Kissy Lips & Bendy Braids

You will definitely need a Topsy Tail or tool like it for this hairstyle.  It's got two parts to it - the "Kissy Lips" and the "Bendy Braids" but they both derive from the same components, Inverted Pull-Throughs and regular Pull-Throughs. 

Here is what the Kissy Lips look like.  First you will gather a section of hair at the top of the head into an elastic.  Then create an Inverted Pull-Through by poking your Topsy Tail up from under the elastic and pulling the hair through.  Next you will gather another section of hair right before the first and secure it into an elastic - making sure to add in that hair from your Inverted Pull Through.  Have your new elastic lying fairly close to your previous one.  Now create a regular Pull-Through with that new section of hair by poking your Topsy Tail down through the hair behind the elastic.  These two Pull-Throughs create your Kissy Lips.

I've sectioned out the hair and done two sets of Kissy Lips on each side of the head. 

The lower set of Kissy Lips lies in the middle of the head on either side.

The hairstyle is finished off with Bendy Braids that are created simply by securing an elastic around the ponytail - about 1.5 inches below the previous elastic.  Now grab your Topsy Tail and create and Inverted Pull-Through with that section of your ponytail.  Add in another elastic (again 1.5 inches down) and create a regular Pull-Through.  Continue this pattern down through the ponytail and then follow the steps with the opposite ponytail as well.  The two different kind of Pull-Throughs will create a bent look in the ponytail.  The picture doesn't really do these justice but they are pretty cool. 

Side Braid Bun

This is not a new hairstyle by any means but it is the first time we have ever done it.  You only need to know how to do a basic French Braid (We have a video for that here ) and all you need is one elastic, some bobby pins, and a flower clip.  This hairstyle actually looked a bit better when it was done with dry hair but we did use extra hairspray when doing it dry so that we didn't end up with a ton of fly-aways.

We started by creating an off-centered part at the front of the head that was about 2 inches long.  We started on the smaller side of the part and grabbed a section of hair that was divided into 3 equal sections.

This is where you will begin your French Braid.  Just make sure that your Braid goes across the back of the head rather than down the head.   

Work your way around to the other side of the head and gather in the remaining hair.  Once it's all been added in, finish plaiting the braid with just a Regular 3-Strand and then secure it at the bottom with an elastic. 

Wrap that 3-Strand Braid around itself and secure it against the head with bobby pins.  Make sure that you have all of your ends tucked under the bun so they won't show.  Add a flower clip to the front of the bun and it's finished. 

Friday's Film: Basket Weaving

This was another hairstyle that we got SEVERAL requests for a video on.

 It's our Basket Weaving hairstyle from last week and it's very easy as you will see.

The original post for this style can be found here and it's got the written instructions plus some more pictures.

There are several ways you could end this hairstyle.  Here we have two piggies and in the video we have a 4-Strand Braid.  You can use whatever you like.

Back & Forth Puffy Braids

This style is a variation on one of our favorites, Puffy Braids.  You will be creating a series of horizontal parts as usual but the difference is that there is no vertical part down the center.

 

Start by creating a horizontal part from ear to ear and making a small section of hair along the bang line.  Secure it into an elastic that is pulled to the left side.  Now create a parallel part behind the first that you will secure into an elastic over on the left side. 

Create a 2 inch braid out of your left ponytail and have your princess hold it while you create a third parallel part/section.  Pull that section over to the left as well and add in the braid before securing it with a new elastic.  (Your braid will be lying over the top of your second section that is over on the right.)

Now move over to your right ponytail and create a 2 inch braid out of that as well.  Create a 4th part/section and pull it to the right where you will add in that braid and secure it with an elastic.

Now move back to the left and repeat the pattern back and forth from left to right. 

When you get to the bottom of the hair you will have one braid that ends higher than the other.  Finish off your final ponytails with Regular 3-Strand Braids and you are all finished! 

Friday's Film: Python Piggies

(This is a day early but we are headed out of town for Memorial Weekend and I wanted to get this up for you!)

Here's a fun hairstyle that is not too hard but does take a good 15 minutes to complete.  Start with wet hair and make sure you have a Topsy Tail or similar tool handy. 

You can make your top section that you keep out as big or as small as you like depending on what you want your wraps to look like. 

Here is the finished product.

This angle shows you what the top looks like as you begin to wrap the hair around.

This one also shows the way we created our parts.

Very easy and really cute!

Basket Weaving

Here's a new one that we came up with today that is basically just a variation on our Swedish Piggies.  It looks difficult doesn't it!  That's the beauty of it, this is one of the most simple hairstyles to create!  We've called it "Basket Weaving" because that's exactly what it looks like but there is no weaving involved - thank goodness! 

You can start with wet hair or dry hair but I do find that the ends sty in place better with wet hair.  Make a small part coming off of your bang line that is about 2-3 inches long. 

It can be right in the center or off to ones side like we've done here.  I like how the bags look "swept" this way.  Now comb the remaining hair straight back. 

Gather a section on each side of your part going down to the ear and secure those sections into little piggies using elastics. 

You now have two new pieces of hair that you are going to work with.  Simply cross them over each other at the back of the head (over the rest of the hair) and tie a half knot.  (The first step when tying your shoelaces.) 

 Have your princess hold the left side while you gather a small section of hair on the right side just below that first elastic.  Secure the right side of your half knot in with that small section by using another elastic.  Do the same over on the left side.  You've now made the top of your "basket". 

You still have two pieces of hair to work with and you are going to cross those over each other to create a half knot once again and just repeat the steps as before.  Continue this process down the head until you have gathered all of the hair in from the sides of the head.  You may still have some hair hanging down and you can divide that in half and add it to each final piggie by securing them with elastics.  The style gives the really cool effect of being woven together when really it's just stacked.

  Told you it was simple!  

Hair Flowers

These beautiful Hair Flowers are courtesy of Jenn over at Girly Do's by Jenn and she is absolutely amazing.  The link to her official post for these flowers can be found here and it includes a tutorial video!

we did a simple style for church that incorporated these flowers and this is what it looked like.

First I pulled the bangs back and secured them under the hair, by the nape of the neck.  I then created 3 parallel sections on the top of the head and secured each one with an elastic. 

 My flowers ended up being larger than I had anticipated so I only created flowers out of my two outside sections.   I also added some twisty flower hair pins into the center of each flower.  (Don't forget to click here to see the instructional video on how to create these flowers.)  

We finished off the back of her hair by straightening it and then curling her ends under.

She looked beautiful and everyone loved the flowers.  Thanks Jenn!