Condition your hair with your favorite conditioner, and after you rinse it out, towel dry your hair and let it air dry. If you’re in a rush and need to blow dry your hair, apply a heat-protecting product beforehand.
To practice a basic snake braid, part your hair normally. On one side of your part, grab a small to medium section of hair from the center of your head, and use this to make your braid. [1] X Research source
Twist the right and middle sections of hair so the right section comes over top and becomes the middle section. Then, twist the left and middle sections so the left section comes over top and becomes the middle. As you weave the hair, be sure to shift the sections back and forth between your hands as they alternate between being the left, middle, and right sections. [3] X Research source Continue alternating the twists with the right–middle and left–middle sections so that the three sections become woven into one another. Stop when you reach the end of the sections and only have about one inch of unbraided hair left.
As you hold the end of the middle section, continue pinching the end of the braid with your left hand.
If the snake gets caught, move to the top of the braid and gently slide the top portion of the braid up. Then move to the center and slide the braid upward from there, and then go back to the bottom and continue sliding the braid from the bottom. [5] X Research source
Starting from the top of the braid, gently work the two side sections back down the center section of the braid, spreading the loops downward as you go. Work your way down the braid until you have loosened the entire length of the braid. The finished product should look like a snake wrapped around the center section of hair.
For instance, you can wrap the braid around to the back of your head and pin it in place there. After you pin the braid, you can cover the pin with another section of hair if you want to hide it. [7] X Research source
For instance, if you want a braid near your temple to wrap around to the back of your head, comb the hair toward the back of your head and weave the braid in that direction when you start the first couple weaves of the braid. [8] X Research source
Make one small snake braid on either side of your head using the hair from right behind each ear. For the moment, fasten each braid with an elastic. Comb back the rest of your hair so it’s away from your face. Take the snake braid from behind your left ear, wrap it around the top of your head (over your combed back hair), and use a bobby pin to secure the end of the braid behind your right ear. Do the same with the right braid, lining it up beside the other braid, and pinning it behind your left ear. Use your loose hair to cover the pins. You can either leave most of your hair back behind your shoulders, or you can bring it forward to sit in front.
When you’re finished the braid, tuck the end of the braid behind your ear with the rest of your hair, and pin it in place with a bobby pin. Bring some hair forward to cover the pin and the end of the braid. [10] X Research source
For the best results, don’t pull the braid too tight, and instead let it hang slack so there’s a slight droop in the braid. For a braid headband wraparound, make a similar braid on either side of your head and pin them both back at the same spot at the back of your head. To create an even more interesting and intricate style, make two small snake braids on each side of your head. Try making one just above and behind each ear, and make the second set of braids near your temples. Making sure all the braids have some slack, pin the ends of all four braids behind your head.
