Dutch Four Strand Braid - Tutorial coming soon

If you would like a tutorial please leave a comment and I will explain the process.

Dutch braid with single Butterfly - Tutorial coming soon

If you would like a tutorial please leave a comment and I will explain the process.

Double basic braids

As Claire and I are settling in to the new school year rituals, we are starting to allow Claire to pick her own clothes and hair styles, which keeps her involved, interested and motivated to get ready in the morning.

Today, she wanted this, I am not sure it was because of the flower in the middle or not.  But, start by creating two half pigtails secured with elastics.  Then take those two pig tails and secure them together with another elastic.  Create the final pigtails again, by splitting the remaining loose hair in half an secure each half of the loose hair with half of the larger pony tail (ie, the original pig tail).   So, we should now have all the hair secured in two low pig tails.  With each of these pig tails, braid two basic braids secured at the bottoms with elastics.  Then if you want, add a fun little clip to the middle elastic.  And ta da! easy peasy!

Time: 5-7 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Hair length: Long

Side sweeping four strand ribbon braid

I tried to do this yesterday.  But, it didn't quite work, so, after dinner last night I practiced after dinner.  Yup, some times, I do trial runs!

You will need a long string of thin ribbon, or thicker ribbon that isn't too stiff.  Prepare to make a three strand braid above one ear, have your model hold the too outer strands while your tie your ribbon around the middle strand.  Grab the outer strands from right to left strand, strand, ribbon, strand.  Now, take the right strand and place it over the next strand, under the ribbon and over the last strand.  If you need to re-position your hand, now is a good time.  Now your braid should be from left to right, strand 1, strand 2, ribbon and strand 3.  Take strand 2 and put it over ribbon, and under strand 3.  This is where the french braid aspect comes in to place.  Pick up a small piece of hair to incorporate into strand 3.  Let's re-position our hands and rename the strands.  From right to left, strand 1, strand 2, ribbon and strand 3.  Take strand 1 and put it over strand 2, under ribbon, and over strand 3.  Weave the second strand back to the right, like before.  Now, continue braiding down around the back of the head,  When you start getting near the ear, you may want to start picking up the hair on the top of the head (still incorporate it on the bottom).  This makes sure you finish all the hair before you reach the ear.  When you run out of hair finish the ends by doing the same pattern without incorporating any more hair (simple concept, right?).  Secure with an elastic when you run out of hair, ribbon, or are getting too many flyaways.

Time: 7-10 minutes
Difficulty: Hard (remember, I needed to practice)
hair length: medium

Loose Knot Pony Tail - Tutorial coming soon

If you would like a tutorial please leave a comment and I will explain the process.

Ribbon in Two Basic braids - Tutorial coming soon

If you would like a tutorial please leave a comment and I will explain the process.

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