All Chained Up

So here's one I came up with while staring at my daughter's "Link-O Cinco de Mayo" hairstyle.  I figured, why not make a bunch of links and jut hook them all together? 

 I started by creating a small (off-centered) half part on top of the head.  I then sectioned out 1/2 inch of hair running parallel on both sides of the part. 

I also grabbed a small bit of hair from right behind where the part ends and added that in with the smaller group of hair. I had my princess hold the two small sections while I pulled the rest of the hair back into a tight but low ponytail.  I pulled out a bunch of small clear elastics to have ready before I started my links. 

Start with the larger section of hair which should be from the larger side of the part.   Wet it down really well and then separate a small piece from near the bang line.  Split that piece in half and start creating your links.  (Fold  one over the other and pull through just like when you start tying your shoes.)  Pull the first one tight and then keep following links loose so they create a circle.  Make links all the way down to the ponytail and then add that hair into the ponytail by wrapping another elastic around it.

Move back up to the part and section out another small piece just behind your first.  Repeat the linking process but make sure to feed one of your pieces through the previous links each time you create a new one.  This will join the two lines of links.  Add it into the ponytail at the bottom with another elastic. 

 Continue doing this around the head.  I ended up with 4 linked chains on the large side, one chain right behind the part and 3 linked chains on the small side. 

Once they were all added into the ponytail I grabbed a small section of hair from the ponytail, wrapped it around all of those elastics to conceal them, and then pulled it back through the ponytail using a Topsy Tail.  I finished it off by braiding the ponytail and adding a flower clip at the bottom.  (You will also want to spray the finished product with hairspray so that it holds tightly throughout the day.) 

Braided Bang

My princess has been dying to try this style out and I'm proud of her because she actually did the braid in front all by herself! 

 Our first step was to section out the bangs in the front of the head.  We clipped all the rest of the hair back and combed that section forward. 

 She started her braid and slowly added hair into one side of it as she plated.  She made sure to pull the braid down toward her face to create the "bangs" look. 

She added all of the hair in from that section and just finished plating the rest of it into a Regular 3-Strand Braid. 

From that point I took over and pulled the rest of the hair - including her braid - back into a tight ponytail.  I combed out any remaining plates from her braid so that all of the hair was straight. 

 I then grabbed a small section that I wrapped around the elastic and then pulled through the ponytail using a Topsy Tail.  

We finished it off by braiding the entire ponytail and adding a hair clip at the bottom.  My princess said that she didn't recognize herself in the mirror because she's not used to having bangs.  :)

Nifty Napkin Rings

Here is something that I know you've never seen before!

So I found these nifty little wooden napkin rings in a set at our local dollar store and I knew I could put them to use in my princess's hair.  (My mind works strangely like that!)  You will see these again in the future because they were really fun to work with. 

I started this hairstyle by sectioning out a little square of hair right in the front that I braided with a Regular 3-Strand Braid.  I had my princess hold onto that while I parted the remaining hair directly down the middle so that I now had two sections. 

 I pull each section into a tight piggie - adding my braid in with one of them.  Brush out any remaining plates of the braid that are underneath the elastic. 

Now add another elastic on each ponytail about 2 inches below the first.  Slip your napkin rings over the second elastic and grab your Topsy Tail.  Poke your Topsy Tail through the top of the napkin ring and right through the center of that second elastic but don't pull it all the way through yet. 

Grab a small section of the ponytail under the elastic and wrap it up over the napkin ring and through the loop of your Topsy Tail.  Now Pull the Topsy Tail down through the elastic o secure that hair around the napkin ring.  Keep dividing the hair under the elastic into sections and feeding them up around the napkin ring until it is completely covered.  I was fortunate to find napkin rings that were really close to the color of my princess's hair which helped conceal them better. 

Once all of the ponytail had been wrapped around the ring and fed through the elastic with the Topsy Tail, I braided the excess hair.  I secured the braids with elastics and it was complete. 

Look how cute these little piggies look! 

Boa Constrictor

*I had a really great comment yesterday inquiring about the clear elastics that we use.  The reader pointed out that many clear elastics are just as harmful as the regular elastics and will tear out the hair.  This is true and you need to be cautious when using any elastic to secure the hair.  My preference is the "Goody" brand because they are really strong and I have very little problem with the hair being pulled.  I also buy the cheaper clear elastics that come in bulk from Sally's Beauty Supply but I never reuse them.  I clip each one out of the hair using a seam ripper from my sewing kit.  This way I'm not pulling out or breaking the hair and getting everything snarled up.  Hopefully these tips will help some of you out there.*

This hairstyle is just a different take on many elements that we've used before.  We call it the "Boa Constrictor" because the smaller braids are wrapping themselves around the large braid.

 

Begin with the hair wet and section out the top of the hair by creating a part from ear to ear. 

Now divide that top section into two pieces and create a 3-Strand Braid out of each.  Secure the bottom of each braid with an elastic. 

 Pull the rest of the hair back into a tight ponytail.  Wrap your smaller braids around the ponytail (have them go over the elastic holding the ponytail to conceal it) just to see where your ends are going to land and then unwrap the braids. 

 Braid your ponytail down to the point that your ends hit and then wrap the smaller braids around the large braid once more. 

