Oh hey girl. I know you wanted to learn how to French braid the other weekend and didn’t quite get around to it. Here is a quick how-to for you because every girl needs to know how to master this hair style. Whether you’re a busy momma, a busy working gal, or both, your life will become significantly better when time is sparse. Honestly.

Step One: The key to achieving a truly thick and messy French braid is to start with thick, texturized, and messy hair. This nest is courtesy of Oribe’s Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse and sleeping on it (twice).

Step Two: Gather half your hair right below your crown. Avoid going too high; aim for the braid to start in the back of your head and not up top.

Step Three: Divide your gathered hair into three sections.

Step Four: Take the section on the far right and bring it over the middle section. Then bring the section on the far left over the new middle section (which was the far right). Now you have your base braid.

Step Five: Take a 1″ section of hair from the side of your head (that is not part of your base braid but directly underneath it) and combine it with the far right section. Now it is part of that section. Take that far right section over to the middle. On the left side take a 1″ section of hair and combine it with the left section of the base braid. Now take that section over to the middle. Continue alternating sides by taking 1″ sections of hair from the sides of your hairline working your way down and adding it to your braid. Pull tightly as you go.

Step Six: When you get to the the nape of your neck all of your hair should be incorporated into your braid. Now continue a simple braid until you reach the end of your hair. Wrap the end of your hair in an elastic, preferably mini elastics.

Step Seven: Pull the braid outwards to achieve a messy, casual look. Do this along the entire braid. Give it a good tousle!

Well done! I knew you could do it. Now practice frequently and your fingers will soon know exactly what to do!