Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.  I haven't forgotten my blog, but have been very very busy with family duties, holiday preparations, and volunteer work.  I should have time again to post tutorials soon!

Triple Messy Buns

This cutting edge hairstyle is an attention-getter!  Belle doesn't hear a lot of comments about her neat hairstyles at her school because there are many other talented hairstylers where we live, but a lot of people were talking about her hair the day she wore this.

I don't have step by step pictures because it was a busy day.  (I've been having a lot of those lately!)
Start with two front piggies.  Divide the back of the head into three high piggies, combining the hair from the front piggies with the two outside ones at the back.  The middle piggy will be a long rectangle about 2 inches/5 cm wide.  Make messy buns out of all three.

Lilla Rose Black Friday Sale

Who’s Hoo Owl will be available only on Friday while supplies last.

Halloween Costumes

In all the hustle and bustle of the day, I didn't get a good shot of Belle's hairstyle for Halloween.  It was so cute, though!  I did two dutch braids and then folded the ends over each other and tucked in the ends to make something like a wide braided bun at the bottom.  I may have to do this style again and post it.

I didn't have time for sewing this year, but we pulled it off with a hand-me-down dance costume from my niece, some gorgeous and gigantic butterfly wings from Jo-Ann Fabrics, and several borrowed parts to make a pirate.  I have really nice neighbors.

We handed out glow-in-the-dark fangs and bugs, pencils, lip gloss, and mini card games.  No candy!  Lots of the kids were very excited to get something besides candy.  One even said, "This is the coolest house ever!"  Now is the time to get some of this stuff on clearance and save it for next year.

Crazy Hair Day: The Flowerpot

For this style I was inspired by the little face in the bottom right corner on the Dr. Suess webpage.  Belle's school has crazy hair day during ribbon week (no longer just RED ribbon, but all sorts of colors), but I wanted to do a Dr. Suess hairstyle for all of you that have crazy hair day in March for Dr. Suess' birthday.  (Check the side bar for more Dr. Suess/crazy hair ideas.)

To start, make a ponytail with the hair at the top of the head.  I saved out a section near the bangs to sweep off to the side so it will still be pretty even though it is crazy.  This is optional depending on whether you have bangs or cowlicks or whatever.  I used colored hairbands thinking they would be hidden, but since they do show a bit, you could use a color to match the hair if you prefer.

Center and wrap a pipe cleaner around the base of the hairband and twist the ends together a couple times at the bottom.

Add another pipe cleaner around the first one, this time not centered, but with one end long.  Twist it to hold it in place.

Fold it upward.

Pull the hair from the pony upward so it goes around all sides of the pipe cleaners.  Add an elastic a few inches higher than the first around the hair and pipe cleaners.  

Drop the hair, and arrange it so that it evenly distributed around the ponytail.  Add an elastic to the bottom, careful not to pull the "flowerpot" out of shape.  It may be helpful to twist the elastic to form two loops before inserting it over the pipe cleaners.

Fold the two short ends of the pipe cleaner over to look like leaves.  Using tissue paper, cut a flower shape like this one.  Fold the paper in half then half again and cut the edges to be round. (Fold in half again to get the petals to be symmetrical.)

Scrunch up the center of the flower and tape it onto the long pipe cleaner.  Bend the pipe cleaner to look wiggly.

Make a part at the back of the head, and make two pigtails just above the ears.  Include the hair from the flowerpot.

The pigtails will have two lengths of hair, the shorter section from the flowerpot.  Divide the sections.  Using only the longer hair, wrap it around the hairband and then into a knot.

Use a clear elastic to hold the knot in place.

Add a bow, if you like.

Belle won the "craziest hair" competition in her classroom.  Her teacher couldn't believe she had a flower growing out of her head!

School Pictures

It's time for school pictures again.  There are a few things to think about when choosing a hairstyle for a photo shoot.  First of all, the back of the head obviously isn't going to be seen, so any style that looks amazing from the back but not the front is not a good choice.  I prefer down-dos rather than updos because they tend to frame the face better, in my opinion.  I also like seeing how long Belle's hair is from year to year in her portraits since it has changed in length so much over the years.  I think the person's face should be what draws attention in a portrait, and that the hair should complement the face, rather than draw attention away.  That is why I choose simple styles with few or small embellishments rather than large flowers and bows.  Here is Belle's picture day hair for this year. It is a hawser twist done like a half dutch braid (adding hair from only one side) with the bang section of hair.

