Tips & Tricks for braided hairstyles for children

Children's braided hairstyles are extremely popular. Even though they take some time at first, they are super effective andmake your everyday lifeimmensely. Once the hairstyle is in place, your kids can romp, play, and eat without worry. Braided hairstyles also protect your children's hair from breakage and split ends.

At what age do braided hairstyles work for children's hair?

Children's hair can beonly be braided once it reaches a certain lengthinto beautiful braids. Especially the hair of the little ones is still very sensitive, which is why tight and, above all, braided styles should preferably be avoided in early years.

In thekindergarten agechildren's hair is already somewhat more defined and stronger, and you can attempt the first braided hairstyles. For toddlers, the best suited aresimple braid variations. Besides the classic ponytail, there are several options. Especiallytwo braided pigtailsor thesimple braided plaitare suitable for getting started with children's hairstyles. These ideas also don't take too long.

The older your children are, the more you can dare to try more difficult braided hairstyles. Because by then your kids' patience is somewhat more developed than in previous years.

Here are a few tips for braiding children's hair:

• Always comb the hair thoroughly. That way it won't tug later.

• Children's hair is easier to braid when itis not freshly washedhas been. Directly after washing, the hair is far too soft and not grippy enough for most children's hairstyles.

• Avoid hairsprays and gels when braiding. These only damage and make your kids' hair sticky unnecessarily.

• Use a little water from a spray bottle, if styling the looks isn't so easy for you: this way you can carefully separate individual sections.

• To easily secure your children's braided hairstyles, it's best to usesmaller hair ties.These are not only easier to wrap, they also hold better.

• Generally:Nobody is born a master. If your first braiding attempts don't turn out as you hoped, you shouldnot be too hard on yourselves be.

If elaborate braiding still doesn't quite work out:

Try it first with simpler braiding methods. Your children will also be happy with a not entirely perfect bun or another hairstyle – after all, they pay little attention to perfection: For them, a new braiding idea means an exciting change from everyday life and their own haircut.

Whether girl or boy – the colorful variety of accessories for stylish children's hairstyles will put a smile on your child's face.

These tools you need for braiding children's hair

To turn your children's hair into beautiful braided hairstyles, you don't need much. We havethe most important supplieslisted for you. Maybe you already have some of them at home and can start right away.

• Hair comb/brush

• Hairpins (pins)

• small hair clips

• hair ties in various sizes (preferably thin hair elastics)

• small hair barrettes in various patterns

• accessories like bows, headbands, etc.

Not just for girls - great braided hairstyles for boys

Braided hairstyles aren't just for girls. Even Boys with longer hair can wear various braid styles.

It doesn't matter what braided hairstyles they are, as long as your sons feel comfortable with them.

Whether boy or girl, kids should always decide for themselves which hairstyle they want to wear in everyday life. Never make that decision over your kids' heads and actively exchange ideas for great braided hairstyles.

Boys with braided hair are also totally on-trend. You simply can't escape braided children's hairstyles.

Kids' Braided Hairstyles - Instructions for Every Hair Length

1. Simple Braids for Short and Long Hair

Standard braid

How to:

1. Comb your child's hair thoroughly.

2. Divide the hair at the level below the ears into three large sections.

3. First place the right strand over the middle one and then do the same with the left strand.

4. Continue doing this until you reach the ends of the hair.

5. Finally, secure the braid with a hair tie.

6. Your everyday, simple braid is ready!

Two braided pigtails

How to:

1. Use a comb to make a center part.

2. Tie one half of the hair loosely with a hair tie.

3. On the other side, start braiding now. Divide that half into three strands. It's best to start behind the ear, but you can also start higher.

4. First place the right strand over the middle strand, then the left over the middle strand.

5. Continue this way down to the hair ends.

6. Wrap a hair tie around the end of the braided pigtail. Then work on the other half of the hair, proceeding in the same way.

7. Once the second braid is done, you're finished!

Waterfall braid

How to:

1. Comb your child's hair thoroughly until it's knot-free.

2. On the right side of the head, separate a section of about one to two centimeters at the top of the head. Divide this section into three strands.

3. Place the right strand over the middle one and then the left over the middle. Now take a strand from above and braid it into the braid.

