How to braid ribbon into hair

By: | Last Updated: March 10, 2023

In the fast-paced world of beauty, several hairstyles have come and gone with the trends, but braids have always been a staple.

They can be as effortless or as intricate as you want, but they will always give you an eye-catching hairstyle.

But whether you’re a beginner or an expert at braiding your hair, sometimes you look for a unique accessory that will make your hairstyle pop. 

Since ribbons are available in numerous colors, styles, and lengths, they look like they would be the perfect candidate to incorporate into a braid.

So can you braid ribbon into your hair? Let’s find out.


Can you tie your hair with a ribbon?

Can you tie your hair with a ribbon

You may associate tying ribbons into your hair with childhood memories, but you can still wear them even as a  teenager or an adult if done right.

Ribbons are versatile pieces for tying or styling your hair. Since they’re available in various colors, you can pick a bright shade to add a little something extra to your regular ponytail. While tying a delicate pastel ribbon to your updo can give it a feminine touch.

So if you think incorporating a ribbon into your braids is a complicated process, it’s actually the contrary. Since ribbons closely resemble your hair strands, they’re easy to tie into them. You can even cut them into the same length as your hair to make them easier to blend in.


How do you do a three-strand braid?

If you’re a total newbie when it comes to braiding your hair, learning how to do a 3-strand braid is a good foundation to do more elaborate styles later.

The first thing you need to do is gather all of your hair at the back of your neck, then divide it into 3 smaller sections. To start your braid, cross the right section over to the middle while transferring the middle section under and into the right side.

Then adjust your hands to transfer the left section over to the middle, moving the center strand under and into the left side.

You’ll then need to repeat the process on alternating sides until you reach the ends of your hair. It may feel complicated at first, but once you get the hang of the process, it’ll feel like second nature.


How do you do a four-strand braid?

How do you do a four-strand braid

If you’ve finally mastered the art of doing a 3-strand braid but feel like you’re up for another challenge, then maybe learning how to do a 4-strand braid will interest you.

Like the previous braid, start by gathering all your hair at the back of your neck, and divide it into 4 sections. Grab the right strand and cross it over the section beside it, then cross it under the next section going to the left.

Once that’s done, grab the outer left section and cross it over the section beside it, then under the next section moving to the right.

Repeat the steps on alternating sides until you get to the ends of the hair, then tie it.

This braid may feel overwhelming at first, but with practice, you’ll soon be a pro at it.

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Ribbon in hair ideas

Once you’re familiar with braiding your hair, you can jazz up any hairstyles by incorporating a ribbon into them. 

With the perfect strip, any braid will look dressed up, whether it be for a regular day or a festive event. So if you’re looking for hair ideas, here are a few to try out:

How to French braid ribbon into hair?

If done right, a French braid will look as elegant as it sounds, but by adding ribbons, you’ll turn an effortless hairdo into a playful one.

To make a  3-strand braid with ribbon, start by gathering all of your hair at the back of your head. At the top of your hair, tie 2-3 ribbons to different strands, making sure the knot is facing downwards to hide them easily. You can even use different colored ribbons to create a multidimensional look.

To start, grab the top section of your hair and divide it into 3 strands, making sure the ribbons are in their designated strands. Use the 3-strand braiding technique by crossing the right strand over to the middle, followed by the left strand.

Once you’re done with the first weave, grab a small section of hair at the side of your head and incorporate it into the right strand. Do the previous technique, but once you get to the other side, grab a small section of hair and incorporate it into the left strand.

Continue with the method until you get to the bottom of your hair. Once you master this technique, you can even do 2 French braids for a fancier hairdo.

How to braid ribbon into Dutch braids?

How to braid ribbon into Dutch braids

If you’re not familiar, a Dutch braid is a reverse version of the French braid, so it’s better if you already have its technique down pat to make learning easier.

So how do you braid a ribbon into a Dutch braid?

Tie 2-3 ribbons to different strands at the top of your hair. Grab the top part of your hair and divide it into 3 sections. Make sure the ribbons are in place so you’ll see them throughout the braid.

Start by crossing the right strand under the middle strand, then cross the left strand under the middle strand. 

Once you’re done with the first stitch, grab a small section of hair on the right part of your head, and incorporate it into the right strand. Repeat the steps above, and once you get to the left side, add a small section of hair to the left strand.

Continue doing the process of crossing under and adding small sections of hair until you get to your ends. You can even tie a knot at the ends if you have extra ribbons to add more flair.

The final result will make the braid look more prominent, so you’ll know the difference between a Dutch and a French braid.

How to braid ribbon into hair, Mexican style?

In Mexico, tying ribbons into your hair is part of their culture. You’ll see grandmothers having bright-colored ribbons on their hair to keep it tidy while cooking and cleaning. On special occasions, they use big satin ribbons to add a festive touch to a regular hairstyle.

There are several braid styles to choose from, but this one is quick and easy that anyone can follow.

To start, divide your hair into 2 parts. On one part, grab your ribbon and fold one edge to ¼ of its length and incorporate it into the left strand, and cross it over to the middle. Grab the other side of the ribbon and incorporate it into the next weave. This way, you’ll get to add the ribbon without needing to tie it to your hair.

Continue down the braid using the 3-strand technique until you get to the bottom of your hair. If you still have an extra length of ribbon, you can use it to secure your braid and then make a bow.

Repeat the method on the other part of your hair, and you’re done.

An alternative way of wearing a Mexican hairstyle is to do Maria’s braid. After securing your braid, bend it and use the extra length of your ribbon to stitch it into the top of your braid to create a loop. Tie the ribbon around your braid, then make a bow. Repeat the steps on the other side to complete your look.

How to do a 4-strand braid with ribbon?

We discussed the technique for making a 4-strand braid above, so adding a ribbon will be a breeze if you’re familiar with the process.

Start by looping your ribbon halfway through a hair tie. Then, gather your hair into a ponytail, and use the hair tie to secure it.

Divide your ponytail into 2 strands, and position the 2 strips of ribbon beside your hair. These will serve as your 1st and 2nd strands, so in total, you’ll have 4-strands of hair.

To start, grab the 1st strand of ribbon, cross it under the 2nd strand of ribbon, and wrap it over the 3rd strand of hair. Let go of the leftmost ribbon, grab the 4th strand of hair, and cross it over the middle strand ribbon.

Then, get the leftmost ribbon, wrap it around the middle strand of your hair, and repeat the steps until you get to the ends of your ponytail. You can use the extra length of your ribbon to secure your braid or use another hair tie.

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