How To Fake A Fishtail Braid

Pinterest and Instagram are awash with intricate braided hairstyle tutorials, but styling a creation of this magnitude can seem hopeless if you're a wash 'n' go type of gal. Unless of course you have a crafty hair hack up your sleeve, one that gets you the same jaw-dropping results but with none of the time-earned skill. This clever method makes the fishtail plait so much more do-able. Instead of the usual braiding, this way simply uses a series of twists and ponytails to achieve the same effect. Here's how to do it, as expertly explained and illustrated by A Beautiful Mess: 

Step One: Take a small section of hair from both sides of the head and twist them (I like to twist both inwards) and tie them together in a small ponytail.

Step Two: Repeat this step with two more small sections of hair.

Step Three: Take another small section of hair from both sides of the head and tie them into a small ponytail.

Step Four: Take the last small ponytail, find the middle and pull your hair up and through (this might be a familiar step if you remember the triple twist ponytail tutorial).

Step Five: Pull tight.

Step Six: Continue making small ponytails, inverting them and pulling tight.

Step Seven: When you reach the end of your hair, you can tie it off and be finished, or you can pull the outside edges of your braid to make the final braid thicker and messier (my preferred style!).