Tips & Tricks for Braided Hairstyles for Children

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

From what age do braided hairstyles work on children's hair?

Children's hair can be only braided into beautiful plaits once it reaches a certain length. Especially the hair of the little ones is still very delicate, which is why tight and, above all, braided pigtails should preferably be avoided at a young age.

In the kindergarten age, children's hair is already a bit more defined and stronger, and you can try out the first braided hairstyles. For toddlers, the best options are simple braid styles. Besides the classic ponytail, there are several possibilities. Particularly two braided pigtails or the simple braided plait are 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. Only then will it not tug afterwards.

• Children's hair is easier to braid when it is not freshly washed. Right after washing, the hair is far too soft and not grippy enough for most children's hairstyles.

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

• Use a little water from a spray bottle, if styling these ideas doesn't come easily to you: this way you can carefully separate individual sections from each other.

• To secure your children's braided hairstyles without problems, it's best to use smaller hair elastics.These are not only easier to wrap, they also hold better.

• In general:Nobody is born a master. If your first attempts at braiding don't turn out the way you hoped, you should not be so hard on yourselves.

If complex 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 care less about 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.

Tools you'll need for braiding children's hair

To turn your children's hair into beautiful braided hairstyles, it doesn't take much. We have the most important tools listed 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 elastics in various sizes (preferably thin hair elastics)

• small hair clips in various patterns

• accessories like bows, headbands, etc.

Not just for girls - great braided hairstyles for boys

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

It doesn't matter what kind of braided hairstyle it is, as long as your sons feel comfortable with them.

Whether boys or girls, the kids should always decide for themselves which hairstyle they want to wear every day. 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 avoid braided children's hairstyles.

Children's braided hairstyles - Instructions for every hair length

1. Simple braided hairstyles for short and long hair

Standard braid

Here's how:

1. Comb your child's hair thoroughly.

2. Divide the hair below the ears into three large strands.

3. First place the right strand over the middle one, 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. That's your practical and simple everyday braid!

Two braided pigtails

Here's how:

1. Create a center part with a comb.

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 and then the left over the middle strand.

5. Continue this way until you reach the ends of the hair.

6. Wrap a hair tie around the end of the braid. Then do the same with the other half of the hair.

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

Waterfall braid

Here's how:

1. Comb your child's hair well until it's tangle-free.

2. On the right side, section off a piece 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 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, pick up a new one from below and braid it into the braid. Let the upper 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

Here's how:

1. First comb the hair thoroughly so it is tangle-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 inside next to the left section.

5. Then it's the left side's turn.

6. Here too, take a small strand from the outside and place it on 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. That's your fishtail braid!

2. Braided hairstyles for medium-length and long children's hair

Classic braid

Here's how:

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

2. Divide this into three equal strands.

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

4. Repeat 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.

6. Repeat that on the left side as well.

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. That's your classic braid!

French braid

Here's how:

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

2. Now section the hair at the top of the head into three parts.

3. First place the right strand over the middle. Then place 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 take 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 bobby pins or clips.

9. That's your French braid!

Festive braid

Here's how:

1. First comb all 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. Loosely secure the middle strand with a hair clip on 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 place it over the tied strands.

5. Split the retrieved middle strand into three strands. Loosely secure the middle one with a hair clip at the head. Tie the two remaining strands together. Then bring the middle strand back.

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

7. Finally, slightly loosen the individual braided strands. That's your festive braid!

Gretchen braid (braided crown)

Here's how:

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 will be braided into a side French braid along the head. To do this, divide the section at the top of the head 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 strand. When you want to place the right strand over the middle again, take 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 incorporated into the braid.

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

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

7. Finally, tie both braids together at the base of the head. To hide the braid end, simply roll it into a small bun at the nape. This makes it disappear completely. Secure the whole thing at the end with hairpins so it really holds. That's your Gretchen braid!

Braided hairstyles for great waves and curls

The different braids not only look nice for everyday, they can also create different curls or gentle waves.

In contrast to curls created with curling irons or similar tools, braiding is the simplest and 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 style of your choice. Depending on the case, it's even better to slightly dampen the hair 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.

What waves are produced by which braided hairstyle?

• With a French braid even waves are created starting from the crown of the head.

• With two braids you create smaller waves.

• A simple braid leads to waves that only begin at ear level.

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

Besides the braid variant, however, the hair texture 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 her daughter's hair; the daughter has long blonde hair while they both sit on the couch © pressmaster - stock.adobe.com

Father braids his daughter's hair © LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - stock.adobe.com

Child is crouching 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 the back; girl stands in front of a wall © kasanea - stock.adobe.com

Fishtail braid

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

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

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

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