If you want to know how to braid when you have layers you can check out this article. Also know how to do side braid and french braid with layered hair. Check out braid hairstyles for layered hair too!
Look. Braiding your hair is one of the easiest ways to keep it out of your face. It’s also a very practical hairstyle.
Want a classy look? Braid your hair. Want to keep it simple? Braid your hair. Bad hair day? Braids to the rescue!
But braiding hair can become really difficult if you have a layered haircut.
The shorter layers keep sticking out of your braids, giving it a messy look (and not the stylish kind!).
It’s also difficult to gather the hair together to make the braids as the shorter hair layers keep slipping from your grasp.
So how do you braid your hair when you have a layered haircut? Well, I have a few tips that can make things simpler.
How To Braid When You Have Layers
Curl the ends of your layers
If your hair is straight the ends of the shorter layers will poke out from the braids. But if you curl hair at these ends, then you can tuck them inside your hairstyle more easily. And it also looks more stylish and almost deliberate.
Choose a braid that matches your layers
If you have layers then choose a braided hairstyle that will start from above your shortest section.
For example, if you have layered hair with the shortest section being an inch or two above your shoulder, you should choose braids that start from the nape of your or higher.
So Dutch braids or French braids that both start from the top of your head are a good idea. While a fishtail braid is still possible with layers, there is a greater chance your layers will stick out.
Tuck the looser ends with a hair pin or clip
This one seems the most obvious of solutions. But if you have layered hair sticking out of your braids simply pin then in.
Use a bobby pin to tuck these loose flyaways inside your braids and add in some hairspray to keep them in place.
You can even add decorative snap clips or barrettes to the shorter sections of your hair at the front and pin it to the sides of your head.
Doing so will actually add to your whole look instead of ruining the braided hairstyle.
How To Do A Side Braid With Layered Hair
If you want to create a side braid with layered hair just follow these steps.
Step 1: Add some texturizing spray to hair or even a dry shampoo to make the braids hold better.
Step 2: Brush out any knots in your hair and part it towards the side where you want your braid to go.
Step 3: If you have really short hair sections in the front, you can leave them untouched. If not, you can start off with braiding your hair by pulling all the remaining strands to the side.
Step 4: Braid your hair as you would do normally. Only here, pin the ends of the shorter hair sections that poke out to the braid as you go.
Step 5: Braid the entirety of your hair and then tie it off the end with a hair tie or ribbon. You can even add a little hairspray to make sure the side braid doesn’t get messy.
How To Do French Braids With Layers
In my opinion, a French braid is the easiest hairstyle to create if you have layered hair. As French braids usually start off from the top of your scalp this means that even the shortest layers of hair come into the braids’ grasp.
Here’s how to do French braids if you have layered hair:
Step 1: You can start off by adding some texturizing spray to help shorter layers hold better and then dividing your hair into three sections at the front.
Step 2: Start braiding your hair by crossing the sections over one another. Continuing in the same pattern, start adding other sections of hair from the sides and braid them in as well.
Step 3: Here’s where it gets tricky. The shorter hair sections will start to poke out from your layered hair. You can continue braiding but just make sure you’re tucking these flyaways inside the braid with a bobby pin as you are going.
Step 4: Complete the braid and tie it off with a hair tie. Add some hairspray to prevent your braids from becoming messy.
Braid Hairstyles For Layered Hair
Here are some other braids hairstyles you can create if you have layered hair:
Side Braid with Ponytail
Dutch Braids
Crown Braids
Messy Fishtail Braid
Messy Side Braids
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still braid hair with layers?
Of course, you can still braid your hair if you have layers. However, the issue is that the shorter layers will stick out from your braided hairstyles giving it a messy, unattractive look. You can manage this little hiccup by either pinning up the shorter layers or braiding them separately.
How do you hide the hair sticking out of braids?
If you want to hide the shorter sections of your layered hair from sticking out of your braids, the simplest solution is to use a bobby pin to tuck it in neatly. You can use a bobby pin that matches the color of your hair to make it look inconspicuous.
There are other types of hair clips like smaller snap clips or hair pins that can be used to hide the front section of hair inside the braid.
Can you do a fishtail braid with layered hair?
Yes it’s totally possible to get a fishtail braid with layered hair. The only issue with creating any type of braid with layered hair is that the smaller sections poke out. But you can avoid this on your fishtail braid by using bobby pins to tuck away these flyaway hair strands.
You can also choose to let the sections poke out and give your hairstyle a spritz of high hold hairspray. This will help your hair get that deliberately messy look while making sure these strands do not fall on your face or make your braids come undone.
Is it better to braid your hair wet or dry?
If you have flip hairstyles or layered hair then it is much easier to braid your hair when it is slightly wet. Doing so helps you grasp all the layers of your hair (including the shorter ones) with more ease. However, wet hair is very fragile. So it might endure some damage due to the tugging and pulling of braids. So I’d suggest not braiding wet hair often or braiding your layers after the application of a texturizing spray to help get a better hold.
Final Thoughts on How to Braid When You Have Layers
Braids are very versatile. And they are great if you have a lazy or a bad hair day. But the process of braiding hair can get difficult if you have layered haircuts.
The shorter layers slip from the braids and create a mess on your head. These flyaways can be really hard to tame.
So the easiest way to handle layers is to simply pin up the shorter layers using hair clips or pins.
Or you can even try curling the ends of your layers to stop them from sticking out in an unseemly manner. Curled ends look deliberate and stylish.
The last resort to deal with braiding layered hair is to simply choose styles that are compatible with your haircut.
A crown braid where you get the shorter layers out of the way, a half up half down hairstyle where you only braid the front layers, etc. are some ways you can match your braids to your layered haircut.
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To Summarize