Rock A DIY Fishtail Braid In 3 Easy Steps

It’s no secret that here at Ipsy we’re obsessed with braided hairstyles (French braids, waterfall braids, box braids, Dutch braids–we love them all!). But there’s something so ethereal, otherworldly, and mermaid-esque about a long, ropey fishtail braid that we seriously crush hard every single time we see one. The wispy, delicate, pulled-back style is the perfect balance between done-up and undone (and totally looks like it took a team of styling pros to lay it down). And the best kept secret about a fishtail braid? With just a little practice, it’s insanely easy to recreate even if you’re a newb—we pinky swear! The only team of stylists you’ll ever need are your own two hands (and easy-to-follow advice from one of our pro’s). We talked to Julia Mannino, hair stylist and Co-Owner of Roya Hair NYC, for a foolproof how-to.

But first, let’s prep

If you’re looking for an excuse to skip wash day, here it is. When it comes to creating a gorgeous fishtail braid, second day hair or even third day hair is better for styling. That means, squeaky clean hair isn’t your friend. “I actually prefer working with hair that’s a couple of days old. The hair is easier to hold and manipulate when it is a little dirty,” says Mannino. So, the less clean and slippery your strands are, the more hold you’ll have? Got it! Next, Maninno recommends spritzing a dry shampoo (like KLORANE Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk) on to your roots first for added texture and lift. Then, sprinkle a texture powder (such as EVA NYC Zero Gravity Volume Powder) from mid-lengths to ends. “Dry shampoo helps to add volume, give the hair some grit, and absorb any unwanted oils on your scalp. The texture powder gives hair extra piecey-ness and helps give you good grip when braiding. Also as a bonus, they can both aid in giving the hairstyle an undone, relaxed look ,” Mannino says.

Let’s Get Braiding

Step 1:

Divide the hair into two sections down the middle. Mannino suggests creating a middle part so that you’ll have an even amount of hair to work with on both sides. Section 1 will be the hair on the left side of your head (held in your left hand), and section 2 will be the hair on the right side of your head (held in your right hand).

Step 2:

Starting with Section 2 (your right hand), use your pointer finger to slice off a small section of hair from the outside of section 2, and cross it over to section 1. Grab this fine section of hair with your left hand pointer finger and allow It to join and blend into Section 1.

Step 3:

Now repeat this on the opposite side. Use your left pointer finger to sliver off a small section of hair from the outside of section 1 and cross it over to join and blend into section 2. “ Slice and cross, continuously feeding each section of hair from side to side until you reach the end. As you get farther down your head, section 1 and section 2 should slowly start to shrink. Repeat these steps and when you reach the tail end, secure it with a small clear elastic hair tie,” says Mannino. That’s it, you’re done!

For a fatter, fluffed up fishtail braid: “Pull each side of the braid away from each other at the same time so it expands and gets a little messy,” Mannino recommends.

For a more intricate look: “Work with smaller sections of hair at a time. The smaller the sections you separate and cross over to the opposite side, the more interesting and detailed your braid will look. It takes a minute to start to see the final product, so don’t give up!,” Mannino says. 

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