is an art and can take a long time to perfect. You will need
a huge amount of practice of creating the five different looks necessary to gain this
unit of your Level 2 qualification. This unit consists of using plaiting and twisting
techniques to achieve a variety of different looks multiple cornrows, French plait,
fishtail plait, two strand twists and flat twists. You will need to have a high level of
manual dexterity to become competent at these techniques as many require the use
of very small sections of hair being worked in a very intricate, methodical sequence.
At one time plaits were only seen on small children and were personified by the
character Heidi in the 1970’s TV programme. Plaits and twists have become more
fashionable lately due to high profile stars such as Kylie and Fergie (from the Black
Eyed Peas) wearing a combination of plaits and twists within their hairstyles for their
music videos and for major events like red carpet award ceremonies. The trend has
also been widely used on catwalks during the unveiling of the new season’s fashion
ranges and has made its way down to the High Street. The great advantage of plaits
and twists is that they keep the hair away from the face so a plait around the front
hairline is practical as well as providing a funky focal point to the hairstyle.