The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (2024)

Voting rules: Choose the braid you think is the most difficult!

The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (1)

By Gregor Krambs

Updated on May 14, 2024 06:23

Many of us have spent hours in front of a mirror trying to perfect a hairstyle, only to end up with knotty fingers and a less-than-perfect braid. Recognizing which braids are the most challenging can help save time and frustration. This categorization assists others in adjusting their learning expectations and methods when tackling various braiding techniques.By participating in voting for the most difficult braid, users contribute to a collective understanding that guides beginners and experts alike in their hair styling adventures. This feedback not only helps to create a supportive community but also highlights trends and preferences in the art of braiding.

What Is the Most Difficult Braid?

  1. 1

    83

    votes

    The Waterfall Braid

    It requires intricate weaving and involves dropping strands of hair while braiding, which can be tricky to master.

    The Waterfall Braid is a popular and intricate hairstyle that gives the illusion of cascading strands of hair flowing down in a waterfall-like effect. It involves weaving sections of hair over and under other sections, creating a stunning braided pattern.

    • Difficulty Level: Advanced
    • Hair Type: Long, medium, or short hair
    • Hair Texture: Works well with straight, wavy, or curly hair
    • Number of Strands: Uses three strands of hair
    • Weaving Technique: Requires dropping and picking up new strands while braiding
  2. 2

    28

    votes

    The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (2)

    Stilfehler·CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Dutch Braid

    It is similar to a French braid, but instead of crossing the strands over, they are crossed under. This can be confusing for beginners.

    The Dutch braid is a type of braid that involves weaving sections of hair under and into the middle, creating a raised, inverted braid. It is similar to the French braid, but instead of crossing the hair over one another, the sections are crossed under. This technique gives the Dutch braid a more prominent and three-dimensional appearance compared to other braids.

    • Difficulty level: Intermediate to advanced
    • Hair type: Suitable for most hair types, including long and medium length
    • Hairstyle type: Versatile - can be worn in various updos, half-up hairstyles, or as a standalone braid
    • Appearance: Inverted, raised braid with a more prominent look
    • Three-dimensional effect: Creates an illusion of added volume and texture
  3. 3

    18

    votes

    The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (3)

    Stilfehler·CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Fishtail Braid

    It involves weaving together two sections of hair, which can be difficult to keep straight and even.

    The Fishtail Braid is a type of intricate braiding technique characterized by its distinctive pattern resembling the bones of a fish. It involves weaving two sections of hair together, intertwining them strand by strand to create a smooth and intricate braid. The Fishtail Braid is a popular choice for formal events and occasions, as well as casual everyday hairstyles.

    • Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
    • Hair Type: Suitable for medium to long hair
    • Hair Texture: Works well with straight, wavy, or slightly curly hair
    • Styling Time: Can take 10-30 minutes, depending on skill level and hair length
    • Sectioning: Divide the hair into two equal sections
  4. 4

    14

    votes

    The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (4)

    The Butterick Publishing Co.·Public domain

    The Lace Braid

    It is a variation of the French braid, but only one section of hair is added at a time, creating a lacy effect. This requires precision and patience.

    The Lace Braid is a complex and intricate braid style that involves weaving small sections of hair to create a delicate and lacy appearance. It is a stunning hairstyle that is often chosen for special occasions like weddings or formal events.

    • Difficulty Level: Advanced
    • Hair Type: Suitable for medium to long hair
    • Hair Texture: Works well with straight, wavy, or slightly curly hair
    • Braid Type: Two-strand braid with intricate weaving
    • Technique: Requires precision and attention to detail
  5. 5

    6

    votes

    The Box Braid

    It involves weaving together small, square sections of hair, which can be time-consuming and require a lot of skill.

    The Box Braid is a popular and intricate hairstyle characterized by square or box-shaped sections created by interweaving strands of hair. It is a braiding technique that originated from African culture and has gained increasing popularity worldwide.

    • Difficulty Level: Advanced
    • Time Required: Several hours to complete, depending on hair length and thickness
    • Hair Type: Suitable for various hair types, especially thick and textured hair
    • Section Size: Small to medium-sized square sections of hair
    • Braiding Technique: Interweaving three strands of hair in a consistent and uniform pattern
  6. 6

    20

    votes

    The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (6)

    William B. Folsom, NMFS·Public domain

    The Rope Braid

    It is created by twisting two sections of hair together, which can be difficult to maintain and keep tight.

