Double Spiral Sunburst French braid

Happy first day of school!!

This one we had to start twice because I had forgotten that you need to use a french braid for the sunburst design in the middle.  So, after I did the whole spiral on the outside as a dutch braid, I realized that it wasn't going to work.  So, my poor model had to sit still longer because I messed up.  Whoops.

After combing through her hair, I portioned, and secured with an elastic a medium sized pony tail in the middle of the head.  Leave a 3-4 inch path of loose hair around the perimeter of the pony tail.  Once the pony tail is secured, split the loose hair in two circles about 1.5-2 inches each.  Clip the inside circle of loose hair and the pony tail together temporarily while you braid a french twist with the remaining loose hair.  I started my braid at one corner of the front of the head.  You will be making a french twist along the outer perimeter of the head.  A french twist is a french braid with only adding hair to one side of the braid.  This time, add the hair to the outside of the braid.  When you have braided around the head once, let loose the inner circle of hair and pony tail.  You will now start braiding a traditional french braid, the loose hair will be added to the outside of the braid, and you will pick up small pieces of hair from the pony tail to incorporate on the inside of the braid.  When you have finished incorporating all the hair, continue with a basic braid as it will be easier to tuck under your sunburst.  After you finished your braid, tuck it under the sunburst and pin the braid in place.  I choose to add a few flower clips to camoflage the transition between the two spirals.  But that is up to you.  Good luck, let me know how you do!

Time: 10-15 minutes

Difficulty: hard

Hair length medium

French Twist and a Waterfall Bun

Today was Claire's final ski day, so braids were in order.  However, she did have a dance party this evening with her Ballet and Dance school, so something fancy.  Well, Hmmmm....  Then I remembered this cute little waterfall bun and I thought about using braids to bring the hair to the pony.  If braids why not french twists to a pony tail for skiing, then we can quickly twist the pony tail up to the bun.  Yippy, a plan was hatched.

So,we started by parting the hair down the center and for each side we did a fun little french twist  hoping to meet in the middle toward the nape of the neck.  A french twist is the same as a french braid but only adding hair to one side of the braid.  In this case only pull in hair from the bottom of the braid.  Do not incorporate hair onto the upper side of the braid, or it will not "twist" properly.  After each side of the twist was long enough to meet in the middle, I continued the braid will a few inches beyond the center and clipped it temporarily until I finished the other side.  Then I secured them together with an elastic.  At this point Claire was ready for skiing.  

When Claire finished the ski day, I had to wet the bangs and smooth the hair a little, but mostly the style stayed intact.  I now tugged on the elastic a tiny bit to open a small hole behind the braids to flip the pony tail down into to form the "waterfall".   Here is another point you can finish this style, if you choose.  I finished the style by flipping the pony tail one more time behind the braids.  This time, I only tucked the ends into the hole, leaving a bump.  I grabbed some bobby pins and pinned the 'bun' above the braids.  I also used hair spray.  I thought I was done until Claire saw the crystal and pearl hair pins from Sunny Days Boutique used in the Easter Sunday Hair Crown.  So, I put some of them on the top of the bun and finally called it good!  I really like this one.  It was a good recycled hair style.

Time: 5-15 minutes (depending on where you stop)
Difficulty: Medium
Length: Medium

Hair Crown with Renaissance Braid Accents

 I love the hair crown and was so excited when I saw someone had done these little braids.  I hope you like it, too.

Start by creating a dutch braid that is going to wind its way around the top of the head.  I started mine at one corner of the bangs, continued behind the bangs then finished the circle.  When you are above each ear, pull a section of hair near the crown that will be used to create the basic braids.  Have your little model hold each section you separate out until you finish the crown braid.  Continue dutch braiding after you pull each section until you are back to where you started the crown braid, then finish braiding the ends with a basic braid and secure with an elastic.

