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.