 Try to have your ends in the back of the braid and you will actually add them right in with the hair of the large braid.  Finish braiding the ponytail and secure it at the bottom with an elastic. 

Rose Headband

This is really a simple hairstyle but it's so fun to look at and it's a pretty one for church or a night out.  You can do it with or without a headband but we had a band that matched her dress that day so we decided to use it. 

Your first step is to straighten all of the hair - or curl it all. 

Next you'll want to create a 2 inch part off from the bangs - making sure it's a bit off-centered.  Now section out the hair from that part all the way over to the farthest ear. 

Comb that small section of hair forward and place your headband over the rest of the hair. 

Now divide that section that you pulled forward into two section and create a 3-Strand Braid out of each section.  Secure those braids at the ends with elastics and get some bobby pins handy. 

Now simply roll the braids around themselves over the headband.  (One on each side of your flower on your headband.) 

 Tuck the loose ends under the rolled braid and secure them down with bobby pins. 

Give them a good spray with hair spray to hold and you're all finished!

Pull-Throughs, Corkscrews & Braids

This hairstyle is a little bit of everything all rolled into one.

Create a part right down the middle of the hair that is about 4 inches long.  Now create a part that crosses right through the middle of it that is also about 4 inches long.  Create 4 equal squares out of the parts and secure each square at it's far end with an elastic. 

 Create a Pull-Through out of each ponytail so that you have two Pull-Throughs on each side of the head. 

 Pull the rest of the hair back into a ponytail - making sure to leave the Pull-Throughs out.  Now create a Corkscrew out of the two Pull-Throughs on each side of the head. 

 Wrap the two Corkscrews over each other at the back of the head and around the elastic holding your ponytail.  Secure them with their own elastic just under the ponytail elastic. 

Now brush all the hair together and braid it so that all the elastics are concealed.  Secure your braid at the bottom with one final elastic and hide it with a hair clip of your choice. 

There you have it - nice and simple but fun to look at!

Toddler Piggies Minus the Toddler

This one is really simple and works best on wet hair. 

Part the hair into two equal halves using any part that you like. - we've done a zig-zag part here.  Now pull each half up into a piggie. 

Braid the piggie using any braid you like.  Be sure to leave about 3 inches unbraided at the bottom.

  Now Wrap the braid around itself and pull the ends through the middle.  (Just like tying a know in a piece of thread.) 

 Secure your braid against the heads with a couple bobby pins on each side. 

You can either dry the ends that are sticking out and curl them or you can shape them into curls while they are still wet.  (Depending on which works better for your princess's hair.)

Two Hearts Become One

This one is probably my all time favorite Valentines hairstyle.  It takes a good 45 minutes so make sure you plan this one for a morning where you have some time.  :)

Begin with the hair very wet and part it right down the middle about 4-5 inches long. Clip one side out of the way and begin on the other.  Using a rat-tail comb you will want to create a part that look like half of a heart.  Comb the hair below the part down and clip the rest of the hair up out of the way. 

 Now begin in at the point of your heart - next to your middle part - and start your braid.  You are going to create a Half-French Braid which means that you only add hair in from one side of the braid instead of two.  Make sure your actual braid follows right along the heart part and you are gathering from the hairline.  Continue adding hair into the braid until you get just below the ear and then finish it off with a Regular 3-Strand Braid. 

 Move to the other half of the head and part out the second half of your first heart.  Repeat the Half-French Braid process on that side as well. 

Once your first heart is created you are going to want to start on your second by parting out another half heart shape directly inside the first.  Clip all the hair that is not inside the part up and out of the way while you braid.  Create a second Half-French Braid inside the original and continue adding hair in until you get just below the ear and then finish it off with a Regular 3-Strand Braid. 

 Do the same on the second half of the head as well so that two full hearts have been created. 

Now you'll want to nicely smooth out all of the hair that is not in a braid and combine it at the back of the head with an elastic.  Take your two braids created by the inside heart and cross them over each other on top of the elastic.  Do the same with the braids from the outside heart and then secure all those braids together with an elastic UNDER the ponytail. 

 Unplate any remaining braid and comb it in with the ponytail.  Finish it off by braiding all of the hair in a ponytail and securing it with and elastic and a fun heart clippie.  :) 

It's a process but SO worth it!

Cross My Heart

It's the time of year where we start thinking about all that lovey-dovey stuff and everywhere you turn you see hearts.  :)  I'm going to be posting a few fun Valentine's hairstyles here and there so keep your eyes peeled!  Here's one that I like to call "Cross My Heart" and the name sounds romantic so I'm posting it.  :)

Start by parting the hair horizontally into 3 even sections.  Clip the two side sections out of the way and create a Dutch braid out of the middle section.  Braid it all the way to the bottom of the hair and secure it with an elastic. 

 Unclip your right section of hair and twist the whole thing in toward the braid.  (I have twisted away from the braid here just to show you that option as well if you like it better.) 

 Have your princess hold the twist while you move over to the left section and twist that in toward the braid also. 

Now take your two twists and cross them over the top of the braid and then around the back. 

 Keep wrapping them around the braid until you get to the bottom of your twists.  Now secure the twists and the braid together at the bottom with an elastic.  Hide the elastic with a hair clip to finish it off.