People often confuse the mermaid plait with the fishtail braid. The mermaid plait is a loose, messy-look braid which gives an ultra-chic, just-back-from-the-beach effect, while the other tends to be straighter and neater. Only a slight variation, it’s true, but for us it makes all the difference. Here’s a closer look at the fishtail braid which is set to take this summer by tropical storm!


Prep your hair. The fishtail braid looks stunning on long hair, whereas the result tends to be less impressive on mid-length hair. To make your hair easy to style and ensure your braid stays in place as long as possible, straighten your hair beforehand, making sure it is nice and soft. Your hair is a lot more workable when it’s relaxed. Another tip: to avoid any confusion with the mermaid plait, braid your fishtail into the lengths of your hair, rather than the side.
 
How to do the fishtail braid. Divide your hair into two sections. Take a piece of hair from one section and bring it over to the other, crossing the two sections. The second section, the section that you have just crossed over, will be the thicker of the two. Take a piece of hair from this section and bring it over to the first section, crossing again. Repeat this process until you reach the bottom of your hair, taking care to keep the braid nice and tight (don’t pull on your hair too hard though!) to give it a neat, fishtail effect. Now simply secure the style at the ends with a hair band.