Directions:

1. Learn how to do a french braid.
2. Part the hair down the center of the head, both front and back.
3. Clip the hair from one side of the head out of the way.

4. Begin a french braid at the front of one side of the head.  I prefer to braid starting with the strand closest to the face; in this example, on the right.

5. Continue the braid to the base of the scalp, taking care to finish with the braid as close to the center as possible.  Whether you want the braid to start low and scoop in an arc to the back, or start high, pull to the back and gradually curve down (as in example) is artistic choice.
6. Braid a couple more times below the last addition of a section of hair, and clip off the braid.

7. Braid the second braid as the first, again starting with the strand closest to the face (on the second side, this will be the left hand strand.)
8. Hold the braid on the left in your left hand; unclip and hold the strands of right braid in your right hand.  You will want to undo the extra braiding you did (which will have come partially undone in the clipping and unclipping process anyway.)  Make sure that each strand is braided so that the next move on each braid is to braid from the outside in. 

9. Combine the two middle strands.
10. Either combine the two strands on the left and combine the two strands on the right (as shown) or leave these strands as they are and continue with a five-strand braid.

11. Continue braiding as for a simple 3-strand braid.
12. Tie off the braid.