Discover the Joy of Hair Braiding in St Albans

What Is A Hair Braiding Class?

It seems so self-explanatory (and it is), but perhaps because I’m a guy with sons and not daughters, it felt like a pretty alien concept. Braiding hair has been neither a necessity nor a problem for me. However, as I started to say hello to my fellow braiding trainees, everything began to make sense. So, who else was in my class and why?

This was a class of five, and we were all guys. One of us was there to review the class(!), three were there because they had daughters of primary school age and needed to learn how to do their daughters' hair for school. One guy wanted to help his wife with her hair since she had restricted movement. This was a crash course for those of us with limited experience working with long hair.

It’s worth noting that there are three different levels of courses: Beginners (that’s us!), Stage 2 for those who can already plait hair, and Stage 3 for the pros.

An Evening at Megans

First up, the location was fantastic – Megans, right in the middle of town! Most of the braiding trainees had a beer on their table to help with their finger/combs/hair dexterity. This meant that, for a group of guys, we were pretty sociable!

Our teacher, Fiona, hosted a quick round of introductions and then went through our tools. We had a mannequin head, a brush, a smoothing brush, hair grips, a pointed comb, a selection of hairbands, rubber bands, and a tool for removing them. With that, we dove straight into task number one.

What We Learned

1. A High Ponytail

2. The Easy Bun

3. Our First Plait

4. Bunches

5. Pig Tails

6. Plaity Buns

7. Crossover Plaits into Bunches

8. Plait with Bow

9. The Dragon Braid AKA Cheat Braid (think Elsa from Frozen!)

   
   

Bunches

Plait

Plait and Bow

Dragon Braid

Yes, it’s true we start small with a ponytail, but the humble ponytail is important. Annis, the founder, explained:

"The humble ponytail is a game changer. We teach it because it helps dads share the load on school days. It also involves brushing, sculpting the pony, and using a hair elastic. Something a lot of beginners/men have never had to do if they haven’t touched longer hair before. It can also be easily turned into a bun, which is handy for dance classes and bath times when it’s not a hair wash day."

And of course, the ponytail leads to more. I challenge you not to be impressed by the crossover plaits, plait and bow, and the dragon braid. That’s the beauty of this workshop; it really works for novices.

You come away from this workshop with new braiding skills, but just as importantly, you gain inspiration. It’s amazing what you can do with a plait! Perhaps most importantly, you leave with the confidence to actually braid. The difference between our first braids and final braids was monumental. By experimenting with tension, positioning, and strand thickness, we made significant progress. It’s not easy to carry out these experiments on real-life models, so I’m pretty confident we gained a lot of experience in this short session.

Which Stage Is for You?

Stage 1

If you have no experience, it’s easy—start with the Beginners. It used to be called Braid Basics for Blokes, and it’s 99% blokes but not exclusively. That’s what I did for this review. You’ll learn everything, including how to brush hair properly and remove knots and tangles.

If you have some experience but aren’t too confident with your braiding, then Beginners is also a good place to start. You may know some techniques, but there’s real value in a refresher, practicing, and exploring different ways to use the basics.

Stage 2

Stage 2 is French Plaits and Dutch Braids (a classic and handy duo). It’s the most popular workshop. If you’ve done Stage 1, you’ll have what it takes—you can plait with confidence. Stage 2 teaches the French plait and Dutch braid.

Stage 3

Stage 3 takes your new Dutch Braid skills from Stage 2 and turns them into showstoppers like the Crown Braid and Waterfall. You’ll also learn the all-important skill of being able to Dutch Braid yourself—which, to me, just seems like showing off!

Should I Book Up?

I honestly think Braid Maidens is fab! I didn’t even know braiding classes were a thing until I came across Braid Maidens while setting up Hobby Republik. I salute Annis for spotting this gap in the market and filling it. It feels like one of those things that makes St Albans special—quirky, open-minded, fun, and innovative.

The workshop itself is fun and relaxed, and you’re going to come out with new skills. Whether it’s for yourself, your wife, or daughter, or just because you’re curious, it’s a great way to spend a few hours. Now the question is, will my wife let me braid her hair for her work meeting tomorrow?

What You Need To Know

• Braid Maidens workshops are currently priced at £35 for 2 hours and 15 minutes and take place all around Hertfordshire.

• Braid Maidens are also available for team-building and group events (PTAs) and do private classes too.

• They sell a hair braiding kit and mannequin heads, so if you want to practice at home, you can!

  
  

DO This If

• You want to learn to braid or take your braiding to the next level.

• You want a social evening learning a new skill in a relaxed environment.

  
  

DON’T Do This If

• You’re allergic to hair.

• You’re looking for a weekly club.

• You’re looking for hairdressing skills in general.

  
  

In conclusion, if you’re in St Albans and looking for a fun and engaging activity, a hair braiding class is a fantastic choice! You’ll learn new skills, meet new people, and have a great time. So why not give it a go?