Preparing Horse Hair for Braiding

Horse hair can be braided while it's on the horse, and even if it has been tactfully removed from a horse. It's important to take the necessary steps to correctly prepare the horse hair before you braid it to make sure it is clean and easy to work with. You can even think about adding adornments, such as ribbon or yarn, to the horse hair braids to make them more festive for an occasion or complementary to your riding outfit or uniform.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse hair comb
  • Horse hair shampoo
  • Several 12-inch strands of ribbon
  • Small rubber bands
  • Clips or clothespins
  • Gel product
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Instructions

    • 1

      Shampoo a horse's hair to remove dirt and oil in preparation from braiding. You will need to wet the horse's hair and then work the product through the strands. Once you have washed the hair, make sure you thoroughly rinse the it before combing and braiding. You can also use dry shampoo products if you don't want to get the horse hair wet.

    • 2

      Separate chunks of hair strands to prepare them for braiding. Use clips or clothespins to hold the separate pieces of hair apart from one another. The clips and pins will help you keep the hair tidy when you are braiding it, which will make for more tidy braids.

    • 3

      Set aside ribbons and rubber bands so they are within arms reach. You will want to be able to access them while you are still working with the braids.

    • 4

      Braid the hair when it is dry, wet or gelled---whatever you prefer. Prepare the strands you are working with as you go. If you are doing a three-piece braid, for example, wet, gel or comb the three strands within their separate clips to make sure they are in the best condition to braid. If you desire, add in ribbons to the braids as you go, and secure the braids with rubber bands.