Friday, December 17, 2010

Happy Holidays!

We wanted to wish you all the happiest of holidays since this will be our last post before the new year.  We will be heading out to Utah first thing in the morning to spend time with the family for Christmas.  I'll be back and ready to post lots of hairstyles just after the first of the new year.  Until then, here are some of our fun little Christmas clips that you are welcome to copy if you like.  Happy Holidays everyone!
We have Rudolph, a couple Christmas Trees, Mr. & Mrs. Gingerbread, a Poinsettia and (super easy) a Present Bow. 
This is our "snow collection" with a couple snowflakes and some fun little snowmen.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Rose Bowl

This hairstyle is a variation of the Angel Halo that we did a while back.
Start by dividing the hair in the front a little off-centered.  Start with the larger side and grab a section of hair from the top and divide it into two pieces. 
Now you're going to create a French Twist by pulling the outside piece over the top of the inside piece.  Now gather a bit of hair to add into each piece and repeat the motion.  Always make sure the outside goes over the top of the inside.  Continue your French Twist down to the nape of the neck and then hold it in place with a claw clip. 
 Move to the opposite side and begin by gathering two pieces and pulling the outside over the inside piece.  Just continue that motion, adding hair in each time until you get down to the nape of the neck. 
 Combine the two French Twists with an elastic.  This is where you can finish it off however you like.  We've done a 5-Strand Braid here because it's my princess's favorite but it also looks beautiful with wavy curls or ringlets. 
Now we've dressed it up a bit with some rosettes that we just found in the craft section at Walmart and glued to some hair pins.  You can place them wherever you like and they add a pretty little touch.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Glitter Glam

My princess has an annual Winterfest dance performance and it's usually a fun time for the girls to wear their costumes and get fancy.
 My daughter loves having glitter in her hair so we planned on it with this hairstyle.
We started with a small Pull-Through at the front which we do quite often because it's quick and easy and it adds a little more flair. 
Next we pulled up half of the hair, from ear to ear, into a ponytail.  Slide a bun mold over your ponytail.  (I just noticed that Walmart is now carrying bun molds in their hair supply isle.) 
 Spread the ponytail evenly over the bun mold and then secure it with an elastic around the mold.  Comb the excess hair from the bun down to the back with the remaining hair. 
 Go ahead and curl all of the hair that is still down.  We've curled hers with a 1-inch flat iron because it creates nice loose curls. 
 Our final step was to spray in some glitter.  You can find spray glitter in the can in the craft section at most stores.  (This picture doesn't do it justice but it looks so pretty in the hair!)

Friday, December 10, 2010

Prettying Up a Pony

This is a fast but cute little twist on a regular ponytail.
Start by pulling all of the hair tightly back into a ponytail and then grab some colored elastics to begin your design. 
Grab a small section of the ponytail from the right side and tie a colored elastic around it about an inch down.  Grab a section from the left side of the ponytail and do the same.  Now combine the two sections with another colored elastic about an inch below the first two.  Now grab a new section from the right side and a new section from the left side and put each into it's own colored elastic.  Combine the two about an inch below with another elastic.  Keep going with the pattern until you run out of hair and just secure all the ends together with one final colored elastic. 

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Instructions for Snowflake Clips

I've gotten some requests and lots of emails about these snowflake clips so I thought I would post instructions for anyone that is interested.
Supplies Needed
*White 3/8" grosgrain ribbon
-4 that are 5 in. long (a)
-2 that are 3 1/2 in. long (b)
-2 that are 2 1/2 in. long (c)
-1 that is 1 3/4 in. long (d)

*11 clear rhinestones
-1 medium size
-10 small size

*1 lined alligator clip
-I use a double pronged clip (from Sally's) because the ribbon lies better on them and their more versatile when being clipped into the hair or onto bands.
-You can line your clip with any color 3/8" grosgrain ribbon.

*Hot glue gun and glue sticks

*One toothpick
Instructions
1.  Seal all the ends of your ribbon pieces with fabric sealer, a lighter, or a wood burning tool - which is what I always use.  (They can be found under $10 in the craft area at Walmart.)
2.  Grab 2 ribbons that measure 5 in. long (a) and one ribbon that measures 3 1/2 in. long. (b)  Place a dot of glue on one side of (b) at the very end and attach one (a) so that the ends are flush. 
3.  Flip over ribbon (b) and place another dot of glue on the exact same spot and attach the second (a) so that the ends are flush.  You should now have three ribbons (two the same length on the outside and one shorter in the middle) that are all attached at one end.
4.  Place a dot of glue on one side of (b) at the other end.  Make sure you grab the (a) ribbon that is on that same side and attach it so that the ends are flush.
5.  Flip over ribbon (b) and place another dot of glue on the exact same spot and attach the second (a) so that the ends are flush.  Now these three ribbons should be glued together at both ends.  
6.  Place a dot of  glue in the very middle of (b) and find the middle of ribbon (a) from that same side and press it down firmly on the glue to attach it. 
7.  Flip over ribbon (b) and place another dot of glue on the exact same spot in the middle and find the center of the second (a) to press into the glue. 
 
