Hair Tutorial: Bohemian Fishtail Braid

This tousled and free style works best on long hair with either straight or wavy texture.

A more advanced hair style, this may take a little longer to execute, but is totally worth the time.

Here’s our step-by-step tutorial for the Bohemian Fishtail Braid, demonstrated by Emma–a friend of the Professional Colorists on our Color Crew. (Check out the written tips at the bottom of this post!)

Bohemian Fishtail Braid Hair Tutorial

1. Emma looks stunning to start! She colors her hair with Madison Reed Palermo Black–the shine is incredible.
2. Start by gathering all of the hair to one side, whichever side you’d like–lady’s choice.
3. On the opposite side start twisting hair back and securing with a bobby pin.
4. Keep twisting and pinning hair along the nape of the neck. Once you have pinned to the side that you gathered the hair to start, allow hair to be free flowing.
5. Next take two small pieces of your hair and cross one piece over the other, take another piece of hair on either side of your starting point and  cross the small piece over and add it to the inside of the other section. This piece you have crossed will now become a part of the other section. Keep your crossed piece tight or your hair may start to come out once you’ve finished braiding.
6. Continue crossing small outer pieces over to the inside of the opposing section.The smaller the pieces you cross, the better the braid will end up.
7. Pull hair as tight as possible and continue braiding until you have about 3″ to 2″ left and secure with a elastic band. Don’t worry about it looking messy.
8. Once the braid is secure, start pulling and distressing the braid for a more bohemian look.
9. Pull out whatever loose tendrils you like around your face or leave tucked in.
10. Look at what a free spirit you are.

Photos by: Natasha Siebert