BUTTON BRAIDS: HOW TO GET GREAT RESULTS WITHOUT FRUSTRATION
Have you ever thought this about button braids: how do I get great results without frustration? Margie was just like you until I shared my expert formula for creating eye-appealing button braids for successful shows. I though you would benefit from this information as well.
Margie had a mane braiding dilemma. She wanted to learn how to create button braids for dressage shows. But her horse Sunny had put his head through the fence to eat grass and had rubbed and thinned out a large portion of his mane. Margie wondered what she could do to prepare Sunny’s half thick-half thin mane for braiding. She contacted me through my Mane Braiding Equestrians Facebook group to find out what she should do to get the best braiding results on this challenging mane.
AMBUSH BUTTON BRAID MAKEOVER
Instead of explaining what Margie needed to do, I decided to surprise her with an ambush button braid makeover in person. I thought you’d find the information Margie learned valuable as well. So that you can experience success when braiding your horse and less pull-your-hair-out frustration.
Before the button braid makeover, Margie sent me this picture of Sunny’s braids at a recent show. Her daughter, Rachel, who also rides Sunny, had braided him along with the previous owner. They used elastic braiding bands to secure the braids.
START WITH MANE EVALUATION
Can I give you a tip that will save you time, frustration, and get you better braiding results? Get schooled in expert mane preparation. Because knowing how to prepare a mane for good, fast braiding is one of the keys to creating flawless braids quickly on all types of manes. Plus, the majority of mane preparation is done before the start of your show season and the mane will only require occasional touch ups, so it’s an infrequent task. I’m sharing my top mane preparation tips with you below, but first let me tell you how we tackled Sunny’s problem mane.
Realize that with extreme differences in mane thickness, even your best mane preparation won’t be prefect. BUT, it can vastly improve the condition of the mane for braiding. I recommended that Margie (1) pull the thick areas of Sunny’s mane to a manageable thickness, and (2) shorten the entire mane to five- to six-inches long with tapered hair ends. Just by completing these two mane preparation steps, Margie will improve the evenness of the braid spacing and size, and will braid Sunny’s mane with greater ease and better results.
STEP 1: HOW TO PULL A MANE – A PEACEFUL AND PAINLESS WAY
Because mane preparation can make or break the turnout of your braids I shared a painless mane pulling method with Margie and Rachel. It’s a clever way to thin the thick areas of a mane, without a battle or stressing your horse out. Here’s a quick summary of how it’s done:
Working across the thick areas of the mane, start by (1) backcombing a small section of hair up to the scalp, (2) wrap the remaining hair around your pulling comb, and (3) put your thumb on top of the hair and apply steady downward pressure until the hair releases on its own. You’ll actually feel the hair ends “pop” as they release. Comb the mane down and repeat. Keep in mind that the hair sections need to be small. Work across the thick areas of the mane until the thickness is even. This can be done a little at a time, over a couple of weeks.
This method works best when you use it after you’ve worked your horse because the pores are open and the mane releases easier. It’s awesome for horses who don’t like to have their mane pulled because there’s no “pulling” involved. It works like a charm on my sensitive Trakehner who hates to have his mane pulled.
STEP 2: HOW TO SHORTEN A MANE AND TAPER THE HAIR ENDS
Next, Margie and Rachel learned how to shorten the mane and taper the hair ends using a dull clipper blade so the mane isn’t blunt. This step is critical to the turnout of your braids and the ease with which you will create them. I teach passionate riders all my mane preparation and braiding techniques, tips, and secrets in my Braiding to Win VIP Experience. But below are some examples of why tapering the hair ends when shortening the mane is so important to your braiding. If the hair ends aren’t properly tapered you’re going to have:
- A hard time tying the braids off at the bottom without the ends popping out.
- Blunt hair ends that are too large to fit up inside the small space at the crest, so pulling the braids into the crest (which makes them stay straight) becomes extremely difficult.
- Braids that twist due to the blunt ends.
- Sore hands – because braiding a blunt mane is really hard on your hands. After braiding thousands of horses, I can tell you that braiding a blunt mane is my least favorite for this reason.
The ideal mane length for button braids really depends on the mane type (thin, average, or thick) so the more you know about preparing different mane types for braiding – the better your braiding results will be. Here’s a picture of a well prepared mane which sets you up for ease when braiding, less frustration, and flawless braiding results.
This mane has been prepared for good, fast braiding because it’s an even thickness from poll to withers and the proper length.
