Little Girl's Hairstyles -French Twist Braids and Bun 15-20 Min

This hairdo was featured on Adopt A Do's blog back in December, for the HairDo of the Month. I posted about it, because I was so excited to be on her fantastic blog! I wanted to share it on mine as well, because I just really really loved how this one turned out! I called this one "Here's My Angle". (I have to apologize for the two off center pictures--I've tried redoing them and just can't get it to work, so forgive the crazies!)

First, part off the top of wet hair into a square in center of head, making both sides on a slight angle. You’ll be making 4 sections, and this is your first 2 sections.

Next, split this section down the middle into two sections, and clip off one section to prep for the first french twist braid. I do have a video tutorial on these, if the pictures don't make sense.

                                                       

Take a small section at the front and divide it into two pieces.

Cross the pieces to begin the twist.

After initial twist, pick up and add hair from one side, just like when french braiding. Then add hair in the same manner to other side of twist, and twist the two sections around each other again.

Continue in this manner: Add hair to both sides of twist, then twist around once.

Finish off by twisting tightly without adding more hair, and secure with elastic. Do the same thing in next parted off section. Now prep for side section. Part down to her ear and follow the same twist pattern as I described.

Do the same with the other side.

This shows the four finished sections.

Next comb the rest of the hair, including the 4 ponys, to the side, going at the same angle.

If you have shorter hair to work with, then make it into a pony, or a pull-through pony. I did a stuffed bun. Do a pony, then on last time through, pull through halfway. Take long tail and loop around and ‘stuff’ it back into the elastic. Keep stuffing until it looks nice and messy. I don’t like the double loop look, so I just keep stuffing in until I like it. Spray well with hairspray.

I also added some snap barrettes, since side ponys can have escapees out the back easily.

Stick in a super darling doodad (this one is from Madibu Bows) to draw attention to your girl’s Angle!

                                      

   And there's that grin! Get ready for some positive attention!

Little Girl's Hairstyles -Q & A: How to keep hairdos in?

I have been getting a lot of questions and I try my very best to respond to them, whether through email or if there's a link to your blog. BUT sometimes I can't find a way to respond directly back to you, and my only option is to just add another comment. And frankly, ladies, I just don't think that's sufficient! SO, I've decided to post some of your questions from time to time, and hopefully give you a decent answer, and perhaps some of the rest of you will find it helpful as well.

So, my first question comes from Caroline:
"Any suggestions for preventing the children from taking the hair down? My girls are ages 4, 2.5 and 14 months. We can get the hair up, but then they want to take it down later. I've explained to my 4 year old we have to keep it in (esp. when she starts school this summer). Anyway, would love any tips in that department."

Well, my friend Caroline, this is something I actually get asked a lot! And honestly, it wasn't until my girls were a little older (maybe ages 2 and up), that they did leave their hair alone. For us, I think it was a combo of some of the following:

1. Mom is hair crazy and you know you'll be forced to endure another 15 minute hair doing session if you touch that ponytail.
2. There's so much hairspray and elastics in your hair that it will hurt if you try to rip it out yourself.
3. You get SO many compliments from mom (and others hopefully) that you start liking having neat and tidy hair.

I think mostly I've badgered my kids enough about their messy hair, they've just finally accepted that when we are around other people, their hair needs to stay pretty. But when we are at home in our PJ's (like now), their hair can be as crazy and messy as they want.  I know if you consistently sit them down and do their hair, from a young age, they will get used to it and understand it's just that part of being a girl! Good luck! (oh and tiny elastics work great in teeny girl hair--harder to pull out!)

And here's a handy tip to getting out the elastics when it's bathtime or bedtime: Use a seam ripper! Also, only use nice coated elastics (see my Goody Elastics post) on little girl hair. The normal regular rubber bands are MURDER on fine little girl hair (on any hair really). Ones like the Goody elastics can usually slip right out of their hair if you take it out carefully.

Here's a wonderful tip from one of you lovely readers:
Just a note about using the seam ripper to remove tiny elastics... Make sure you don't catch any hair as you cut the elastic out or your girly will end of with a bit of a "haircut". Maybe that's common sense to some (LOL!!) but I learned it the hard way! ;P

Thanks for your question! Keep them coming!

Little Girl's Hairstyles -How to do a Daisy Chain Braid Video Tutorial

This one is a tad overdue. I posted pictures a while ago on how to do this braid. It looks like this:

Have a great time daisy chaining hair today!!

Little Girl's Hairstyles -Twisty Updo 15-20 min

Happy New Year ladies!! I hope some of you could stay up and see the midnight festivities and greet the new year with pizazz! My greeting pizazz consisted of being roused from my slumber on the couch by my hubby and gals. So welcome 2010! I have some plans for this new year for my little blog, and hopefully you will enjoy them! Please let me know if YOU have any ideas for me! On with the hair!

This cold weather has really made for some really fun hair time for me and my little gals (funner for me than for them). I have been asked for some fun updos for recitals, dances, and special occasions, so hopefully this one will pass muster for at least one of those.

I started by parting down the back of her head on an angle, leaving slightly more on the top half of the part. Clip off the top section.

I then parted off four equal size ponys along the bottom.

Side view of ponys.

Next I began twisting each pony. I twisted each one until it started twisting in on itself. I had to use not only her little hands to help hold all four, but at least one of my other gal's as well. If you don't have so many available hands, then you could twist them up into the top section and bobby pin the ends tightly.

My finished twists with helper hands.

When I finished all my twists, I combed the top section up (you'll need to unpin any twists you have pinned up there first, and pin somewhere else!), into a high side ponytail. Before I put in my elastic, I grabbed and added, one at a time, each of the four twists. If this turns out to be tricky, then secure the ponytail first with an elastic, and THEN bring up the four twists and secure with an additional ponytail.

Next, I took larger (than the small twists) pieces of her very wet ponytail and began twisting those.

I brought the end of the twist up to the base of the pony, and bobby pinned the ends right next to the elastic, leaving about 2 inches of hair on the end.

I pieced off and twisted the rest of her ponytail and secured them with bobby pins. When adding in the additional sections, place your bobby pins so they face each other, or so they face in opposite directions (or east west). This will help secure all the hair, especially if you overlap each new pin into existing pinned sections. Hopefully you can see how the pins lay going east and west.

I then rolled the ends over my finger and slid yet another bobby pin in to hold the ends, forming a small barrel curl on top.

I sprayed it all really well with hairspray, and then put in a big korker bow (from Madibu) in between the barrel curl and the twists.

She's all prepped! But if your weather is very cold like ours here.....don't let your little one go out with this super wet head! It's hard on her hair, and it makes for one cold little princess. Pop her hood on, or wrap her scarf over the top. If you've sprayed it well, and let that dry, it will stay in!

Little Girl's Hairstyles -How to do a Stuffed Bun Video Tutorial

Here's a video on how I do these super easy buns! Have a good one!