Help! I'm not capable of doing a French Twist!

Thanks for the welcome and compliment, Dave

Butting in late (just joined this board), but maybe I can help.
I had the same problem with loose top loops on my french twists and solved it. It can't be explained in a few words, just have a look at my French Twist pages - click on "instructions", scroll down for the "troubleshooting page".

HTH

Thank you everyone for your kind responses.

I tried and tried like 10 times this morning to put my hair up in a French Twist. On what must have been the 10th try, my arms were really tired and I was about ready to give up when suddenly, POOF! One that didn't look so bad! One that I could wear in public!
I wish I knew what I did. I don't know what I did the 10th time that I hadn't done on attempts 1 thru 9. Oh well. It held for at least 6 hours!

But usually... I get to the part where I'm pulling the ponytail straight up and rolling it into the tuck, and suddenly the hair from the front and top of my head is no longer so taut, because it's going into the top of the roll now, not the ponytail like at first. So, because it's less taut, the hairs on top of my head just bubble up towards the sky like a tent! It drives me crazy!
But it doesn't happen quite so often anymore. I guess practice makes perfect. I just wish I knew what I was doing wrong before.

BTW, that website is great, AmandaPanda! The pictures really help. Thank you!

How long is your hair, SuperGrover?

It's not a length problem. I once witnessed a GM stylist repeatedly put up a head of super-thick yet fine classic-length hair in a french twist. I was Mr. Fumble-fingers and could not figure out how to do it on the woman's hair, but basically the stylist doubled the length, and began twisting from the looped end (not the actual ends, which were drawn back toward her head. I believe he secured it with about 3 or 4 of those long hairpins.

Practice does make perfect (or at least a lot less imperfect). It took me a long time to figure out how to braid my own hair, but once I got the hang of it, it's easy. I've often been asked who braided my hair and the inquirers always seem surprised when I tell them that I do it myself.

Let us know how the style is coming along.

OK, every time I do a French Twist, the hair on top of my head pops up like a tent!

I hold my hair in a low to mid-low ponytail, twist counterclockwise 2 times, bring tail straight up against my head, tuck tail under, fold in crease. Roll tight, insert clip.

Maybe I'm rolling too tight? I always have trouble getting the clip in, too. And once I do, it almost always falls out within a few minutes.

I am just so stupid when it comes to up-dos. I think I need to pay a stylist to train me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Traci

PS I put this in the Long Hair area, because when my hair was shorter, it was SO much easier to do updos. I think this is maybe a length problem.