How to do girl's hairstyles: Triple Ponytail Loop 10-15 min

I hope you all are having a joyous time welcoming in the new year! Any really outstanding new year's resolutions? Mine always involve 1: eating better 2: exercising more. BUT, at least for the first few months of the year, I can let myself off the hook (hey, I'm pregnant!). And I'm going to enjoy it!!

SO, onto the hair! Some of you may remember the Pony Loop hairdo, I shared back in January of last year. This is a variation on that idea. Three ponytail loops, one on top, two on the bottom!

 I parted off a small section in the front top of her hair, and put it in a small ponytail, which you can see in this picture. I did this to secure those little wispies she has. If your daughter has bangs or shorter hair in front, doing this will help keep a smoother look. Next I parted off the top half section of her hair, and put in an elastic. Having damp hair, and/or using a lightweight gel will help keep these loops in nicer as well. See my instruction on how to do the pony loops here.

 Part off the remaining hair underneath into two sections, complete two additional pony loops, and spray well with hairspray.

 I love the slick smooth look of this hairstyle. I also used the small bobby pins underneath the wrapped hair to secure it down if needed.

 Happy New Year!


 

How to do girl's hairstyles: Low Side French Braids into braided ponytail 15-20 min

So Christmas is right around the corner!! We just got a whole ton of snow, and my girls' have been out playing and attempting to build a snowman this afternoon. There's nothing better and more magical than a beautiful white blanket on everything outside. That is, until you have to go out and drive in it or shovel it off your driveway, right! Even still, I love seeing how pristine and clean the snow makes everything look. It just seems fitting for this special season and holiday. So what I'm saying is, I'm grateful for the snow! I am also looking forward to not having to send off my kids to school or dance or anywhere else for a few weeks and just have the chance to hang out and have fun!

Did I mention we are expecting girl no. 3 this spring!? I gotta get some good one on one time with my girls now before Mom is totally swept up in baby! We are so excited to have another little princess and of course, more hair to do!

So, on that note--here's another little hairdo to try out. I must really be in the pioneer-type-hairdo mood lately, as this is another one that reminds me of young girls from that era. I just think it's a refreshing change to see little girls look like little girls, rather than putting grown up hair on them. Who needs them to grow up any faster than they already do?

Low Side French Braids

 I started with a center part, dampened hair, and began my regular french braid down low and close to the ears.

 I continued them all the way to the back of her head.

 And same on the other side.

 This is where it can get tricky. After finishing both braids, I took out both elastics holding the braids, smoothing the hair so both braids were hanging straight down in my one hand. I tried to meld the hair together into one bunch, without losing any of the braiding, so I could begin a fresh braid.

 Once I did that, I just finished off with a backwards braid all the way to the ends.

 Tie it off with a ribbon (I like mine up higher, rather than at the ends..they seem to stay in better for me there) and smile!

 Here's wishing all you wonderful moms and your families a wonderful Christmas! Enjoy those magical moments with the little ones. I've made a goal to NOT let messes get me in a dither and to just take a deep breath and ENJOY myself. They'll only be these ages once! Merry Christmas!

Portable North Pole - PNP Communication Console

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Prepare a message from Santa for your little ones! My girls love this each year!


Portable North Pole - PNP Communication Console

Little Girl's Hairstyles: Kitchen Sink Hairdo 10-15 min

Hey ladies! How is the holiday madness going for everyone?  Why does this time of year just fly by so quickly?

Here's a bit of Shaunell's ramblings:

I was thinking last night that I just don't feel like I've done enough this year (as always). I don't think I've done enough to show my kids, and also for myself, what this wonderful season is all about. I always have high hopes about serving, giving, and teaching my kids the importance of being selfless, especially at this time of year. And, I just don't feel ever like I do enough. This is something that rings true for most moms I think, and not just at this time of year.

Our church leaders (I've included the link to the talks they gave if any of you would like to listen) this year have told us to prioritize, and not let our hectic schedule dictate what we do, but instead, to let the spirit of the season be our guide. I hope we can all follow this sound counsel, as I have made some goals to cut out some activities for the next week, and spend some quality time with my children and husband, and together we'll decide how to spend the rest of our time this season. I hope you can all do the same, if you are able!

