An apparatus to separate hair into units of three for braiding, producing several such units in one application. The preferred embodiment comprises a platform having an upper shelf (1) and an anchor (2). The anchor (2) has comb-like teeth (5) for fixing the device to the hair of the subject. The upper shelf (1) prevents tangling of unbraided hair above the device. A blade (3), fixed perpendicularly to the platform, has a plurality of teeth (11) separated by notches (10, 12) of alternating depths, which receive strands of hair. A lower shelf (4) affixed at an angle acts as a support for the separated hair strands and prevents tangling. The upper (1) and lower (4) shelves are made removable. The width between braids may be varied by providing teeth (5, 11) of different widths on the upper shelf (1).