Braid Tutorials: French, Dutch, Fishtail & More
Master every braid worth knowing. From the foundational French braid that every parent should be able to do in five minutes, to the showpiece fishtail and the practical Dutch boxer braids that hold through game day — this hub organizes every braid technique by skill level, occasion, and time-to-finish.
Teaching Braids
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Braids are the single most useful hairstyling skill a parent can learn. Once you can do a French braid, you can do a Dutch braid. Once you can do a Dutch braid, you can do boxer braids. Once you can do boxer braids, you can do practically every sports hairstyle, every school-day look, and every formal occasion variation. Braids are a compounding investment — each skill builds on the last.
This hub organizes RaDona's braid library by what you'll actually use it for. Start with the French braid (the universal foundation) and add from there. Three of the techniques below have full dedicated tutorials with real video; the rest are coming soon as RaDona films them.
Browse braid techniquesEvery braid, organized by skill level
Click any tile to go to the full guide. Tiles with skill-level pills and time-to-finish are live; "Coming Soon" tiles will be added as RaDona films them this year.
The universal foundation. Disappears into the hair as you weave. Learn this first — every other braid here builds on it.
Read the full tutorialSits ON TOP of the hair instead of inside it — the "inverted" French braid. Foundation for boxer braids and every helmet-friendly sports style.
Read the full tutorialThe Katniss / Primrose braid. Tight weave, intricate look, almost no flyaways. Picture-perfect for tournaments, photos, and spirit weeks.
See Primrose's variationTwo Dutch braids running from hairline to nape. The most secure sports hairstyle — survives volleyball, softball, soccer, equestrian.
See sports applicationsWraps around the head like a crown. The classic formal/wedding/communion braid. Full dedicated tutorial coming this year.
Coming soonTwo regular braids wrapped over the crown. Easier than a true halo braid, equally flattering. Coming this year.
Coming soonStrands cascade down through the braid like a waterfall. The romantic / boho / wedding braid. Coming this year.
Coming soonA simple ponytail divided into "bubbles" with elastics. No braiding skill required. The fastest dressy style there is. Coming soon.
Coming soonTwo sections twisted in opposite directions, then wound together. Looks like a rope. Faster than any real braid. Coming this year.
Coming soonLearn the Dutch braid first — it unlocks everything
If you're going to invest time learning one braid technique, make it the Dutch braid. It's the foundation for boxer braids (the most-requested sports style), single-braid styles for the back of the head, and dozens of variations. The French braid is simpler — but the Dutch braid is more versatile.
The Dutch braid technique. Master this and you've unlocked roughly half of every braid style on this hub.
Decision chartWhich braid for which occasion?
The right braid depends on what you're doing, how much time you have, and how dressed up the event is. Here's the quick-reference:
Occasion → Braid quick chart
Match the situation to the technique. Times assume basic familiarity with each braid.
| Occasion | Best braid | Time | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| School morning | French braid | 5 min | Fastest. Looks intentional. Survives the school day. |
| Volleyball / softball game | Double Dutch (boxer) | 10 min | Sits flat. Doesn't catch on helmets. Stays for 90 min. |
| Horse riding lesson | Single Dutch down the back | 7 min | Fits under riding helmets without pressure points. |
| Picture day | Fishtail braid | 10 min | Intricate, photogenic, almost no flyaways. |
| Spirit week / costume day | Katniss / Primrose | 15 min | Recognizable from the Hunger Games. Major commitment energy. |
| Wedding / formal | Crown braid (coming soon) | 15 min | The classic formal-event braid. Holds for the whole day. |
| Beach / vacation | Milkmaid braid (coming soon) | 12 min | Keeps hair off the neck. Looks effortless. |
| Quick dressy day | Bubble braid (coming soon) | 5 min | No braiding skill required. Surprisingly elegant. |
| Workout / gym class | French braid pigtails | 8 min | Balances weight on both sides. No headache. |
RaDona's braid video library
Five real braid tutorials from RaDona's YouTube channel — every video filmed in her Utah salon. Click any tile to watch on YouTube.
Braids in sports
The single biggest use case for braids isn't formal events — it's sports. Boxer braids hold through volleyball games, single Dutch braids fit under riding helmets, French braid pigtails balance weight evenly under softball helmets. Here's where to go for sport-specific applications:
Explore moreBeyond braids
New braid tutorials coming this year
Crown braid, milkmaid, waterfall, bubble braid, rope twist — all in production. Subscribe to be notified the moment each one goes live. 180,000+ subscribers already get the new videos every week.