8.  Place two more dots of glue on both sides of that center dot on ribbon (b). (Make sure the new glue spots are centered as well.)  Ribbon (a) should look like it has 2 humps now.  Find the center of those humps and press them into the new glue dots.
9.  Repeat this step on the opposite side of (b).
10.  Your ribbon (b) should now look like it has 4 humps on each side.  Grab your toothpick and spread a tiny strip of glue on the inside center of each hump and pinch it together. 
11.  Repeat steps 2-10 with your remaining (a) and (b) ribbons.
12.  Grab your (d) ribbon and your two (c) ribbons and repeat steps 2-7 with these shorter ribbons. 
13.  Now your ribbon (d) should look like it has 2 humps on each side.   Grab your toothpick and spread a tiny strip of glue on the inside center of each hump and pinch it together.
14.  Find the very center of both of your (a/b) ribbons and attach the centers together with glue.  (Make sure you attach the broad sides of the ribbons.) 
15.  Add another strip of glue inside by the center of your (a/b) ribbons and press the end of your (c/d) ribbon firmly into the glue. 
16.  You should now have the look of 5 arms of the snowflake shooting out.  Let the glue cool completely and attach the snowflake to your lined alligator clip.
17.  Attach your medium size rhinestone directly in the center of the snowflake. 
18.  Attach 5 of your small rhinestones to the very end of each arm of the snowflake.
19.  Attach the remaining 5 small rhinestones to the pinched together part in the center of each arm of the snowflake. 
20.  You're all finished!  These look darling in the hair or attached to a beanie or band.

French 5-Strands

I've been wanting to try a French 5-Strand braid for a while now and finally had the time to sit and try it the other day.  It's actually a really fun braid - once you figure out your fingers. :)
Start by parting out a small section of hair in the front of the head and creating a small Pull-Through. 
 
This step is just to add a bit of flair but is not necessary for the hairstyle.
Now part the remaining hair straight down the middle. 
Begin with the side that has the Pull-Through entering in and tie off the other side with an elastic.  Section out some hair from the ear up to the part and include the Pull-Through in that. 
Now divide the section into 5 strands and begin your braid.  Click here if you are unsure how to a 5-Strand Braid.  To make it "French" simply add in some hair to the outside strand each time you plate the braid. 
Once you have added all the hair in, just continue your 5-Strand Braid down to the bottom of the hair and secure with an elastic. 
 Pull the other half of your hair down and section some out from the ear up to the part to begin your braid. 
 Once both of your braids are completed you can add some hair clips to finish off the bottoms.  We are snow-deprived here so my princess was really excited about her new snowflake clips. 

Monday, December 6, 2010

Line Upon Line...

This was one of those hairstyles that just kind of happened one morning.  We got tons of compliments on it so I thought I would post it. 
Begin with very wet hair and slick it all straight back.
 
 Now grab a section from above each ear and twist it back to the middle of the head. 
Pull one twist over the other and grab two small sections of hair to add the twists to for hold.  Secure them with elastics. 
Comb the hair down flat and grab another two sections of hair from each side of the head.  Repeat the same steps as before. 
 Do this one more time with two final sections of hair.  You'll want to divide the remaining hair into two sections and add each of your twists to a section to create two final piggies.  Spray it with hairspray and add some clips and you're all done.  :)

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Scribbling

I apologize for not posting in the past few days.  I've only had my laptop and all of our hairstyles are on the home computer.  I'm back now though so let the posting resume.  :)
This hairstyle is called "Scribbling" because there is really no rhyme or reason to it and it kind of looks like the lines my toddler draws all over his paper. 
You will want the hair to be pretty wet while you do this hairstyle.  Begin by making a large circular part around the head so that about 2 inches of hair is left our all along the perimeter of the head.  Pull the rest of the hair in the middle up into a tight ponytail. 
Now separate that hair around the perimeter into 10 equal section, being sure to place one section in the middle at the top and bottom of the head.  Secure each section with and elastic and create a Pull-Through.
Start with the Pull-Throughs on the top of the head and divide them into two pieces.  Twist each piece up and pull it down to one of the bottom Pull-Throughs and add it in with a small elastic. 
Do this for each of the 5 Pull-Through on the top half of the head.  You do not need to have any pattern with how or where you attach your pieces as long as they are somehow going across the head and being added into another Pull-Through with an elastic.  
These ones here are going every which way and create the look of "Scribbling".
When you have finished with the top half, move down to the bottom Pull-Throughs and simply twist them up and add them into the center ponytail.  You can make your ponytail into a Ballerina Bun, a Messy Bun, or a large Barrel Roll Bun like we've done here.