Step-By-Step Dutch Braid Guide Even Beginners Can Handle

The rumours are true, I am a weird scarlet-haired combination…

Whether you have long or short hair, you have probably tried at least once in your life braiding your hair. Of all types of braid, French and Dutch braids are the most common and simplest ones. However, for now, we are going to shift our focus to the Dutch braid.

Dutch braids have become a staple for many and there are a plethora of creative hairstyles that you can create incorporating Dutch braid. The Dutch braid goes by many names, including the “reverse French braid.” That’s because the Dutch braid is done exactly like a French braid, except that you cross the strands under instead of over. This type of braid may look complex to a beginner, but it is actually quite simple.

Starting from the basic Dutch braid, the good part of it is that it will work on most lengths of hair. But, if you have very short hair, a double Dutch braid may be the perfect hairstyle for you. However, if you want your braid to be as thick or long as you’d like, you can use hair extensions for that. Otherwise, you can simply pull the braid apart slightly to get a looser and more voluminous braid. Once you’ve mastered the Dutch braid, you can move on to more complex hairstyles incorporating this braid.

But, first, let us see how to create a regular Dutch braid. Scroll down to see a step-by-step guide.

Credit: Anastasia Shuraeva (Pexels free use)

How to Dutch Braid

Basic Dutch Braid

Step 1
The first step to do this beautiful braid is to take some hair at your hairline or from the top of the head and separate it into 3 equal small sections: left, middle, and right.

Step 2
What you need to do next is take the left section and cross it under the middle one.

Step 3
Moving on to the third step, take the right section and cross it under the middle.

Step 4
Now begin adding more hair into your braid. Take a small section of the hair that is already down on the left side, and combine it with the current left section.

Step 5
Same as before, cross both sections under the middle.

Step 6
Now do the same thing on the right side: take some hair and combine it with the right section.

Step 7
Cross the two joined sections under the middle section.

Step 8
Continue braiding your hair all the way down.

Dutch Fishtail Braid

Whether you choose Dutch, French, relaxed, messy, or wrapped around, the fishtail is amongst our favorites, especially for fancy occasions. If you’re wondering why is it called ‘fishtail’, it’s because the weaving of hair which creates a symmetrical effect and looks like the perfectly aligned scales on a fish’s tail.

Now, let’s see steps you have to follow to achieve the perfect dutch fishtail:

Step 1
Start by brushing the hair straight back from the hairline.

Step 2
Divide off a section at the top of the head and split it into two equal pieces.

Step 3
Take a small piece of hair from the outside edge of the section on the right side, cross it underneath and add it into the hair section on the left side.

Step 4
Then divide off a small section from the outer edge on the left side, cross it underneath and combine it with the section on the right.

Step 5
Cross a small section from the right side under to the left, then take a new section of hair from the right side of the head and add it into the left side by crossing it underneath.

Step 6
Now, cross a small hair strand from the left side under to the right. Take a new section of hair from the left side of the head, cross it underneath the left section and add it into the right half.

Step 7
Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the braid reaches the nape of the neck and all of the hair is brought in.

Step 8
You can braid the rest of the section to the bottom in a regular braid, crossing small sections under to the opposite side until you reach the ends.

Step 9
Tie off the braid with a clear elastic band. If you want to make it look more voluminous, gently pull on the edges and ta-daaa!

Double Dutch Braid

If you want to level up with Dutch braiding and try something different than a single dutch braid, the double dutch braid is the perfect go-to.

Let’s see how to proceed with this type of braid:

Step 1
Create two even sections of hair by parting your hair all the way down the back of your head.

Step 2
First, start with one section of the hair: pick up a small section of hair at the front and divide it into three small strands.

Step 3
Begin a crossing-under braid and make a stitch or two.

Step 4
Add small bits of hair to each section as you braid.

Step 5
You can use a comb or your fingers to take some hair nearby and add it to the section as it crosses under, then repeat on the other side of the braid.

Step 6
Continue the process until you reach the base of your neck.

Step 7
After braiding the remaining sections to the ends of your hair, secure the tail with a small elastic and move on braiding the remaining section.