steps 5-8, braiding in a diagonal/downward motion, aiming for the center back of the head.

10. When you reach the center back of the head, near the partline created earlier, continue the braid as a regular 3-strand braid for 1 stitch.

11. Continue braiding in a diagonal/downward motion but using the hair from the bottom right quadrant.

12. When you run out of hair, simply finish the braid off as a normal 3 strand braid and secure with a hair tie. (Image at top of post)

OR

12. When you run out of hair, simply finish the braid off by securing the hair with a hair tie. (Image at bottom of post)

13. Release the hair that was tied up in step 1.

14. Repeat steps 2-12, but with the hair from the top right quadrant to the bottom left quadrant.