Watch the slide presentation from http://www.american-girl-doll-clothes.com to learn about braiding for your American Girl Doll - A history of braiding

1. Braiding your American Girl Doll’s hair
A History of Braiding Hair

2. Both men and women have worn their hair in
braids as far back as 5000 years ago.

3. In Africa braiding hair was a social event among
women. Young girls learned the art of braiding
hair and practiced on their friends. They tried
elaborate styles, perfecting their skills.

4. Cultures found ways to enhance the braiding of
the hair. The Aztec women wound colorful
strips of cloth into the braids. In Africa,
particular styles are passed down as a tradition.
In the Hopi tribe only married wore their hair
braided.

5. There are many different types of braids.
Some of the most common include the English braid.
It uses three strands or groups of hair and starts at the nape of the neck.
The French braid which instead of starting at the nape of the neck starts
at the hairline and travels back and down weaving strands in along the
way.
The Dutch braid is a French braid that weaves strands under rather than
over.
Swiss braids are English braids that are then wrapped around the head
and pinned down.
Crown braids are braids that are woven like French braids but around the
crown of the head.

6. In modern times, hair braiding has become a
function of style yet the same reasons why
people braided their hair 5000 years ago, still
exist. Braiding hair helps keeps the hair neat
and clean.

7. When bathing often was not the norm, braiding
hair was a way to keep the hair clean and neat.

8. Today people still will sometimes braid there
hair when they don't have time to wash their
hair. Having your hair braided keeps your hair
out of the way while you are working. This was
one of the primary functions for hair braiding
among many Native Americans along with
helping to keep it neat and clean.

9. Just like braided hair helps to keep human hair
neat and clean, braiding your dolls hair, will
also help keep the dolls hair neat and clean.
The dolls hair will be less likely to get wound
around other items in the toy box or shelf. The
hair will be less likely to get snarled. Kit, an
American Girl Doll has her hair in braids to keep
it neat, clean, and from being snarled.

10. So give braiding your dolls hair a try. You might
find that in addition to helping keep it from
getting tangled, you might enjoy experimenting
with braiding styles for your dolls hair.
For hair accessories for your doll visit
http://www.american-girl-doll-clothes.com

11. American Girl Doll hair accessories
are available and reasonably
priced at
http://www.american-girl-doll-clothes.com