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Braiding: Tools of the Trade
To do a quality job of braiding manes and tails, you need certain tools. These items are referred to throughout the braiding articles, but highlighted here.
An assortment of useful combs
Clockwise from top left: two metal “pulling” combs, two examples of special combs designed to help you part hair evenly for braiding, and a comb with extra-wide teeth that works especially well in long and thick manes.
Pull-through tools
Clockwise from top left: Rug hook (popular with some braiders but thick and tends to pull hairs), the author’s homemade wire pull-throughs (one sized for hunter braids, and one extra long for tails), and a pair of blunt needles with extra large eyes for sewing in hunter or dressage braids.
Assorted braiding necessities
Clockwise from top left: White tape for wrapping dressage braids, two sizes of seam ripper for removing braids, Quic Braid spray, two types of clip used to hold extra hair out of the way when braiding, and blunt safety scissors (child’s scissors) for cutting yarn and string.
This waist pouch provides convenient storage for basic braiding needs, and keeps everything close at hand while working. Although the loop at the side theoretically allows one-hand access to the braiding string, most braiders prefer to hold their next strand in their fingers or mouth.
HOW TO MAKE A PULL-THROUGH TOOL
Most commercially available pull-through tools share two major flaws—they are too thick and/or too short. Rug hooks fall into the ‘too thick’ category, requiring careful manipulation to avoid messing up the braid as they pass through the base both coming and going. They and loop-type pull-through tools sold in some braiding kits are too short to allow the best possible job of pulling braided pigtails up under thick forelocks and long tail braids.
Frustrated by these shortcomings, some years ago I began making my own braiding pull-throughs. Directions are included here should you care to make some for your own braiding experiments. They cost only pennies apiece, so feel free to try many different lengths.
What you need:
Lightweight “tie wire”, sold in small rolls at hardware and home improvement stores
Bright colored plastic tape (electrician’s tape)
Needle-nose pliers and wire cutters
Cut a piece of wire that is twice as long as you want the finished pull-through to be, plus five extra inches for the handle. For this 8” finished tool, I’ve cut 21” of wire, then folded it in the middle, using the end of the needle nose pliers to make a nice round loop at the fold.
Twist the wire around itself repeatedly, working away from the folded eye. Twists should be smooth and even, but need not be really tight.
Keep twisting until you reach the desired length. Fold the two ends out to the side at a 90 degree angle from the twisted shaft.
Fold each side of the handle portion back on itself, so that the wire ends overlap slightly.
Squeeze the folds with pliers to make them tight. Twist the handle wires loosely around each other, taking care that the ends lie snugly.
Wrap the handle portion with colored plastic tape for a more comfortable grip. Bright colors also make it easier to find when dropped in shavings.
The finished product, ready for use.