Now that I've said my peace, here's a little hairdo we did a while back, that I called, "Everything but the kitchen sink". It's a melange of just everything!

 I parted off her hair in front into a side part, and put the larger side into one ponytail. running it into a second ponytail on the same side.

 I brought the smaller side of the part around to the back of the head, and combed all the rest of her hair, including the second-ponytail-side into a 3rd pony, leaving about 1/3 of her hair remaining down.

 I did a fish tail braid with the hair coming out of the 3rd ponytail, all the way to the ends. Next, I combed all the rest of her hair, along with the fish tail braid, into a 4th ponytail. With the hair remaining unbraided in this ponytail, I did a twist braid, down to the ends. We tied a ribbon around the base of the 4th ponytail, and voila!

 We love variety!

Winner of our Christmas Giveaway!!

Hey Gals! We have a winner!! Thanks to all of you who participated! The winner is:

Aretha B.!

Thanks Aretha! Your comments and emails are always appreciated! I love hearing about you and your girls'! Have a wonderful Christmas and make sure and email me your home address so I can get your prize off to you in the mail!

Christmas Giveaway!

I am just feeling like we need to do something Christmas-y, besides just cute Christmas hairdos! SO, I've got some super fabulous stuff to give away, as a way to say thanks to those of you that bear with my computer incompetence (See video below), my random postings, and my ever-present ramblings.
So, I have a bottle of some wonder cream to give away:



Miracle Hydrate Line Elimination Serum

WRINKLE REVERSE YOUR EYES! This exclusive eye treatment increases brightness around the delicate eye area even while working to diminish the appearance of lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet, while also brightening and moisturizing the skin. The result: smoother, brighter skin and your eyes: re-born.

This is some good stuff ladies! I don't know that I have enough wrinkles (yet) to give my firm testimony on it's superpowers, but I've heard amazing things, and hey! it's always worth a try, right? You can learn more about it here.

So, to the nitty gritty! Nothing too strenuous ladies, it's Christmas time after all! 

So for your first entry:

• Post the link to the giveaway on Facebook
• Send a tweet about the giveaway with the link included.

For additional entries:

• Send an email to a friend who isn't a fan of my blog, telling them about my blog/giveaway, and cc girlzhair@gmail.com.
• Tell me your favorite holiday tradition on my FB page.

After doing the first entries, and/or additional entries, leave me a comment with any necessary links you've shared (honor system here), with your name.

I'll select a random winner on Wed. Dec. 14th and get this fabulous stuff mailed out in time for Christmas!

Merry Christmas gals!

Remember, I'll be looking for my December's Creative Genius too! Send me your cute hairdos this month to girlzhair@gmail.com!

How to do girl's hairstyles: A puffy braid into stuffed buns 10-15 min

I love these puffy braids, done low and just along the hairline next to the ears. Nothing too fancy, but just a little bit different!

I parted her hair into a side part in the front, then zagged over for a center part to go down the back. 

 Next I started parting off into the sections for the puffy braids. I did pull through's on the ponytails to give it some interest. I tried keeping it next to the edge of her hairline. I think it gives it more of an 'antique' look, like something from Little House on the Prairie.

 I traveled the puffy braid down to the nape of her neck on both sides.

And I ended the ponytails in stuffed buns. See my video on how to do stuffed buns here.

 Finished look

This is a great one for short hair too!

I fixed it!

Sorry about the video, and for my delay in fixing it ladies! I take a nice long break from my computer and look what happens!

How to do girl's hairstyles: How do to a Messy Bun No. 2 Video Tutorial

Here's another way to do a messy bun, after putting the hair into a stuffed bun. This has been what we've been trying lately, and I like how it turns out.



Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your time with family and friends. May we all take the time to remember our blessings and give gratitude to our Heavenly Father for them. :)

How to do girl's hairstyles: November's Creative Genius!!

This month's Creative Genius is Karli, who has her own blog, Curly Hairdo Ideas. She has super duper cute curly hair to work with, and has some great tips on keeping those locks healthy and happy. I liked this one a lot because I have so many of you ask for good tips on SHORT hairdos, and thought this would be a super one to throw in the mix.

Thanks Karli, for sending these instructions and darling pics!

