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The French Twist is a beautiful, time-tested, woman-approved hairstyle. It looks classy on anyone, from young girls to silver-haired grandmothers. Not only is it attractive and elegant, it can be worn for practically any occasion, and it is durable. How is it done?

To begin, it will be easier if someone else does it for you (not entirely necessary, just easier on your arms).

You will need:

*A dozen or so bobby-pins (give or take, depending on necessity)

*Clean, dry hair to work with

*A brush or comb (your choice)

*Hairspray (optional; use as desired/needed)

Styling:

If you are styling your own hair, you may need to flip your head upside down, to keep the rest of your hair out of your way. If someone else is doing it for you, lend a hand by holding up your hair.

1. You will start at the base of your neck. Pull sections of hair from both sides; you will want to meet in the middle, to have the twist go straight up the back of your head.

2. Choose a direction for the twist; begin twisting and tucking hair under either to the right or left. If you are right handed, it is generally easier to tuck hair under on the right; left handed, on the left.

3. You will need to place a bobby-pin about every inch or so to make sure it holds tight; the best way to place them is:

Instead of just sticking the pin into the twist, push the open end side-ways into the twist itself, so the open end is going TOWARDS the tucked-under side. Push it until about half of it is covered by the hair; then, being careful not to scrape the scalp, turn it (still in the hair), and push it firmly back the other direction (the direction it just came from). This method will hold better and give a more defined twist.

4. Continue pulling sections from each side into the twist, up the back of the head, and using the bobby-pins to hold it in place.

5. Stop at the crown of the head (this is that spot that isn't quite the top, but not quite the back, either).

Now, you will probably have some loose ends left at the top of your twist. The classic version of this style usually calls for the ends to be tucked into the twist below. Modern versions generally leave the ends out, most often curled into ringlets that spill over.

To tuck the ends into the twist:

It may help to tease the ends slightly. Loop them around so the very ends of the hair are resting against the top of the twist. Using a few more bobby-pins, secure the ends tightly into the tucked-under side of the twist.

To leave them out:

There are a couple of things you can do with the ends if you prefer them to be left out. One is to spiral-curl them as I mentioned above. Another way is to create a couple of "pin-curls" at the top of the twist. To do this, split the remaining hair into 2 or 3 even sections. Loop one section at a time into a C-shape or a spiral (depending on the length left over) flat against the head. Secure with bobby-pins and hairspray.

These are instructions for the most basic French twists; it will probably take a little practice to get it just right, and as you go, you may discover variations of the style that suit you better.

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