Pin the basic braid on top, or beside, the begin of your dutch braid, tuck the end under the dutch braid and secure with more bobby pins.  Now, with the sections of hair you pulled aside earlier, create two basic braids of approximately equal length and secure the ends with elastics.  Loop each braid and pin the end 2/3's of the way to the other braid.  Try to make each loop approximately equal.  Now is the time you use hair spray, if you are going to.  Today, I forgot, by the hair held up just fine.  After all the braids were done, because this was for Easter Sunday, I choose to add some Crystal and Pearl hair pins from Sunny Days Boutique.


Happy Easter Everyone!

 Time: 15-20 minutes
Difficulty: medium
Hair length: medium+

Hair bow with center braid

I love the hair bow.  This is the second time I've tried it, this time it was the focal of the piece.

To start this style, separate out a few inches of hair along the bang line that will be used for the braid.  Then, create a high pony tail with the remaining hair.  When you are about the pull the hair through the elastic for the final time pull the hair out about half way making sure there is plenty of length on the ends.  Now, use the hair set aside for the braid and make your braid straight down the middle of the head.  I would suggest either a basic braid or a dutch braid as I choose.  Ok, take your pony bun and split it in two and carefully tug the halves apart to form the the two bow parts.  Stick pins in the two bow parts temporarily until you are done creating the whole look.  Use the ends of the pony tail and twist it up between the bow halves and around the elastic and use bobby pins to pin it into place.  Then pull your braid straight back down the middle of the head over the center of the hair bow forming the knot part of the bow.  Twist the remaining braid down around the elastic and use some more bobby pins to pin the braid into place.  Now time to use your hair spray to smooth out the bow.  Add any bows or clips you like and call it a day.

Time: 7-10 minutes
 Difficulty: medium
Hair length: Long (the longer the hair the bigger the bow!)

My Claire, remember the model! 

Our home! Gotta love Alaska!

Sock bun with upside down french braid

So, I think I've done.  I think I finally figured a way to do that blasted sock bun!  Hooray for me, only two months later....

Today is a repeat of something that I have already done, but I wanted to do a better bun.  Last time I did Upside down braid with wrapped pony.  There are many ways to get your little model to sit still for this one, today we chose to have her lay over the edge of the couch with the ipad under her play Curious George.  Then, poor Claire, I couldn't figure out how to do a french braid, my hands kept going autopilot to dutch pilot.  It took several times to get my hands to get the outer strands to go over the center strand instead of under like a dutch braid.  Normally I would't care, but I really want the effect from the french braid.  So, start your french braid at the nape of the neck and braid about half way up the head to the height you want the bun at.  Secure all the hair in a smooth pony tail where you stopped the braid.  Now, your cherub can stand up.
Grab your sock.  I recently found a old pair of beige tube socks to donate to the cause.  Cut the toe off and wind the sock up until it resembles a donut.  Put the donut around the base of the pony tail. Grab another elastic and split the pony tail in half and fold half over one side and the over the other side.  Put the elastic over the hole kit and kaboodle.  Carefully, separate the hair around the to cover the sock.  With all the ends of the wind them carefully around the bun and pin them down.  At this point go ahead and hair spray away. to get everything to lie still for school, ballet and Uncle Timmy's birthday!

Time: 7-10 minutes
hair length: medium/short
difficulty: medium

Tiny Twists to a pony tail

Happy Gymnastics day everyone!!  After the debacle of yesterday.  I decided to let Claire choose what to do.  Off to Pinterest.  This was the style she choose. Start by sectioning off about an inch around the perimeter of the head.  Create a pony tail with the hair in the center of the head and secure it.  Then, with the hair around the perimeter, secure mini pony tails about an inch wide with elastics.  I choose to do a rainbow color scheme.  But, have fun with this part.  Now, start with two of the mini pony tails, split them each in half and wet them with water spray or hair spray to limit the fly-aways then twist the two halves of  each pony tail closest to each other one strand over the other.  When you have twisted enough times to reach the pony tail secure the twist temporarily. Continue twisting strands together until you have three to four twists, then secure all of the twists to the original pony tail.   Finish twisting all the strands.  I didn't twist each strand before twisting them together.  But that is up to you.  Add a pretty flower (this one is from, Sunny Days Boutique) or clip.

