Hairstyles for wet hair: 3 simple braid tutorials you can wear in wet hair

Running out the door with wet hair? Try these 3 simple braid tutorials you can wear in wet hair. As a bonus, you’ll end up with gorgeous waves once your hair dries too.

If you have to run out the door with wet hair, then these simple braids are a quick fix. Maybe you’re late for work or school, or you’ve run to the gym at lunchtime. You can still achieve a great hairstyle fast.

For me, timing when to wash my hair is a challenge. My hair takes such a long time to dry and I dislike sleeping with wet hair at night. I just can’t do it. I’d rather wash my hair in the morning and wear one of these braids.

I’ll admit, my hair still won’t dry completely if I wear it up in a tight braid all day but these styles are a happy medium for me. My trick is that I take my hair out and redo the braid in the afternoon; it ensures that my hair dries completely.

You have to take care when styling wet hair. Here are my wet hair styling tips to achieve the perfect style.

Tips for styling wet hair

• Be gentle. Hair is more susceptible to breakage and damage when it’s wet. Don’t use a normal brush. Instead use a wide tooth comb or flexible wet brush.
• Smooth it down. Use a smoothing cream or hair oil to tame any flyaways or frizz before they form.
• Think about when your hair dries. When styling your hair, imagine how you want your hair to dry. I like to smooth the top sections and have more waves at the ends of my hair so I start my braids lower. If you prefer all over waves, start your braids higher.

Simple braid tutorial for wet hair: Fishtail braid

I know you’re thinking fishtail braids are not simple, they’re hard. Trust me, you can do this one easily. They may look more complicated but they are easier to do than a regular braid.

You may need to allow more time to do a fishtail braid than a regular braid, but I stand by it being easier than other styles. It’s often the first braid I teach at my Braid Bar and my classes have a 100% success rate with the fishtail braid.

Fishtail braid tutorial in wet hair

What you need:

• 2 small clear hair elastics

Step-by-step:

1. Use a small clear hair elastic to secure your hair in a side ponytail.
2. Split your ponytail in two. Hold one side in each hand and keep these separate as you braid.
3. Cross a small section from the left to the right. Take a small piece of hair from the left side of the left ponytail and cross it over to join the right ponytail.
4. Repeat on the right. Take a small piece of hair from the right side of the right ponytail and cross it over to join the left ponytail.
5. Then continue to repeat this process all the way down. Each time, cross a small piece of hair from one ponytail to the other side. As you move down the ponytail they cross over, forming the fishtail braid.
6. Tie the end of your fishtail braid. Secure it with a small, clear elastic.

When you hair starts to dry, you can gently pull at the sides of the braid to stretch it out. This makes your hair look thicker and fuller, and emphasises the shape of the braid.

Fishtail braid styling tip:

• Remember that the smaller the sections you cross over, the more intricate your braid will look.

Simple braid tutorial for wet hair: Dutch braid

Dutch braids are sometimes called inside out braids or reverse braids.

They’re the opposite of a French braid in that you use the same braiding method but instead of crossing over, you cross under.

These braids are probably my pick to wear in my hair as I love the big waves they leave when they dry in my hair. They’re really secure too so I find they stay in all day long.

Dutch braid tutorial in wet hair

What you need:

• Small clear hair elastic

Step-by-step:

1. Start by taking a section of hair at the side of your head. I usually take a two-inch section from my natural part to my ear. Split this section in to three equal sections.
2. Begin a Dutch braid. This is the reverse of a French braid. Take the left section under the middle, and the right section under the left. Add in a small section of hair to the middle piece and bring that under the right section.
3. Continue braiding across the back of your head, adding in small sections of hair as you go. Always bring the hair underneath so that your braid sits on top of your hair.
4. Take a slight diagonal angle with your braid from the top right of your head to the bottom left. Once you reach the end of your hair, finish in a reverse braid and secure the end of your hair with a clear elastic.

Dutch braid styling tip:

• Keep it simple by adding in large sections of hair so that it’s faster to do.

Simple braid tutorial for wet hair: French braid

A chic an simple classic, the French braid is timeless. It’s an elegant style that works for any occasion.

If you’re just learning, it’s easier to do this style in wet hair too. I find my hair hold better in braids when it’s wet.

The trick for me in doing this style is to only add in 3-5 sections of hair with the braid. I don’t want this to look intricate so I make sure to pick up large pieces of hair so that all my hair is incorporated into the braid in only 3-4 sections.

French braid tutorial in wet hair

What you need:

• Small clear hair elastic

Step-by-step:

1. Comb all your hair and pick up a large section level with your ears. Split this section into three equal pieces.
2. Cross the left piece over the middle, then the right over the left as you would form a regular braid.
3. Then add in hair from the left and combine it with the braid.
4. Repeat on the right side to form a French braid.
5. Continue braiding down the back of your head. I added in large sections so as to combine all my hair quickly.
6. Secure the end of your braid with a small clear hair elastic.

Bonus braided updo tutorial

These braids are the building blocks for so many hairstyles. With these three braid tutorials you can do endless hairstyles.

Here’s a simple variation on the French braid to start your imagination with more hairstyles for wet hair.

Simple braided updo tutorial for wet hair: Tucked French braid tutorial

What you need:

• Clear hair elastic
• Bobby pins

Step-by-step:

1. Follow the French braid instructions as above.
2. Once you have your finished braid, roll up your braid. Starting at the tip of your braid, roll it up to form a tucked bun.
3. Push your rolled braid under the rest of your French braid. Then pin it in place with bobby pins.

Need more style inspiration? Check out my 7 simple hairstyles for wet hair.

How often do you have to run out the door with wet hair? What’s your fave hairstyle for wet hair?