Tips On How To Make A French Plait Hollywood Style

Jennifer Aniston at the Oscars wearing a French plait

If you are like me, you might remember your mum plaiting your hair for school when you were a small child - yes I remember some pretty embarrassing hairstyles, including the obligatory two plaits with ribbons. However, I totally approve of the new fashion for wearing plaits in our hair this season. The craze may have been started by Jennifer Aniston at the 2009 Oscars, but since then the style has been seen on many other celebs including Hayden Panettiere and Princess Beatrice.

The style may look pretty tricky, and you will probably have to practice once or twice before you get it perfect, but as long as your hair is at least three inches or around seven centimetres in length around the hairline, you should be able to create a hairline French plait or braid. You will need the following items before you start:

Here is how to create the look:

  • Loosely tie back your hair behind your ears (leaving the section of hair in front of your ears and all around your front hairline free) using the scrunchie or large hair band.
  • Using the water spray, dampen but don't soak the hair around your front hairline and comb out any tangles.
  • Apply a golf-ball sized ball of mousse to the area to be styled, or if using styling cream, a smaller more appropriate amount.
  • Now commence a plait or braid on your hairline where you want the plait to start. If you want to follow Jennifer's style then start the braid at the far left hand side of your forehead hairline. Divide this section of hair into three fairly slim strands and then do a left over centre strand and then right over centre strand as with a normal plait.
  • Next working along your forehead hairline, left to right, with the next left over centre strand, pick up a small amount of hair directly underneath the left strand, and then do the same when working with the right strand by picking up a small amount of hair underneath this strand.
  • Carry on working along your hair line in this way until you have plaited along your front hairline. Finish off the ends by plaiting them together normally and then secure them with the small hair band. Clip the end of your plait under your hair or behind your ear if it reaches.
  • This style looks fabulous worn with the rest of your hair in loose waves, which you can create using your hair-straighteners. See the blog on "How To Create Perfect Waves With Your Hair Straighteners"