How to Man Braid

A man braid, which is very similar to a man bun, starts out as a French braid (or two) and ends in a bun. You will need to have a fade or an undercut where your hair is a few inches/centimeters long at top, and shaved down the sides. If your hair is the same length all over, consider taking a look at the regular braiding article instead.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Doing a Basic Man Braid

Download Article

Start with a fade or undercut. This is where your hair is longer at top and shaved down the sides. You will need this to get the right look.^{[1]XResearch source}
Place your thumbs to either side of your temples, right where your hair starts to get long. Push them back through your hair, angling them until they touch. Separate this section of hair from the rest. It should only be 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) deep.^{[2]XResearch source}
Advertisement
Hold the left section in you left hand and the right section in your right.
4
Begin a standard braid. Cross the left section over the middle one, then cross the right section over the middle one.
- If you don't know how to braid, see if your barber or hairstylist will help you braid your hair. Try YouTube tutorials for braiding hair. Ask a long-haired friend if you can practice on their hair, or if they can teach you how.
5
Add some hair to the left strand, then cross it over the middle one. Gather some hair from the left side of your part. Add it to the left strand. Cross the now-thicker left strand over the right one.
- If you are having trouble with this, try crossing the left strand over first, then adding the strand to it (now in the middle).^{[3]XResearch source}
Gather some hair from the right side of your part. Add it to the right section, then cross it over the middle one.
7
Continue braiding in this fashion until you run out of hair. This style of braiding is also known as "French braiding." When you have no more hair to gather into your "French" braid, stop.
- Work in small sections and keep the braid nice and tight.
Twist your hair into a bun. You can either braid the rest of your hair into a bun or stop the braiding at the edge of your scalp and do a regular pony-tail bun. Whatever you chose, coil your hair into a braid and then tie it off with a clear or hair-colored elastic.
Use your fingers to tuck the tail end of your ponytail/braid under the bun. Slide two or three bobby pins through the bun to help keep it together.
10
Set the style with hairspray. Again, you don't really have to do this, but your braid will last a lot longer if you do, especially if your fade/undercut was not that long to begin with.^{[4]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Doing a Double Braided Bun

Download Article

Begin with a fade or undercut. This means that your hair should be longer on top and shaved down the sides.^{[5]XResearch source}
Run the handle of a rat-tail comb through the middle of your hair, starting at your forehead and ending at your crown. Brush the left side to the left and the right side to the right.^{[6]XResearch source}
If you don't have a hair clip, you can twist the hair into a loose bun and secure it with a hair tie.^{[7]XResearch source}
Go to the left side of your hair. Gather some hair from your hairline and slit it into three, equal-sized sections.^{[8]XResearch source}
Cross the left strand over the middle one, then cross the right strand over the middle one.
Gather some hair from the left side of the part, right where your hair starts to get long. Add it to the left section to make it thicker, then cross it over the middle one.
7
Repeat the process for the right strand. Gather from hair from your part. Add it to the right strand, then cross the now-thicker strand over the middle one.
- Some people find it easier to cross the strand first, then add the hair to it.^{[9]XResearch source}
8
Continue to braid in this fashion until you run out of hair to gather. Continue adding strands of hair to the left and right sections before crossing them over. Keep the sections as small and tight as possible. Stop when you reach the back of your undercut and you have no more hair left to gather.
- This style of braiding is also known as "French braiding."
This time, start by crossing the right strand over the middle one first.^{[10]XResearch source}
Coil your hair into a bun. If you want to also have a braided bun, weave the two braids together over one another. If you want a regular bun, stop braiding once you can't French braid any longer and gather the two ponytails into one ponytail, securing everything with a clear or hair-colored elastic. Coil your hair into a bun, and secure it with two to three bobby pins.^{[11]XResearch source}
You don't really have to do this, but it will help the braid last a lot longer.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question
What are some braid options for a man with short hair?
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Answer
Cornrows are hard to make on short hair unless they are super small. But men with short hair can get extension cornrows, dread extensions, or box braids to style in a bun if they find a braider that can braid short hair.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

If you have textured hair, consider doing a cornrow or two instead. Cornrows work best on short hair when they're really small.^{[12]XExpert SourceNdeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master BraiderExpert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful1
Tug on the loops forming the French braid for more volume.^{[13]XResearch source}
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0
If you can't braid your own hair, seek help from a friend, family member, or hair stylist.
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0