French Pull-Through Braid Ponytail

What if you could create the visual appearance of a dutch braid without having to braid at all? The pull-through braid you’re about to learn doesn'’t require any braiding skills at all. In fact, if you can place a ponytail, you can master this look in no time at all!

Add some value to your appointments and share this look with your guests while their hair is processing. Just pull out a mannequin and a tripod and share this simple hairstyle. If you do this, I guarantee you’ll be the topic of their conversations when they leave the salon, and that translates to more bookings for you! So, let’s get started.

Tools & Products You'll Need For Success:

• Professional Texturizing Iron: Use the texturizing iron prior to doing the pull-through braid ponytail. This iron will do a few things for you:
  • The iron will change the texture of the hair, adding up to 3x more volume (for real!).
  • Have you ever braided hair only to find it slips out or the braid doesn't hold throughout the day? By using the Sam Villa Textur Iron, the hair will be easier to maniuplate and with the added texture, it will prevent the hair from slipping out.
• Professional Tail Comb: Ideal for sectioning and combing out the hair.
• You'll need a bunch of hair elastics, about 4 hairpins and a few long grips (bobby pins).

How To Create the French Pull-Through Braid Ponytail:

Use your tail comb to create a triangle section at the front area of the head from the corner of each eye to the high point of the head.

Place an elastic in the hair to secure the top section; lift the hair a little to create some volume.

Clip the top ponytail section up and out of the way. Next, take a horizontal section just below the top section that goes from the one side of the head to the other and comb through to smooth it out. Please an elastic around that section at about the same spot as the elastic in the top section. You now have two ponytails.

• Take your top ponytail and split into two sections and hand each section to your guest to hold in their right & left hand. (you can also use clips if you don't want your guest to hold the hair).
• Next, take the bottom ponytail and pull it up and over the split section, then clip that hair on top of the head to keep it in place.
• Take the sections that your guest is holding and bring them together. Now is when you'll begin to add some hair to each section.
• Take a horizontal slice of hair from each side of the ponytail and add it to your ponytail. The section that you take should be similar to the section just about it.
• With the ponytail + added hair in your had, place another elastic to create a ponytail, just like you did in the first two steps.
• You should have two ponytails again – you should start to see and feel the rhtyhm of the braid.

Repeat the steps above: take your top ponytail, split into two sections, take the bottom ponytail up and over the split section and secure to the top of the head, combine the split sections into one and add hair from the left & right side then place into a ponytail, then let the hair down from the top.

NOTE: You will ALWAYS have two ponytails.

Repeat the steps above until you've added all the hair in the nape area.

Once you have reached the bottom of the braid, you will still have two ponytails. We will continue the pull-through braid, but instead of splitting the hair, we'll beging to pull the hair through instead. Here's how it's done:

• Place an elastic on the top ponytail, about 2-3" from the head.
• Use your fingers to split the hair between the elastic and the head then use your index & middle finger to reach through and grab the ponytail belowand pull it through the split section.
• NOTE: Your bottom ponytail now is your top ponytail.
• Repeat the same steps as above: place an elastic about 2-3" from the head, split the hair with your fingers and reach through to grab the lower ponytail, then pull it through so the bottom ponytail is now on tip.
• Repeat until you don't have any hair left to pull through.
• To finish the braid, secure the end of the hair with an elastic, folding the ends up and behind the braid.
• Now let’s loosen up and relax the braid.
• Start at the top and really pull the braid to loosen and create more fullness. Do this to each section, from the top to the bottom. This will also conceal the hair elastics.
• Now take the end, fold it up and secure with hairpins then a few long grips to keep the style secure.

• Use your hands to gently pull some hair out around the face to create flyway’s for a lived-in and disrupted look.
• Use a Redken frizz dismiss sheet all over to add some shine and get rid of any excess frizz.

Long explanation, but simple to do and the result is gorgeous! We encourage you to try this in the salon & at home then post your photos to Instagam along with #samvilla so we can see your work ... and for a chance to be featured on our page! Check back each week for new hair tips, tricks & tutorials from the Sam Villa team!

If you loved the French Pull-Through Braid Ponytail, here are three more creative concepts to help you build your braid business:

• How To Create a Net Braid - Fishnet Braid Video Tutorial [Step by Step]
• How To Create a Side Ponytail Loop
• Crossover Loop Ponytail | Sam Villa 5 Minute Hairstyles