Time: 10-15 minutes

Difficulty: Medium

Hair length: Short (shoulder/pony tail)

Wrap French Braid

This morning my hair was out of control and I needed to put it up or cut it off.  I'm sure you could imagine which one I chose.  A simple swooping dutch braid.  I thought great I could do this for Claire and we could match, she'd love it.  Boy was I WRONG!!!  She didn't stop crying about it the entire time I was braiding and taking the photos.  This is what we ended up with.

Begin a french braid above one ear, as you are adding hair to the braid gently move braid down around the base of your models head.  When you get to the other ear add the last bits of hair and finish the braid as a basic braid if you have the length.  Secure with elastic and add a pretty clip.  This one is from Sunny Days Boutique.

Time: 5-7 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Length: Short

Ladder Hair

Ok, I'm sick and can't think, so please excuse this tutorial.  Maybe when I am feeling better, I will redo this style.  And please I apologize that this is a day late.

So, start by making a waterfall or feather braid from one corner of the bangs around the back of the head over toward the opposite ear.  This means, do a french braid only picking up on the top and before you braid in the bottom strand each time remove a piece of this strand and drop it so it is falling through the braid.   When you run out of hair to add in continue with a basic braid and secure with an elastic.  Now, you are going to do another braid about two inches below the first braid.  When you braid in the top strand add one of the loose strands from the first braid.  Add one strand of the first braid per link in the second braid and remember to keep the braids equidistant apart the entire way, or your ladder will look wonky.  After you secure the braids you can add some clips if you would like. This are from Sunny Days Boutique.

I hope this turns out better for you than it did for me.  Next time, I'll try not to sneeze every other twist.

Time: 10-15 minutes
difficulty: Medium

French braid disc

I have had this design in mind for several days, it didn't turn out the way I thought (surprise, surprise).  I think it turned out MUCH better, way more intricate.  I have also thought it might be easy for everyone if I start using photos to help illustrate the steps.  However, this required another hand that wasn't available.  So, I only have a few in process photos, I hope they help.  

To start with this design you need to make a pony tail in the center of the head omitting about an inch or so around the perimeter.  Then pick anywhere to start your french braid.  Begin the french braid like normal with the exception that anytime you need to add hair to an inner strand you take a small segment of hair from the pony tail.  Any time you add hair to the outside strand of the circle use the hair we left out of the pony tail.  Continue braiding around the head.  When you return to where you start switch to a basic braid and finish until you have too many fly away ends.  Secure with an elastic.  I chose to leave the ends of the braid folded in half so most of the ends were neatly hidden under the braid.  Then take a few bobby pins and the the basic braid over the beginning of the french braid tucking and hiding the ends.  Use copious amounts of hairspray because this hair has to last through preschool, ballet class and family night at the church. ;)  Then grab your favorite clip.  This is a flower clip handmade from Sunny Days Boutique.

Time: 5-10 minutes

Difficulty: Medium

Line Hair (Basic braid with a French Additive)

Claire is going to a classmates birthday party today, so I let her pick her hair.  And this was the overwhelming winner.  'Line hair'.  And, it didn't require as many hands and I previously imagined.

Start by gathering some hair from the front of the head by parting from ear to ear and braiding a few plaits of basic braid.  Tip: if your first weaves are under (instead of over) then the braid stays tighter at the start. When you have braiding 4-5 grab some hair from under the parts you already have to add to the strands of the braid.  After you have incorporated hair to the two outer strands continue your basic braid 4-5 more plaits.  This time you incorporate hair make sure one of the outer strands was not one of the first two strands.  Continue  braiding and adding hair every 4-5 plaits.  Secure it at the bottom.  Go ahead and hair spray it to if your event is later in the day.  Then add some pretty little hair pins on the plaits where you added the hair.  These are from the wedding line of Sunny Days Boutique.

After, I finished this hair, I thought it looks so lovely it would be perfectly suited for a flower girl.  What do you think?