Here's a breakdown:
* Regular Braid (Three-Strand Braid): A regular braid starts with three separate strands of hair. You alternate passing the left strand over the middle strand, then the right strand over the new middle strand, repeating this pattern until you reach the end of your hair. The braid hangs down from where you started.
* French Braid: A French braid also uses the three-strand braiding technique, but it begins at the crown of your head and gradually incorporates more hair from the sides into each strand as you braid down. You start with three small strands at the top, braid them once, and then before each subsequent pass, you pick up a new section of hair from the side and add it to the strand being crossed over. This causes the braid to lie flat against the head and gather all the hair into the braid.
In summary:
* Incorporation of Hair: A regular braid uses only the initial three strands of hair, while a French braid continuously adds hair to the strands as you braid.
* Placement on Head: A regular braid hangs down, while a French braid lies flat against the head.
Think of it this way: A French braid "picks up" hair as it goes.