Make a Fish Tail Braid
Learn to make a neat fish tail braid by sectioning hair, crossing small strands, and securing with elastics; practice patience and fine motor skills.
Step-by-step guide to make a fish tail braid
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Step 1
Brush your hair until it is smooth and free of tangles.
Step 2
Use the comb to part your hair down the middle from your forehead to the nape so you have two equal sections.
Step 3
Hold one section in each hand like two ropes.
Step 4
With your right hand pinch a thin strand from the outer edge of the right section.
Step 5
Move that thin strand across and add it into the inside of the left section.
Step 6
With your left hand pinch a thin strand from the outer edge of the left section.
Step 7
Move that thin strand across and add it into the inside of the right section.
Step 8
Repeat pinching small strands from the outer edges and moving them across, alternating right then left, until you reach near the ends of your hair.
Step 9
Hold the ends together and secure the braid with a small hair elastic.
Step 10
Gently tug the outer loops of the braid to pancake the fish tail and make it look neat and full.
Step 11
Share your finished fish tail braid on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a comb or a small hair elastic?
If you don't have a comb, use your fingers to part and smooth hair as in Step 1–2, and secure the finished braid (Step 9) with a regular elastic, clear elastic, or a bobby pin instead of a small hair elastic.
My fish tail keeps coming undone or looks messy—what should I try?
If strands slip or the braid looks chunky, re-brush to remove tangles (Step 1), use the comb to smooth each section before pinching, and make the pinched strands much thinner when crossing them so the fish tail holds better.
How can I change the steps to suit different ages or skill levels?
For younger kids, do a half-up fish tail using only the top sections (skip a full middle part in Step 2) and pinch wider strands, while older kids can pinch thinner strands and pancake more aggressively in Step 8 for a neater finish.
How can we make the fish tail braid more creative or special?
Personalize the braid by weaving a ribbon into the outer strands as you repeat the crossing steps, or add tiny elastics along the finished tail before pancaking and then share your picture on DIY.org.
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Facts about hair braiding for kids
🐠 Fishtail braids are made by crossing tiny strands from two main sections — that gives them a scaly, fish-like look!
🕰️ People have been braiding hair for over 5,000 years — braids show up in many ancient cultures around the world.
🧠 Learning a fishtail braid boosts fine motor skills and patience — it’s like a tiny hand workout.
⏱️ With practice, a neat fishtail braid can take as little as 5–15 minutes to make.
🎀 You can personalize fishtail braids with ribbons, colorful elastics, or beads to match outfits and themes.
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