DRESSAGE MANE BRAIDING OPTIONS
One of the unique things about dressage is that you get to choose the style of braid you want to create, such as button braids (good for horses with a nice crest) or dutch dressage braids (which add height to the crest). I recommend you choose the style that’s the most flattering to your horse’s conformation. Since Sunny has a nice crest to his neck and Marge said he may rub his braids, I taught Margie and Rachel how to create button braids using yarn. Here are the benefits you’ll experience when braiding with yarn:
- Yarn is woven into the braids so they’re super sturdy.
- With the yarn braided in, you can plan out the best braiding results by pulling all the braids up and establishing an even bottom line before you tie any braids off.
- Sewing through the buttons makes the braids more secure than when you use elastic bands.
- Braiding yarn into the french braided forelock and pulling the braid up through the center creates the fanciest look to your forelock braid.
- Braids created with yarn are harder for horses to rub out.
If you want to use elastic braiding bands or waxed thread, those methods will also work to secure your braids. One advantage to using waxed thread is that it doesn’t have to be tied. You can just sew back and forth several times through the braids and cut the thread. Some riders find it easier to remove the braids when they use elastic bands to secure them. I have a friend that swears by this method.
BUTTON BRAIDS – HOW TO GET GREAT RESULTS WITHOUT FRUSTRATION
For the ambush button braid makeover, I first demonstrated each braiding technique. Then Margie and Rachel did all of the work. The most important thing they learned was what to focus on each step of the way to plan out and achieve perfect results. Because this is the real key to creating amazing braids every time. It’s something I rarely see dressage riders using to their advantage. Most riders work braid-to-braid completing one braid at a time. This robs you of the opportunity to plan and create brilliant braids. I shared my expert advice and tricks of the trade throughout the process to help Margie and Rachel get the best results. Read on to discover what they learned and you’ll want to steal. Plus see the results – Margie and Rachel’s finished braids.
TIPS FOR GETTING READY TO BRAID
- Wear a mane braiding organizer or kit equipped with the best tools so everything you need is at your fingertips. It’s a time saver.
- Use a medium weight yarn you can’t break (most do). Cut all of the yarn you‘ll need before you start braiding. Pro Tip: To cut the yarn for braiding, wind the yarn from your hand, around your elbow and back to your hand. Like you’re winding a cord. Each revolution equals the yarn for one braid. Count as you go until you have enough revolutions to create all of your braids. Then cut straight across the yarn in one place and loop it through your belt.
- For dressage braids, plan out your braid spacing before you start braiding. Work across the mane from poll to withers, sectioning off four-fingers width for each braid and securing the hair with an elastic band. Take a step back and evaluate/adjust the spacing until it’s even across the neck. Because even braid spacing is one of the characteristics that makes the braids stand out in the show ring.
- Remember to soak the mane before braiding and re-wet it frequently so the resulting braids are tight and neat. If the mane is damp, it’s not wet enough.
TIPS FOR BRAIDING A MANE LIKE A BOSS
I demonstrate the next couple of steps in a video Five Tips for Neater Mane Braids in my Free Resource Library. You can get Instant Access to the Free Resource Library. Click here to learn more.
To get started braiding, remove the elastic band holding the hair section near the poll, wet the hair, and divide it into three equal pieces. Then start the braid close to the crest and use these expert tips:
- Keep your hands close to the neck when braiding down the mane for the best results.
- Create tighter, neater braids by pulling up on the new outside section of hair after each crossover of hair when braiding down the mane.
- Halfway down the braid, add in a 20″ piece of yarn (folded in half) by placing the fold of the yarn under your thumb so that the yarn pieces are added to two section of hair. Continue braiding.
- Pro Tip: For sections where the mane gets thin or is too short (1) use clever sectioning to mask the thin areas, and (2) add two pieces of yarn in, near the top of the braid to create the illusion the mane is evenly thick. Strive to end this braid at the same point as the other braids, so the bottom knots are even. After you’ve tied the anchor knot (see below), cut two of the four pieces of yarn. Use the remaining pieces to finish the braid. This will help give a more even and identical appearance to your braids where the mane is lacking. We used this trick on the mid- to lower-portion of Sunny’s mane.
- Work down the braid until you end up with both yarn pieces in one hand and just the hair in the other. End each braid at the same point by comparing it with the neighboring braid. This step will be easy if you’ve done your mane preparation correctly.
- Create bottom knots that are small (tapered hair ends are the key), they’re easier to pull up into the crest.
