Tutorial Tuesday - How to Braid
I know this should be filed under Hair Thursday, but since braiding is a technique that can be used for other things than hair, I present to you a tutorial on how to braid.
Believe it or not, I did not learn to braid hair until I was a teenager (16 - 18 years old). My mother used to do my hair for me, I was not interested in styling my doll's hair as a child (except for cutting hair, I loved to do that) so I never learned until then. Samantha was my little dummy/mannequin for those years. Now I LIVE to braid! I love braiding my doll's hair, from normal braids to French and Dutch braids and waterfall braids. But to get to a more complicated braid, you have to master the regular braid.
I recently braided Nanea's hair after I conquered her side part. I showed my mom and she said that Nanea looks happy with this hairstyle! Sorry for her being naked, but I'm in the middle of making her a new outfit and it's a pain to dress and undress her each time I need to test the outfit or measure her.
Believe it or not, I did not learn to braid hair until I was a teenager (16 - 18 years old). My mother used to do my hair for me, I was not interested in styling my doll's hair as a child (except for cutting hair, I loved to do that) so I never learned until then. Samantha was my little dummy/mannequin for those years. Now I LIVE to braid! I love braiding my doll's hair, from normal braids to French and Dutch braids and waterfall braids. But to get to a more complicated braid, you have to master the regular braid.
I recently braided Nanea's hair after I conquered her side part. I showed my mom and she said that Nanea looks happy with this hairstyle! Sorry for her being naked, but I'm in the middle of making her a new outfit and it's a pain to dress and undress her each time I need to test the outfit or measure her.
Steps (Hair)
Your first step is braiding is to brush your doll's hair and get all the tangles out. Then separate it into 3 pieces.
Then comes the actually braiding.
Take two of the pieces and cross them over each other.
Then take the other, outside piece and put it in the gap the first two make.
Then repeat the motion over and over until it is done.
Easier said than done, right? I've included a diagram, but since it is hard to tell how to braid through pictures alone, I will also include a video that will help. You or your doll's hair does not have to be straight, just not tangled up and wild so you can actually do things with it.
You will not get this on your first try unless you are a hair-styling messiah or something. I myself take a couple of times to get my doll's braids the way I want them and yet I've been doing them for years now. Practice makes perfect! Your dolls make great hair mannequins since they don't get upset or impatient with you.
Once you master the basic braid, you can move on to more difficult things or you can use it to create multiple crafts.
Like making a braided rug for your dolls! The craft was included in Kirsten's Craft Book, but Living a Doll's Life has scanned the pages of the book relating to that craft.
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