Lesson 55: How to Dutch Braid/ Inside-Out French Braid

The dutch braid is almost the same technique as a french braid, but you cross the sections underneath instead of over the top.  Start in the front, gather up a section, and divide it into three equal parts.  Cross one side under the middle.

Cross the other side under the (new) middle.

Draw up a portion of hair to add in with the section at the side, then cross it all under the middle.

Add hair to the section on the other side and cross it under the middle.

Repeat on the other side.

Continue in this pattern until you run out of hair.  Keep braiding by crossing sides under middle.  Fasten off with a hairband.

This braid has nothing to do with the Dutch, as far as I know.  But then neither does the french braid come from France.  According to Wikipedia, what Americans call a french braid, the French call an American braid.  Funny.

Lesson 54: Single Woven and Braided Bun

This style is done the same way as the last style I posted, just singular instead of parting and making piggies.  It was slightly more difficult as a ponytail because of the different lengths of hair strands.  I had to end the braids higher up and do more tucking the ends in.  Also, the four strands are heavier and don't cooperate as well when weaving.  I would suggest using clips or pins (being careful not to mess up the ponytail) to hold them in place while you are doing the weave.  Wet hair helps, too.

Gimme Clips graciously sent us some hair do-dads to play with.  This beautiful flower is from the headband combo (which I will show later).  I've added Gimme Clips to my list of sponsors.  Thanks Gimme Clips!

Interesting Poll Results

I am surprised the way the poll is turning out.  It looks like I have more teen viewers than anything else.  That may change the type of styles I will focus on.  Right now I have a long list of ideas I need to get to without a whole lot of time, but I will start thinking about popular teen styles.

One day left to take the poll.  Thanks!

A Word about Parts and Sunshine

Summer time, of course, is a great time to get outside and get some sunshine, but don't forget to use sunscreen.  Even scalps can get burned.  If you are planning a day outside in the sun, think carefully about what hairstyle can keep that head shady.  A hairstyle with no parts (like a ponytail) keeps it all in the shade.  A single part (like pigtails) will leave a stripe of head exposed.  You can protect it by putting a bit of sunscreen in the palm of your hand and dabbing it onto the part with your finger.  If you choose a style with lots of parts, it will be a pain to cover it all with sunscreen, so make sure she wears a hat, at least.  If the scalp does get burned, be gentle when combing the hair because it can really hurt.  If it gets burned bad enough, it will flake off like dandruff a few days later.  You can use a soft bristle brush to gently scrub the flakes off (it shouldn't hurt anymore by the time it starts flaking).

Searching for Fountain Braid?

Click here to see the fountain braid tutorial.

I have been getting a lot of hits on my site by people looking for a fountain braid.  I am not sure what it is exactly, unless it is another name for the waterfall or fairytale braid.  Or is it the same thing I called whale spouts in this post?

Please leave a comment to describe the style you are looking for and I'll see what I can do.

Lesson 53: Woven and Braided Buns

On my style request post "Ryan Family" asked for a tutorial for this braided bun, which is actually a hairpiece you put over top of your own (short hair ponytail or small bun).  This is what I came up with.  It doesn't look exactly the same, but I still love it.  Belle reminded me of a Japanese anime cartoon when it was done.  The weaving part is sort of complicated, but a braided bun can be done without the weaving just by braiding the ponytail (one braid or more) and wrapping the braids around and tucking in the ends with bobby pins.

(Once again, pardon the weird pictures--my software is pretty old, and I can't update it anymore.)  Put the hair in pigtails.  Or you could just do one bun at the back.

Divide the pigtail into four equal size sections.

Now comes the weaving part.  Bring the top left section (red lines in the pictures below) over the bottom left section, but keep a loop hole open in it for later on.

Cross the bottom left section (yellow) over the top one you just brought down and over the bottom right section (green).

Take the bottom right section (green) up over the one you just crossed (yellow) and over the top right section (blue).

Cross the top right section (blue) over the one you just brought up and then tuck it into the loop you've been saving open from the first strand (red).

Now pull all the tails to tighten up the weave.

Braid all the tails as far as you can go and add clear elastics.

Wrap a braid around the whole thing, looping until you run out of hair.  Tuck in the tail and pin it in place with a bobby pin or two.

Repeat the wrapping around step with every braid.  Add more bobby pins if anything sticks out.  Repeat for the other piggy.

If you really prefer the look of one big braid around the whole thing with the weave in the middle, I suppose it could be achieved by doing sort of a french braid around the weave instead of braiding each strand.  I haven't tried it. If you try it and get some success, I invite you to email a picture, and I'll post it.

Request for Sponsorship

Belle and I have been providing this blog as a free service for almost a year now.  It is a fun hobby, and I love having the creative outlet.  Belle likes looking like a princess every day, and enjoys getting attention from people about how her hair is done.  Now when people ask her how her mom did that, she says, "I have a blog!"  How fun.

Times are tight for us right now, and I have been brainstorming ways we might be able to get some more income.  I spend a lot of time and energy on this blog, and I am hoping that I can use it to help out our family.  Rather than annoy my viewers with ads for vacuum cleaners and car insurance, I want to try an experiment to see if I can get some sponsors PBS style.  For my many international viewers, the Public Broadcasting Service is an American TV station that shows educational programs without commercial interruptions.  They have a yearly pledge drive to generate the funding they need to run the service.

So here is my request:  If you have enjoyed learning hairstyles from Hairdo How-to, and you would like to help support me and Belle and our family, would you please offer to donate a dollar or two or more?  Please send an email to hairdohow2@gmail.com and I will respond with more details about how to do it.

I'll tell you how I got the idea.  Belle received an invitation in the mail to attend an open call to National American Miss.  We went to see what it was about.  We filled out an application, and they gave Belle a short interview (and a fun photo opp below).  We listened to their presentation where we discovered that the entrance fee to be in the pageant is about $450.  They suggested we ask other people or businesses to give the money to us.  They mailed us a certificate to say that Belle has been selected as a State Finalist to compete in the Miss Utah pageant for NAM.  Since there is no make-up allowed, no swimsuit contest, no talent required, I gave it some sincere thought.  It would be good for her to get over some fears and learn some new skills, but frankly, I can't see myself going out and asking for money for something I don't wholeheartedly believe in.  She already knows she is a princess (daughter of Heavenly Father), already has a tiara and beautiful dresses.  She isn't interested in modeling or acting (she wants to be a paleontologist when she grows up--thanks PBS!).  She can learn confidence and stage presence by speaking in church and perhaps music recitals and such.  She doesn't need interviewing skills when she is only six.  I don't want her to feel like she has to be in competition to be better than other little girls at this age.

So I thought I would ask for sponsorship for things I really do believe in.  Any donations I receive from this blog will be used for the improvement of our family, including things like music or athletic lessons for Belle and Sweetheart, and family outings or vacations to make memories and strengthen our family, for hairstyling equipment and accessories to make the blog more interesting, or perhaps to update some of the old technology I am using for this blog.

Check out the new gadget at the bottom of the right hand column.  I'll put your name here if you choose to be a sponsor, or list you as "anonymous" if you prefer.

I've got some great ideas for the future, including dutch braiding and cornrows, herringbone braids, and hairstyles from Barbie and Disney movies, and will still continue blogging even if I don't get any sponsorship.

Thank you!