- Now use an anchor knot (which is a single knot) to make the bottom knot slip proof. This helps you achieve an even bottom line to your finished braids – another winning braid characteristic.
- Plan out perfect braiding results by pulling up all the braids and smashing them flat. Then even up the bottom line (fold) of the braids. This helps you achieve identical braids.
- Optional step: Separate the yarn pieces, wrap one piece of yarn around the other twice and tie a knot under the braid (don’t pull it too tight). Tie a single knot underneath the braid. These knots are optional but make the braid stand off the neck a bit more.
- Thread the yarn pieces through the eye of a darning needle. (See Marge’s tip later in this post). Fold the braid under to shape the button. When you like the way the button is positioned, sew back and forth through it, finishing with the yarn close to the crest. Tie the yarn off with two single knots. Repeat on each braid. Trim all of the yarn.
- Create a fancier forelock braid by adding in smaller sections of hair when french braiding.
- Use a forelock tool to pull the forelock braid up. Pull one piece of yarn out to the side and tie two single knots. You can create your own forelock tool in a couple of minutes with my DIY tutorial in the FREE Resource Library.
BUTTON BRAID RESULTS AND SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON
Here’s a comparison of Margie and Rachel’s before and after braid photos. This is only their first completed mane after learning these new braiding techniques. They did an excellent job! We braided Sunny’s forelock after this picture.
This picture shows the finished french braided forelock. It’s the crowning jewel of your winning braids and turnout.
AVOID THIS COMMON MANE BRAIDING STRUGGLE
Margie and Rachel both wanted to hold the braid and their hands away from the neck while braiding down the mane. This is one of the most common mistakes I see riders make. By keeping your hands close to the neck when braiding down, you’ll create braids that lay flat and straight.
MARGIE TEACHES A NEW BRAID SECRET
When Rachel had a hard time threading the thick yarn through the eye of a darning needle, Margie shared a secret of her own. She showed us how to loop the yarn pieces tightly over the needle, pinch them off between your thumb and first finger underneath the needle, and slide the yarn off the end of the needle between your fingertips. Now the yarn is neatly organized and easier to thread through the eye of the needle. This method worked great.
I also searched and found a blunt darning needle with a larger eye that’s easier to thread the yarn through. This darning needle is now one of the hand selected tools included in my Brilliant Mane Braiding Kit and Bag.
BIGGEST BUTTON BRAID TAKEAWAYS
Margie said her biggest takeaway was “learning how to plan ahead to get the best braiding results”.
Rachel said “I really liked the process of sectioning off the mane first before braiding to ensure evenness. I also like learning how to work yarn in because I had never braided with it before.”
Margie and Rachel learned that the fastest way to unbraid a mane is to soak it with hose (in warm weather) and use a small seam ripper to cut the yarn and release and unravel the braids.
I snapped this picture with Margie (left) and Rachel (right) when we had finished braiding. A huge thanks to Margie, Rachel and Sunny for hosting this Ambush Mane Braiding Makeover .
A MANE BRAIDING GIFT
When the ambush button braid makeover was complete, I gave Sunny a big, juicy apple, and Margie and Rachel received a Brilliant Mane Braiding Organizer.
This organizer is customized to store all your braiding tools and it slides right onto your belt. It also has extra pockets for a clipper blade for mane shortening, braiding bands, and spare tools.
Tools the Mane Braiding Organizer was designed to hold.
When you’ve finished braiding, the organizer folds in half and slides into a matching storage bag along with your extra supplies such as, cut yarn or waxed thread. It keeps everything dust-free, organized, and ready for your next show. The storage bag has a loop and can be hung in your grooming bag or stall. There’s even a Brilliant Mane Braiding Kit & Bag available now if you want the organizer, bag, and all the quality tools I use and have had selected for braiding. Click here to learn more.
FAVORITE THINGS
My favorite things about the ambush button braid makeover were:
- Meeting Margie and Rachel in person – they’re delightful.
- Getting up close with a Haflinger for the first time.
- The transformation of Margie and Rachel’s braids.
CONCLUSION – HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR MANE BRAIDING CAPABILITY
So, now it’s your turn. This information can only help you if you take action. Get schooled in expert mane preparation and braiding techniques. Then you can create epic turnout for your shows or earn income braiding other horses. Because gaining knowledge will allow you to transform your braids from novice to expert status, too. Plus, you’ll experience more joy braiding and less pull-your-hair-out-frustration.
