Braiding hair is typically easiest when hair is shoulder-length or longer. However, it is possible to braid short hair on boys. Braiding the hair will be easiest if the hair is not squeaky clean, as hair that is very clean will slip more than hair that has some dirt to provide texture to it. There are two ways to braid very short hair—French braids or several short, small braids all over the head.

Start at the crown of the hair and divide the hair into two sections. You will be creating two separate French braids, one on each side of the head.

Comb the hair in one of the sections of hair you have created and make three smaller sections of hair.

Firmly pull the hair in the right section over the middle section and hold tightly at the cross of hair while you pull the left section over the middle section.

Hold at the cross of hair while you grab a small section of hair from the right side of the braid and add to the right section of hair.

Firmly pull the full right section over the middle section and hold tightly at the cross of hair.

Pull the braid slightly to tighten.

Grab a small section of hair from the left side of the braid and add to the left section of hair.

Firmly pull the full left section over the middle section and hold tightly at the cross of hair.

Repeat the process, working from right to left. Continue to occasionally pull the braid to tighten. Secure the braid tightly with an elastic band when you reach the bottom of the hair.

Repeat the entire process on the second section of hair that you created in Step 1.

Start at the crown of the head and comb out three small sections of hair.

Firmly pull the hair in the right section over the middle section and hold tightly at the cross of hair while you pull the left section over the middle section.

Repeat from right to left until you are near the ends of the hair in the braid you have created.

Fasten the braid tightly with an elastic band.

Repeat with the other two sections of hair. Continue working around the scalp until all the hair is braided.