How to Do a Waterfall French Braid

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 References

If you know how to French braid, take it to a new level with the waterfall French braid! You can take it even further by combining it with a standard French braid to create an intricate, woven look. Best of all, you can finish the braid in a number of ways to create your unique style.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Doing a Single French Waterfall Braid

1
Brush your hair, then part it to the side. Start with dry hair, then brush it out until it is free of knots and tangles.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to create a side part on the left or right side of your head.^{[2]
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2
Begin a basic braid on the thicker side of the part. Gather a small, 1 to 2-inch (2.5 to 5-cm) wide section of hair from your part, then divide it into three equal strands. Cross the top strand over the middle one, then cross the bottom strand over the middle one as well.^{[3]
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3
Continue with a French braid for one crossover. Gather some hair from the part and add it to the top strand. Cross the now-thicker top strand over the middle one.^{[4]
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4
Drop the bottom strand, pick up a new one, and cross it over. Drop the bottom strand first, then comb it into your hair with your fingers. This helps to bring the strands of hair neatly into the braid. Pick up a new strand of hair from just behind it (going towards the back of your head). Cross the new strand over the middle one.^{[5]
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5
Repeat the previous two steps until you reach the back of your head. Add a new strand of hair to the top strand before crossing it over the middle one. Drop the bottom strand and pick up a new one before crossing it over the middle one as well. Keep braiding in this fashion until you reach the back of your head.^{[6]
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6
Finish off with a regular braid. Simply cross the top and bottom strands over the middle one without adding or dropping anything. Secure the braid with a clear elastic.^{[7]
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7
Finger comb your hair, then set your style with hairspray. Gently run your fingers through the loose part of your hair. Give your hair a light misting of hairspray, and you’re done!^{[8]
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- For an added touch, secure the waterfall braid with a pretty hair accessory or a colored bobby pin!^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Doing a Double Waterfall French Braid

1
Brush your hair, then create an angled side part. Start with dry, neatly-brushed hair. Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to part your hair off to the side. Start the part just above your left or right eyebrow, and angle it towards the back-center of your crown.
- Place the parts between the middle and outside edges of your eyebrows.
- Deep conditioning your hair or brushing it out with a detangling product can help remove stubborn tangles.^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Ndeye Anta Niang
  Hair Stylist & Master Braider
  Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
2
Begin a basic braid on the thicker side of the part. Gather a 1 to 2-inch (2.5 to 5-cm) section of hair from your hairline, then divide it into three equal strands. Cross the top strand over the middle one, then cross the bottom strand over the middle one. Do this twice.^{[11]
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3
Do a French braid for two crossovers to anchor the waterfall braid. Add some hair to the top strand before crossing it over the middle one. Next, add some hair to the bottom strand, then cross it over the middle one as well. This will help create a foundation for your waterfall braid.
4
Continue with a waterfall braid that reaches the back of your head. Add some hair to the top strand, then cross it over the middle one. Drop the bottom strand, then grab a new strand of hair from just behind it. Cross this new strand over the middle one. Repeat these steps over and over until you reach the back of your head.
- Braid in a straight line, as close to the part as you can. If you make it too low, you won't have room for the French braid later on.
- Depending on the look you desire, you don't have to braid all the way to the back of your head. For example, if you want to wear a half up, half down style, you can braid the waterfall until you reach the crown of your head.
5
Secure the waterfall braid with a clear hair elastic. Do a few stitches of a regular braid first, then secure it with a clear hair elastic. This will help hold it together while you create the French braid.
6
Begin a second, regular braid below the waterfall braid. Gather another section of hair from your hairline, just below the waterfall braid. Split that section into three equal strands. Cross the top and bottom strands over the middle one to create a basic braid.^{[12]
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7
Continue with a French braid until you reach the back of your head. Gather some of the hair coming out of the waterfall braid, add it to the top strand, then cross it over the middle one. Gather the loose hair from your hairline, add it to the bottom strand, and cross it over the middle one as well. Repeat these steps until you reach the back of your head.
8
Join the two braids into a messy bun. Gather all of your hair into a ponytail, then wrap a hair tie around it. Twist the ponytail into a messy bun, and secure it with bobby pins.^{[13]
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Research source} Alternatively, you can create a second French braid on the other side of your part first, then gather everything into a messy bun.
- Set the style with a light misting of hairspray, if desired, to help it last longer.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Doing a Triple Waterfall French Braid

