Hi, my name is Ana Rodriguez.
I am a hair braider from New York City, Upper West Side.
I have about 20 years braiding hair.
I'm self-taught.
So, today I'm going to be showing you guys
how I do my intricate design as I braid it.
This client asked for two braids.
It's called fish bones
because it looks like the bones from the fish.
So, for this design,
I start by lining it up with the nose
to make sure the line is straight down the middle.
So, after I split the hair down the middle,
I will have to split it evenly into four pieces
so I can have the same design on each side.
So I put gel and split it evenly, flat, flat down,
just so I don't have no hair on one side
that don't belong on that side.
because each strand matters.
For me to create the zigzag part,
I will have to split one line down the middle
and then make it really sharp
into the angle of a zigzag.
So, here I am separating the hairs.
I have small pins.
The small pins are for me to section out the hair
and make it evenly,
because for intricate design,
the most difficult part is starting,
the beginning part.
Once I get one side done,
the other side is so easy for me to create
because I already have the mirror that I need
on the other side.
So, I apply the gel once I'm going to braid it.
I always start my first braid right from the headline.
So, this type of braid is a three-strand braid.
And the way I braid is always underhand.
Braiding underhand, it gives you a image
of the braid out, but it lays flat.
So, here I am braiding one side towards the other side,
so I can create the image.
So this is giving a image like a eight.
Here you see how my clips are coming into action
and helping me out so I can create this clean parting,
and you are able to see the person's scalp
and the lines on the braids neatly.
So, once I create my image in the center,
I go to the sides.
For me to create a intricate design,
sometimes I come up with it from the top of my head,
or the client usually comes in with a image.
And if I want, I add a little different,
I put a little twist to it.
I put my own twist to it.
So, I'm using the tip of my fingers here
so I can pick up small little
tiny strands of hair into the braid.
It's a little difficult to braid tiny braids
because I have to be very tender.
I have clients that are tender-headed
and some that are not.
But I usually don't braid tight
unless the customer asks for it,
because braiding is supposed
to be a protective style.
It shouldn't hurt you at all.
But I usually do not pull.
I pick up each strand really softly,
so I don't hurt my client.
My client usually calls me "butter fingers."
When I switch directions in braiding,
it's like the flick of my wrist.
I go, and I just turn my wrist
into where I part the hair at.
I finish one side,
and I create the other side exactly the same.
So I will have to start the same way
I started the other side, from the front.
Here, with the comb,
I'm making sure everything is lined up evenly.
So I measure my comb from one side to the other side,
just so I can create the same braid on the other side.
So, the comb that I use is called a rat-tail comb.
It has a section in the front
which makes it so easier for me
to create my lines clean.
This comb is like my pencil. It's like my pen.
It creates the image that I have in my mind.
Once I finish braiding on the scalp,
I braid it almost to the end,
but I leave some hair out so I can have the braid
when it's connected thicker.
So, now I'm going to braid the sides of his hair.
People love my art.
They usually stop my clients,
especially the train, they get stopped a lot.
They get questioned, “Where you get your hair done?”
and it’s usually word of mouth
how I find my clientele.
Once I am done braiding upwards
into the other side of the braids,
which I was braiding downwards,
I put everything together.
So all the braids are coming together
into one big braid.
Now, as I finish this side,
I am going to braid the other side
into the same angle as the side that I finished.
For me to create this intricate design,
it took me about two hours to do.
From 1 to 10 in my intricate design,
it will land about 8.
It's a little difficult to do,
maybe because there's so many braids.
This style usually lasts my clients
about two weeks. Some last almost a month,
but I ask them not to last longer than two weeks
just so they can nurture and moisturize their hair.
Once I am done with the braid,
I apply a mousse for shine and hold.
Then I apply the durag on,
give it a little bit of heat
just so it can lay down all the flyaways that stood up.
Once I am done with the customer
and the customer gets to see what I created,
they just love it.
They'll get amazed, surprised
that I was able to create this intricate design,
and they just walk out my place so happy.