Herringbone, fishbone, fishtail—whichever name you prefer to call this sea-inspired braid, this fun and flirty style is easy-to-do on your clients. Try mixing this braid with other braiding techniques like a French Braid or Waterfall Braid. In this how-to, Rusk Creative Team Member Naz Kupelian shows MODERN how to create this modern, yet foxy fishtail braid for summer.

FOXY (BOHEMIAN) FISHTAIL

Step 1: Spread Rusk Being Sexy Mousse on damp hair and blow-dry while tossing it around with your hands or a vent brush.
Step 2: Pull all of the hair to one side, split into two sections. Fishtail braiding requires only two sections (not three, like a classic or French braid).
Step 3: Use your index fingers to pull out a half-inch section of hair from the area near the base of the ear on the right section of your head. Cross it over to the left section. (It's important to pull sections from underneath when you cross over to achieve that scaly look, says Kupelian.)
Step 4: Repeat with a half-inch piece from the left section, crossing it over to the right.
Step 5: Continue adding half-inch pieces until you reach the ends, and secure with an elastic. Pull on the braid a bit to loosen it. The less perfect the better, it's all about the natural/effortless look! Make sure to leave out two equal pieces on each side of the face for the smaller braids.

FAUX FISHTAIL

If you want to teach your clients a quick way of achieving a fishtail look, (without actually doing the braiding) try this "faux" fishtail technique. Salon owner and lead stylist of SalonCapri, Nicholas Penna, Jr. fills us in on how to create this look. "This style works best on unwashed hair to give it texture and edge," he says. "Loose twists will accomplish a more casual look, and also add an element of understated style. Tight twists make more of a fashion-forward statement and transition well from afternoon to evening."

Step 1: Begin with unbrushed hair. For added texture, try using L’Oreal Professionnel Texture Expert Infinium Spray.
Step 2: Part the hair down the center using a tailcomb.
Step 3: Separate hair into two sections and begin twisting the ends toward the center of head.
Step 4: Secure the end of the twists together with a clear elastic.
Step 5: Use a few bobby pins to "seal" the twists together. Insert one vertically at the top of the twists and one in the middle.
Step 6: Finish with hairspray.

FULL FISHTAIL

If your clients have less-than-full hair, they can still achieve a full braiding effect. As you can see in the picture, Great Lengths Hair Extensions were used to create the volumized, double-fishtail effect. “Braids can be beautiful, but add the element of extensions and braids can be amazing! With few exceptions, a client’s natural hair rarely has the density to pull off a braid as a statement. Extensions for added density, color and length are what make the difference between a pigtail and a braid!" says Angie Waters-Embertson, Great Lengths USA National Educator.

Do you think you have what it takes to create a fishtail braid masterpiece? Share it with Associate Editor Lauren Salapatek at lsalapatek@vancepublishing.com and get a chance to be featured on modernsalon.com. Or, post on MODERN's Facebook page your most prized work.