1
Brush out your hair and create two angled side parts. Brush your hair out first, then comb it back, away from your hairline. Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to create a part above each eyebrow. Angle both side parts towards the back-center of your head.^{[14]
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- Your hair should be dry before you begin.
- The parts should be between the middle and outside edge of each eyebrow.
2
Clip the sides of your hair out of the way and leave the top part loose. Comb the hair below each side part down. Use a bobby pin to keep them flat against the sides of your head. Keep the hair on the top of your head, between the two parts, loose.^{[15]
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3
Begin a basic braid at your hairline using the loose, top section. Gather a thick section of hair from your hairline, making sure that spans from side part to side part. Split it into three, equal strands. Cross the left strand over the middle one, then repeat with the right strand.^{[16]
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4
Drop the left strand, pick up a new one, and cross it over. Drop the left strand first, and allow it to fall down the left side of your head. Pick up a new, same-sized strand from just behind it. Cross this new strand over the middle strand.^{[17]
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5
Repeat the process for the right strand. Drop the right strand, allowing it to drape across the right side of your head. Grab a new strand of hair from just behind it. Cross this new strand over the middle strand.^{[18]
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6
Braid until you reach the back of your head, then pin it. Drop the left and right strands before picking up new ones and crossing them over. Do not add new hair to existing strands like you would with a French braid. Keep going until you reach the back of your head, then secure it with a bobby pin.^{[19]
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7
Begin a wide, regular braid on the left side of your head. Gather a thin strand of hair from the left side of your hairline, including the first dropped left strand. Divide the gathered hair into three sections, making the dropped strand its own section. Cross the bottom section over the middle one, then cross the top section over the middle one.^{[20]
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- Remember to remove the bobby pin first.
8
Add hair to the bottom strand before crossing it over. Gather some hair from just behind the bottom strand. Add it to the bottom strand, and cross both over the middle strand.^{[21]
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9
Add the next dropped strand to the top strand before crossing it over. Find the next dropped strand from your waterfall braid. Add it to the top strand, then cross both over the middle one.^{[22]
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10
Continue French braiding until you reach the back of your head. Keep adding hair to the bottom strands before crossing them over the middle one. Add the dropped waterfall strands to the top strands before crossing them as well. Keep your stitches nice and tight. When you reach the back of your head, secure the braid with another bobby pin.^{[23]
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11
Create another French braid on the right side of your head. Remove the bobby pin first, then follow the exact same process as you did for the left side of your head. Begin with a regular braid, then finish with a French braid. When you reach the back of your head, secure the braid with another bobby pin.^{[24]
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12
Gather your hair into a messy bun. Gather all of your hair into a high ponytail first, positioning it right over the bobby pinned braids. Wrap a hair tie around it, twist your hair into a bun, then wrap the hair tie around it once or twice more. Remove the bobby pins when you are done, if possible.^{[25]
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- You can also do a different type of bun, such as a half-up, half-down bun, or a ballerina bun.
- For something quick and simple, finish off with a plain ponytail. Wrap a strand of hair around the base of the ponytail to hide the hair tie.^{[26]
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- Help the style last longer by lightly misting it with hairspray.

Expert Q&A

Question

My arms keep getting tired when I do this. What should I do?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Try to pick up the pace in which you do your waterfall braid(s). That will eliminate the amount of time that your arms are above your head.
Question

Can you do one on both sides?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Yes, you can do a waterfall braid on both the left and right sides of your head. You can do as few or as many as you'd like.
Question

About how long would it take to make a waterfall braid?

Community Answer

It depends on your skill and the length of the hair, but it can usually be done in just five to twenty minutes.