I hope this eases the pain.
Separate a lock of hair from the rest of the hair at the place where you want to begin the braid.
Note: It's a good idea to make the part V-shaped, with the point of the V towards the back of your head.
Hold the lock of hair in one hand and use the index and middle fingers of the other hand to separate it into three strands.
Hold the left-hand strand with your left pinkie while moving the right-hand strand from 2R to 3L.
Shift the new right-hand strand (used to be the middle strand) from 3 or 4R to 2L.
Use your right index finger to pick up a section of hair from the right side of the head, adding it to the right-hand strand currently held in 2L.
Grasp the right-hand strand with your right pinkie, then rotate your left hand so that you can grasp the left-hand strand in 3R.
Shift the new left-hand strand from 3L to 2R.
Use your left index finger to pick up a section of hair from the left side of the head and add it to the left-hand strand in slot 2R.
Note: In this picture, the right-hand thumb is sweeping beneath all three strands simply to aid in gathering the new section.
Grasp the left-hand strand with the left pinkie, then rotate your right hand so that you can grasp the right-hand strand in 3L.
Shift the new right-hand strand to 2L.
Use your right index finger to pick up a section of hair from the right side of the head, adding it to the right-hand strand currently held in 2L.
Grasp the right-hand strand with your right pinkie, then rotate your left hand so that you can grasp the left-hand strand in 3R.
Shift the new left-hand strand from 3L to 2R.
Use your left index finger to pick up a section of hair from the left side of the head and add it to the left-hand strand in slot 2R.
Continue instructions 9-14 until there is no more hair to add.
Continue braiding as for simple 3-strand as far down as you can reach.
Grasp the right-hand strand with your pinkie, the middle strand in 4R, and the left-hand strand in3R.
Bring your right hand forward over your shoulder.
Note: you will now seem to be braiding in the opposite direction. Instead of folding the strands towards you, you will be folding them away from you.
Shift your hands (not the braid!) so that the palms are facing outward, the left-hand strand is in 2L, the right-hand strand is in 2R, and the middle strand is in slot 1 of whichever side needs to cross over next to continue the pattern (in this example, it was in 1R).
Rotate your right hand and move the right-hand strand to 1L.
Rotate your left hand and put the left-hand strand in 1R.
Continue instructions 20-21 to the end of the braid.
Tie off the end of the braid.
