I do them tight and cross the right over the middle and make that the new middle and then start braiding from the left. You probably won't be able to get the ends of her braids perfect though. My precious childhood Kirsten's hair is very ratty and I have was never able to get it just right and now the ends are all balled and frizzy and I just do the best I can.

I also have lots of practice braiding my own long hair which is currently all the way down my back almost to my rear end.