Fishtail braids look lovely no matter if you do a single braid or double braid.  This post will guide you through the steps you need to follow to do a double fishtail braid. I have also included some information about fishtail braids you should know before starting.

How To Do Double Fishtail Braids (Step-By-Step)

Fishtail braids are a versatile look that can be put together without much thought or precision. They’re a great way to wear your hair, regardless of length. The video below will show you step-by-step how to do the double fishtail braids:

Here are some simple steps to help you create your double fishtail braids:

Step 1: You’ll need to separate your hair into two sections. It helps if you use a comb to create a center part.

Step 2: Tie up the right side section of your hair with a hair tie, so it doesn’t get in the way.

Step 3: With the hair on the left side, you’ll need to create two sections of hair. Don’t use all the hair on the left side of your head, as you won’t be able to make a fishtail braid with it.

Step 4: Cross the rightmost section of hair over the other strand.

Step 5: Take another small section of hair and cross it over to join with the strand you just went over.

Step 6: Pick up another section of hair near the section at the bottom and have it join the top strand.

Step 7: Before you repeat step 5, grab a small piece of hair from the bottom strand and add it to the new strand you’ve created.

Step 8: Once you cross over, repeat step 7, but with the top strand to add to the new piece of hair you’ve picked up. By this point, you should now have three sections of hair that you’re working with.

Step 9: Repeat these actions until you get your braid to the length you want it.

Step 10: Tie off the braid with an elastic band.

Step 11: Repeat steps 3 through 10 on the right side of your hair.

Step 12: If you’re looking to set your braids, use just a few spritzes of medium-hold hairspray.

The above steps are for a french fishtail braid. This style can also be used with dutch braiding, which has you going under the sections of your hair first as you braid instead of over it. Depending on how tightly you do your braids, you may want to skip the hairspray if you’re looking for a messier, braided look.

Do Fishtail Braids Leave Curls?

Fishtail braids leave curls. This is because of how tight fishtail braids can end up being, it’s common for you to take them out and be left with waves or curls in your hair. The longer and tighter your braids are, the more your hair will curl.

Fishtail braids are especially effective for curling your hair because of the placement of the hair they use. If you french braid your hair, the hair closest to your scalp won’t be wavy or curly. Fishtail braids start from the top of the head to the bottom, so even if you take out your braids, the parts near the bottom of your head that might not get as wavy will be covered by the rest of your hair.

Are Fishtail Braids Bad for Your Hair?

Putting your hair up in any style that has you manipulating it to pull on your follicles can be bad if you do it often enough. Fishtail braids are utilizing most, if not all of your hair when you make them, so if you’re pulling tight to keep the strands in place, this may cause stress on your hair follicles.

If you’re someone who enjoys a tight braid, try and loosen up a bit. Not only can this tightness cause your hair to be loosened from its follicles, but it can also cause tension headaches. Securing hair that is too tight will pull at your scalp, which can cause headaches to form if you wear a particularly tight style for too long.

Putting any sort of band in your hair that’s not covered by a soft covering can cause your hair to get snagged more easily. This leads to breakage in the hair in the middle of the strand and can have you lose those strands quicker. If you want to make sure that your hair is in place, use an elastic band that’s covered by another material, like a scrunchie, to keep your style in place.

To be able to wear your fishtail braids without worry, keep them loose and secured with a band that’s not just elastic. If you’re done with your style, take it out as soon as you can in order to release the tension on your follicles. If you feel a headache developing after putting your hair into fishtail braids, then take them out and consider either looser braids or a different style.

Can You Fishtail Braid Wet Hair? 

You can definitely create a fishtail braid when your hair is wet. It can make working off of the sections you create a lot easier, as you wouldn’t have flyaway hairs to worry about and it’d be easier for them to stay in the sections you’ve created. The dried style might not keep as well as a fully dried fishtail, but it does do its job by keeping your hair out of your face.

However, it is worth noting that it might be better to wait until your hair dries in order to create a fishtail braid. Wet hair is a bit tauter against your scalp, pulling it into a braided style could assist in creating more stress on your hair follicles. If you’re worried about your hair’s health, it might be best to wait until your hair is completely dry before braiding it

How To Style Fishtail Braids? 

Fishtail braids are versatile due to the fact that there are so many different ways to braid.  A neat way to create a unique fishtail braid look is by adding large holed beads to your hair. Plastic pony beads are ideal since they have a large opening and are easy to handle. You can use them in the strands that you take from your hair to combine with the larger strands you braiding with. No other product is necessary to keep them in, as the braid will make sure they stay in one place.

You don’t have to go completely down the length of your hair if you don’t want to. You can use a fishtail braid as a way to keep a certain portion of your hair out of the way or to get your entire head into a uniform style.