    The Rope Braid is a complex and intricate braiding technique that creates a visually unique and stunning hairstyle. It involves intertwining two sections of hair in a twisting motion to create the appearance of a twisted rope.

    • Level of Difficulty: High
    • Hair Length: Medium to Long
    • Hair Type: Straight or Wavy
    • Time Required: Approximately 1 hour
    • Skill Required: Advanced braiding skills
  7. 7

    11

    votes

    The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (7)

    Guido Reni·Public domain

    The Four-Strand Braid

    It involves weaving together four strands of hair instead of the usual three, which can be confusing and require practice.

    The Four-Strand Braid is a complex braiding technique that involves intertwining four strands of hair or similar materials to create an intricate pattern. It is a challenging braid to master but creates a stunning and unique look when done correctly.

    • Number of Strands: 4
    • Difficulty Level: High
    • Creation Technique: Intertwining of four strands
    • Versatility: Can be adapted to various hairstyles
    • Skill Required: Advanced braiding skills
  8. 8

    9

    votes

    The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (8)

    Stilfehler·CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Crown Braid

    It involves weaving together two braids around the head, which can be difficult to keep in place and create a smooth finish.

    The Crown Braid is an intricate hairstyle that involves creating a braided band around the head, resembling a crown. It is a challenging braid that requires skill and patience to achieve a clean and polished look.

    • Difficulty Level: Difficult
    • Hair Type: Long
    • Hair Texture: Straight or wavy
    • Length of Hair Needed: Medium to long
    • Tools Required: Comb, hair ties, bobby pins
  9. 9

    6

    votes

    The Snake Braid

    It is created by weaving together two sections of hair, but twisting them in opposite directions, creating a snake-like effect. This can be tricky to keep tight and maintain the pattern.

    The Snake Braid is a challenging and intricate braid pattern characterized by its unique appearance resembling the scales of a snake. This braid style is achieved by weaving multiple strands of hair in a complex overlapping pattern.

    • Difficulty: High
    • Skill level: Advanced
    • Time required: 2-3 hours
    • Hair length: Medium to long
    • Hair type: Straight or wavy
  10. 10

    6

    votes

    The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (9)

    Cobanyastigi·CC0

    The Celtic Knot Braid

    It involves weaving together multiple strands of hair in a knot pattern, which can be intricate and require a lot of practice to get right.

    The Celtic Knot Braid is a complex and intricate hair braid that resembles a traditional Celtic knot. It is created by weaving multiple strands of hair in a way that forms an intricate interlocking pattern.

    • Difficulty Level: Advanced
    • Number of Strands: Usually requires four to six strands
    • Hair Length: Ideal for medium to long hair
    • Hair Type: Suitable for most hair types, including straight and wavy
    • Time Required: Can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the intricacy

Missing your favorite braid?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for difficult braid

  1. Number of strands

    The complexity of a braid increases with the number of strands involved. More strands require a more intricate weaving pattern, making the braid harder to create and maintain.

  2. Pattern complexity

    Some braids have more complex patterns than others, with several overlapping or intertwining layers. The more complicated the pattern, the more difficult the braid is to achieve.

  3. Technique required

    Some braids may require specific techniques or tools to accomplish. For instance, some styles might need the use of a special braiding tool, while others may need tight and consistent tension to hold the braid together. The more advanced the technique, the more challenging the braid.

  4. Hair type and texture

    Different hair types and textures can impact the difficulty of creating a braid. Curly or frizzy hair might be more challenging to work with, while straight or fine hair might not hold certain braid styles well, increasing the difficulty.

  5. Braid tightness and tension

    Braids need to be tight and have consistent tension to stay in place and look neat. This can make certain styles more difficult, as they might require more precision and control to achieve the desired tension.

  6. Time and patience required

    Some braids, especially those with many strands or intricate patterns, can take a long time to create. The more time-consuming and patience-testing a braid is, the more difficult it may be considered.

  7. Prior experience and skill level

    Some braids are more accessible for beginners, while others may require more practice and experience to execute correctly. The skill level needed to create a braid can be a factor in determining its difficulty.

The Most Difficult Braid, Ranked - StrawPoll (2024)
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