4. Instead of taking the existing lower strand, grab a new one from below and braid it in. Let the top strand drop.

5. Repeat this process until you reach the other side of the head.

6. Finally, secure your waterfall braid with a thin hair tie. Done!

Fishtail braid

How to:

1. First comb the hair well so it is knot-free.

2. Begin the braid at the nape of your child's neck.

3. To do this, divide all the hair into two equal sections.

4. Next, take a small strand from the outside of the right section and place it onto the inside of the left section.

5. Then do the same on the left side.

6. Again, take a small outer strand and place it onto the inside of the right section.

7. Continue doing this until you reach the ends of the hair.

8. Tie the braid at the end with a hair tie.

9. Your fishtail braid is ready!

2. Braided Hairstyles for Medium-Length and Long Children's Hair

Classic braid

How to:

1. Comb your child's hair and separate a section at the top of the head.

2. Divide this section into three equal strands.

3. Now take the right strand and place it over the middle.

4. Do the same with the left strand.

5. Now take a strand from the right side and add it to the right strand, placing it over the middle again.

6. Repeat the same on the left side.

7. Continue alternating like this until you reach the hair ends.

8. Then secure the braided plait with a hair tie of your choice.

9. Your classic braid is ready!

French braid

How to:

1. First comb your child's hair. If necessary, dampen it slightly.

2. Now separate the hair at the top of the head into three sections.

3. First place the right strand over the middle, then the left strand over the middle.

4. Next, take a new strand from the right and place it over the middle. Do the same on the left side.

5. From now on, always add roughly equal amounts of hair from the sides and continue braiding as described.

6. Braid your child's hair until you reach the ends.

7. Secure the French braid with a small hair tie.

8. If strands fall out at the back of the head, simply secure them with hairpins or clips.

9. Your French braid is ready!

Festive braid

How to:

1. First comb all of your child's hair back. Secure the top section with a small hair tie at the crown.

2. Divide the resulting ponytail into three strands. Secure the middle strand loosely with a hair clip at the top of the head.

3. Tie the left and right strands together with a thin, transparent hair tie.

4. Now remove the hair clip from the middle strand and lay it over the tied strands.

5. Divide the retrieved middle strand into three strands. Secure the middle one loosely again with a hair clip to the head. Tie the two remaining strands together. Then bring the middle strand back.

6. Repeat the process until you reach the nape area of your child's neck.

7. Finally, loosen the individual braided strands a little. Your festive braid is ready!

Gretchen braid (braid crown)

How to:

1. Brush your child's hair gently but firmly. Create a center part to temporarily divide the hair into two main sections.

2. Now take the first section. This should be braided into a side French braid along the head. To do this, divide the section at the top into three equal strands.

3. Lay the strands over each other alternately. First take the right strand and place it over the middle, then do the same with the left. When you want to place the right over the middle again, add another strand from the right side hair. Do the same on the left side.

4. Repeat this until all the hair from the first section is worked into the braid.

5. Then secure the French-braided braid with a thin, neutral-colored hair tie.

6. Repeat the entire process on the other side for the second section. Once you've braided the second braid, secure it as well with a thin, neutral-colored hair tie.

7. Finally, tie both braids together at the lower part of the head. To hide the braid ends, simply roll them into a small roll at the nape. That way they disappear completely. Secure everything at the end with hairpins so it stays in place. Your Gretchen braid is ready!

Get great waves and curls with braided hairstyles

The different braided plaits not only look nice for everyday wear, they can also create various curls or gentle waves.

Unlike curls created with curling irons or similar tools, braiding is the simplest and also the most hair-friendly method.

This is how braided hairstyles become beautiful waves:

Waves can be created very easily overnight. To do this, braid your children's hair into the braided hairstyle of your choice. Depending on the style, it can even be better to dampen the hair slightly beforehand with a spray bottle.

This helps the waves last even longer. Then the little dreamers sleep with the braided hairstyle, which is undone again the next morning.

Now the hair only needs to be combed through once and the wild mane is ready.

Which waves are produced by which braided hairstyle?

• With a French braid you get even waves starting from the crown.

• With two braids you create smaller waves.

• A simple braid results in waves that only begin at ear level.

• Several small braids distributed across the head lead to many small waves. That makes children's hair look crimped.

Besides the braid variant, however, the hair structure and the braiding technique are decisive for the final result. The firmer the hair is braided, the more defined the waves become.

Image credits

Woman braids daughter's long blonde hair while both sit on the couch © pressmaster - stock.adobe.com

Father makes a braid for daughter © LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - stock.adobe.com

Child crouches on the beach © LoloStock - stock.adobe.com

Child with long hair is having a braid made © pressmaster - stock.adobe.com

Mother has braided the girl's hair into two braids and is putting a pink hair tie on a braid © _jure - stock.adobe.com

Waterfall braid from behind, girl stands in front of a wall © kasanea - stock.adobe.com

Fishtail braid

Head of a young woman from behind. Rear view of a classic braid © Michael Kachalov - stock.adobe.com

Rear view of a woman with braided hair standing outdoors and wearing a French braid © sandra jonasson/EyeEm - stock.adobe.com

Child with brown hair is having a Gretchen braid made © terex - stock.adobe.com

Mother braids her daughter's hair, close-up © Natalie - stock.adobe.com