Curly Do by Karli:

To get this look we started with completely detangled curls (To detangle curls  - wet the hair, use a little leave in conditioner if desired, detangle gently with fingers first, then wide tooth comb if needed, start at the ends and work toward the roots, small sections at a time!)  then sectioned out a triangular piece in the "bangs" area near her forehead. Note that the triangle gives you something to anchor to later...

I gently, lightly twisted that hair to make a poof! I used two bobby pins to secure the hair.  (Note that the triangle you made earlier gives you something to anchor to now.)

Next, take up a section of hair from the ear up toward the area you've been working, divide it in two pieces. Twist them both individually to the right, then twist them around each other to the left and you'll end up with this...

Do the same on the other side.

Secure them with bobby pins! (I like the small ones - they seem to hold well and are better sized for little heads!) Also, if you cross the bobby pins, they sort of lock together and stay put better.

Then fluff the tails of the hair you've been working with and add a bow and you are Done! Quick, easy, unique and totally stylish! :D lol!

Her curls are the cutest! I love the little twist braid as well, peeping out of those curls. Happy November!



How to do girl's hairstyles: Fun with parting--Stairs part 10-15

So the closer the holidays get, the slower I seem to be moving. Or else everything else is moving faster! I just don't seem to get the chance to sit down at my computer very often, and so I apologize for my few posts as of late. I've made a goal to upload a few today at least to cover me through Thanksgiving! Hairdoing is still going at my house, when I can fit that in, and so there is always material to share!

So for this hairdo, I decided to mix up the parting a bit. Sometimes good old ponytails are in order, and I just felt like doing them--with, of course, something a little bit fun. It took a bit of time to get it straight, but I think it turned out alright.

I started out with very damp hair (this always helps when doing a lot of parting), and I began the part in the front of her head. You can make each vertical line as long as you want, but make the horizontal part about the same in length.

 The back of her head is not as flat and even, since I put in high ponytails. You can adjust the height of the ponytails if you wish.

 I finished her ponytails with good old regular braids--but of course, if you have the time and the creative juices flowing--go with whatever suits you!

More to come! Like November's Creative Genius!

How to do girl's hairstyles: A sweet letter I received

This past week I received an email from a dear reader that just made my whole week. I asked her if I could share it with all of you, and she graciously agreed. Here is her letter:

Dear Shaunell,

In today's society, I find that we take a lot of time discriminating and criticizing others when we should take the time to be grateful for the things we have. So this is me taking the time to write to you about how your blog helped me a lot!
My daughter has thick waist length hair. I was never able to do anything more than a braid or a ponytail. And even then, she would come back from school with her hair half undone looking like a lion.
This year for her class picture, I thought about doing 2 french braids. The thing is I didn't know how to do so. Like I did with knitting, I googled it and learned how to do them with the help of your video. I was so impressed with the simplicity of your actions and descriptions and was able to do french braids! I looked around your website and started doing different do's everyday for school. Mina has been getting compliments like crazy and comes home happy.
Thank you sooo much for making me feel more like a mother and making my daughter feel better about herself. Here's pictures of my first try of french braids. (LOL They looked better the next day when I did them again).

 

Again, thank you and keep up the good work,
Audrey

Thank YOU Audrey, for sending this to me. When I receive letters like this, it makes all the crazy hours and effort I've put into my blog so worth it. I think that as mothers of daughters, we have a vital job of instilling feelings of self worth and value into their hearts and brains. In today's world, where we are surrounded by false and unsuitable images of women everywhere, this can be especially challenging. I never mean to place more emphasis on 'being cute' than is necessary. I was always taught to present myself in a way that showed I cared about myself, and this included taking the time to do my hair, makeup, iron my clothes, etc. I know that if I thought something of myself, and that taking care of myself was important to me, that others would treat me the same way. I know I also feel like a better mom if my children are presentable as well (not that this actually makes me a better mom, I just feel like I got one checkpoint that day at least!)
That being said, I am so pleased that Audrey and Mina have had a positive experience getting over that 'what to do with that hair' hump. I remember at one point my father dragging me to a Regis salon in the mall to get my hair done, because he was just fed up with my long curly mane looking much like a lion as well.
I love your feedback, because hearing from you is what keeps me going! We women need to support each other, and share our positive times, as well as our hard ones. I welcome any stories, comments, etc. you want to share.
Have a wonderful day!