How to practice braiding without pulling your child’s hair

When you're first learning to braid, your hands are clumsy, your tension is unpredictable, and every section feels like a workout. That’s completely normal — but it’s also the reason many kids start to dread hair time.

Why a head mannequin is a lifesaver for beginners

A good mannequin head gives you the chance to:

• practise at your own pace
• redo each section ten times if needed
• build hand strength
• understand tension
• make mistakes without guilt
• stop worrying about pulling, snagging, or causing discomfort

It removes the pressure — and parents underestimate how important that is.

When you're learning, you need the freedom to braid badly before you braid well.

A mannequin gives you that space.

An real example from braiding for parents workshops

I personally noticed that parents who attend my in person workshops on their own and learn the technique on the head mannequins first, are less stressed and learn more throughout the class. Same parents share their experience braiding their kids later say it was a much easier, kinder way to learn for both.

That’s the whole point. Learning shouldn’t come at your child’s expense.

Why practising on your child creates bad habits

When you're nervous about pulling their hair, you tend to:

• loosen your tension
• grip differently
• rush your sections
• avoid redoing mistakes
• accept messy parts because you “don’t want to start over”

That slows down your progress and creates inconsistent braids.

On a mannequin, you can fix, repeat, and refine without worrying about someone getting uncomfortable or impatient.

Your skill improves faster because you can focus on technique, not managing tears or time.

When to transition from mannequin to real hair

A good rule is this:

When you can braid the mannequin smoothly, with consistent tension and clean sections, that’s the moment you switch back to practising on your child.

By then, your hands will be calmer, your movements more confident, and your fingers won’t accidentally tug.

Your child will notice the difference immediately.

Build your braiding skills the easy way

If you’re learning to braid, the right tools make a huge difference. In my online course for parents, I walk you through technique in a simple, beginner-friendly way so you can braid confidently at home — without stress or guesswork.