Lesson 32: OXOXO Rosette Valentine

Belle said she wanted roses in her hair to match the one on her dress, so this is what I came up with.  Begin by parting the hair ear to ear over the top of the head.  Put the back section in a temporary ponytail.

Divide the front into three sections and put them into piggies.

Beginning with the middle section, twist the tail near to the end.

Wrap the tail around the hairband like a snail.

Tuck the ends underneath so they don't show.

Open up a bobby pin a little bit so it will catch hair from two loops, including the end of the tail, and push it into the bun.  Add another pin perpendicular (to form an X) the same way.  Two pins was all I needed for these little buns, but you could add more if they don't seem like they'll hold it well.  The pins were longer than the bun so they showed on the edges, but I didn't really care about that.  They do make shorter bobby pins.  This would be a great hairstyle for the short ones, but I don't have any.

Repeat with the other piggies.

Find the middle of a long ribbon by folding it in half and matching the ends.  Put the middle of the ribbon above the middle bun.  Wrap the ends around under the other buns, crossing over itself between the buns, and under the middle bun.  Tie a bow.  There is a very subtle OXOXO made by the buns and the ribbons crossing.  Most people won't notice, but it's cute anyhow.  Somehow I missed taking a picture of the finished product from the back.  Oh well.

Here's a picture of her hair after the whole day was spent.  It held its shape pretty well.

Lesson 31: Triple Rolled Heart

I wish I had taken pictures the first time I did this because it was much neater, but this time I was (once again) trying to rush it for school in the morning.  But this will give you the idea anyway.

Begin by using your comb to draw a part in the shape of a heart on the crown of the head. Secure the hair at the point with a little hairband.

Draw another part--half of a heart--around the first one, about an inch wide.  You may want to put the rest of the hair in a temporary ponytail to keep it out of the way while you are working with this section.

Twist the hair toward the heart, starting with a very small section in the top corner and adding a little bit of hair with every twist as you go down.

You can use a fine tooth comb to smooth any bumps by pushing it gently across the roll toward the heart.  Roll all the way to the bottom and clip in place.

Repeat for the other side.  Remove the clip and band both pieces together along with the tail of the first heart.

Belle's hair needs a side part in front for her cowlick, but you could part the front in the middle if you like.  Part the leftover front hair straight up from the ears.  Twist it up toward the heart.  You can just twist it all at once rather than adding more hair each turn this time.  Clip, like before, and repeat on the other side.  Band it all together.  Add a bow if you want.

Lesson 30: Barbie Doll Makeover

I picked up an old ratty Barbie doll for free from the leftover junk at a yard sale.  She was dirty, so I cleaned her up with soap and water, an old toothbrush, (and rubbing alcohol, I think).  Her hair was BAD. It was a matted mess with a bunch of teeny tiny twists that seemed to be permanent.  I wish I had taken a before picture which would make an after picture worthwhile, but anyway, I combed the hair out best I could then dunked her hair in simmering (almost boiling) water for about 10 seconds.  It came out sleek and smooth.  Amazing.  Well that was fun, so I decided to see what I could do with her (generic) ponies.  I braided and twisted and curled their hair then dunked them.  Very cool.  I tried wrapping the hair around pen caps and holding it with rubber bands.  It only worked so-so and melted my rubber bands, but still, it was fun.  And Belle thought it was awesome.

Today I found this website when I was looking to see if anybody else had had the same idea before.  Sure enough.  This gal is a pro.  Drinking straws should work much better than pen caps. 

Lesson 29: Taped Dutch Braid Heart

This is an advanced style I haven't taught the basics for yet, but I'll get it in here in time for Valentine's Day for those of you who are ready for it.  I don't have step by step pictures either since I did it last year before my blogging days.

Begin by parting the top of the head down the middle and a part from ear to ear.  Put the back half of the hair into a pony tail. On one side at the top, make another part diagonally from center back of the head to the forehead by the temple.  It'll be easier to shape the heart if you make this part line a little curved.  Begin doing a half dutch braid on the top triangle.  Half dutch braids are inside out french braids where you only add hair to one side, and the other side will hide the part (hopefully).  Don't braid all the way to the forehead, but start turning the braid into a curve a couple inches before you get to the forehead.  You can braid without adding any hair or just add to one side for a couple turns, whatever works.  Once you've got it turned back, continue doing a regular dutch braid to add hair from both sides.  Once you've used up all the hair on that side, braid it out to the end and put in a temporary clip or hairband.  Repeat on the other side.  Add the braids to the ponytail with another hairband.

To do the taping, you'll need a REALLY long ribbon.  Fold it in half to find the middle. Use a bobby pin or clip to hold it temporarily at the middle.  Thread a craft needle with the ribbon and wrap the braid around and around.  When you get to the part where the braid is laying on top, you can catch up some hair from underneath or just keep it around the braid itself.  I don't think it matters.  Let the end hang until you do the other side.  Take out the pin/clip and repeat for the other side.  Tie up the ribbons together in a bow.  Voila!  This hairdo takes forever.  I think it took me 45 minutes, so pop in a movie for your daughter or something.  Definitely a special occasion do.

Lesson 28: Small clipped heart

To begin this hairstyle, make a ponytail at the back of the head.  Take a small section of hair from the bottom of the tail and use a topsy tailer to pull it up to the top behind the hairband.

 

Put a small hairband around the section a few inches up.

Divide the hair below the hairband into two sections and turn it down.

Use the topsy tailer to return the end of the tail through the large hairband.  Use small clips to keep the curves of the heart in place.  I added a little bow for fun.  (My colors don't match.  Actually they  match the shirt.  Belle picked out a handful of colors like her shirt and said she wanted those in her hair.  I had to see what I could come up with.)

Product Review: scünci no-slip grip hairbands

Belle got some bright new hairbands in her stocking for Christmas.  We tried them out and decided they have their use, but are not for every style.  They are really rubbery, so they do as they say and don't slip.  They can really hold a style all day.  They are good for ponytails and braids, but not for half-ponies and topsy tails.  Belle complains about hurting more with these than the other ones.  They grab every loose hair around and roll them up in the band, so half ponies can be troublesome.  I wouldn't even try using a topsy tailer with these.  Ouch.  The packaging says "gentle to the hair."  I'm not so sure about that, really, but they aren't as bad as an office rubber band would be.

The colors are bright and beautiful, and they have a unique gel kind of look to them.  (They are fun to play with, too.)  Overall I like them.  They seem like they'll last longer than the other kind that lose their stretch over time or come apart at the seam under the weave.  They have yet to be proven for long last, though.

Vacation from Cyber Space

We still don't have internet in our new house yet (I'm on borrowed bandwidth today).  We're supposed to get hooked up Monday.  This blog hasn't been forgotten, and I'll be back to it before too long with some Valentine's Day ideas.