how to learn

i would like to learn how to french braid my own hair. I would really appreciate it if you explain how to

> My hobby is portrait photography, and I'd like to> branch it out to more glamour and period photography.> I have no shortage of friends willing to pose for me,> but have great shortage of knowledge on how to get the> look I'd like with their hair. Basically I'd like to> learn how to curl, comb, tease, and style hair for> these pictures. I'm looking not only for current> styles but for styles from all different eras. I> called different places and all said they don't teach> just that, but I'd have to take full cosmetology> courses. I'm not willing to, nor can I afford the> money and time to do that.> So how does a guy learn to do these things? Just trial> and error could take forever and I'm afraid my friends> patience would be tested greatly if I screwed up their> hair somehow.> Someone please give me some advice.To Tim;This is a touchy area for most guys and gals, please let me explain.. I do not know if you are married or have a girlfriend, but if you do and they are supportive to your interest, then you are very lucky! If you don't have either one, but have lots of friends who are agreeable to pose and model for you, be patient! Rome wasn't built in a day and your hairstyling skills will not be either. Most girls into their late teens are pretty adept at doing their hair in various ways and will generally have way more skills than you to start with , (they should they've had several years to hone their skills.) However, updos, complicated braids, and extra smooth bobs and pageboys with every hair in perfect place take a little practice. I would try to locate a model with longer hair(middle of the back) or longer to start with and just tell her exactly what you have in mind, stress that no cutting,coloring etc will happen, only 'styling'of the hair. Try to get her to shampoo and dry her hair in her 'normal manner' and go out and shoot a few pictures to get to know her and her 'camera actions and angles that work well with her. Then have her or the both of you practice french braiding of her hair dry and then with it just slightly damp in the early am of the day, go shoot some more pics and then take the hair down out of the french braid and softly finger comb it into place(when it is dry), and you will have a wonderful head full of soft waves to shoot in various ways. You can progress from here to use curling irons(be careful) to wet sets make-believe perms) wrapped on flexible rods, rags or perm rods and dried etc. have fun but first and foremost treat her like a lady and treat her hair gentler than that, and you should have a good time. Check out the gallery for style ideas and I reccomend a book "Basic Braids Made Easy" which includes several good instruction sections including inverted braids. Not to tell you how to do it but, I have done my share of picture taking..shoot your pictures in the early am or late pm almost twilight around sun up or sun down to get the most natural light and hardley ever in direct sunlight with as slow as speed film as you can for the best detail and watch the background for distractions from the intended image. william