Rather than spend an arm and a leg on portraits from the school (which often come back looking goofy anyway), I take a portrait of my kids at home.  I took this portrait last week in our bathroom.  I hung some fancy sheer fabric over the shower curtain rod, brought in an extra lamp, and took a bunch of shots.  I let Belle choose her favorite, and then touched it up on my computer.  Now I can print as many as I want wherever I want to have them printed.  (Belle's sparkly bobby pins are from Lilla Rose.)

Curlformers Review

Curlformers are a hair curlers that work in a way that reminds me of slap bracelets.  They can be straightened out (though they don't stay straight on their own), and then roll back up into a twist.  They are a hollow mesh flattened tube.  The trick is to insert a long hook into the tube, push it all the way through the other end, hook a piece of hair, pull the hook so the hair goes inside, then release the end of the Curlformer so it wraps up. After the hair has set for a while, you simply pull the curler off the hair.

(These pictures are from an old post for an updo.)  The curls are soft and pretty.  I have tried putting them on dry hair, and even after sleeping the whole night, they do not hold very long.  It is best to use them in damp hair with some sort of product in it like mousse.  Even then the curls will not last as long as rag curls.  The best thing about Curlformers is that they are the fastest way to curl hair I know of (if you don't count the time you have to leave them in).  They are faster than rollers, rags, or curling irons, and of course it's better for your hair to choose a no heat option.

There are a few cons.  Sometimes they hurt a bit putting them in because the hair can get pulled too tight on the hook and with the rubber ends of the curlers.  Also, if you try to use too big of a section of hair, you can get the hair and hook stuck in the middle of the tube.  Curlformers are very expensive!  When I first heard of them, I was excited to try them out until I discovered how much they cost.  You can buy a whole kit for a somewhere around $60 or so, but I don't remember really how much.  I elected to get a refill pack and a hook to start of.  The refill pack has only 6 curlers.  I think it was about $13 or so...  I waited until I had a really good coupon, and I got them at half price.  Then several months later I bought another six with another good coupon.  I am gradually building up my supply.

Belle does not complain about them while she is sleeping when there are only a few, but I think she may have a hard time with a whole head full of them all night.  I can't sleep with anything in my hair, personally.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast Belle Hairstyle

One of our facebook fans requested a tutorial for Belle from Beauty and the Beast for a Halloween hairstyle.  This is her hairstyle in her everyday clothes, not the fancy yellow ball gown. This is what I came up with.

Begin with damp hair. You can add some styling product such as gel or mousse at this point.  Comb it all back straight.

Using a hairdryer, blow the bang area hair back while using a comb to train the hair to go where you want it.

Comb back, and then push the comb forward to form a bump.  Add some hairspray.  You can continue to blow it a bit, perhaps on low or with a diffuser if your hairdryer's high setting blows the hair all over the place and out of the comb.

Use a comb or brush to blow out the sides sections over the ears.  Use the same technique as you did with the top.

Part the hair in the middle.  If you do not have cut bangs, you could try to get a poof by adding a bobby pin in this place after lifting and pushing the hair forward.

You can use a round brush with your hairdryer to try and get some more volume out of the sides.

Take the side section and brush it toward your face.  Hold it out and twist it loosely.

Pull it back against your head...

...and then push it upwards.  Add a bobby pin to hold it down.  This is done in a similar way to the Dorothy hairstyle.  (This is a nice finished style for a regular day.)

Repeat on the other side.  Brush down the hair at the back of the head so it is smooth.  Now roll up loosely the hair that is at the bottom side.

Repeat on the other side, then put them together.

The twist will be laying over some hair from the back of the head.  It may be necessary to add some of this hair into the twists, if you can manage it.  You may need to ask for someone's help to hold one of the twists for you while you work on the other.  Add an elastic around the whole thing.

To get some more poof, gently pull out some of the hair at the edges of the roll.

Add a bow.  You can tie a ribbon to make a bow or add a bow clip.  (Mine are Gimme Clips--these will be coming out to Associated Food Stores, but there isn't a blue one.)

For a more everyday look, after I took these photos, I undid the whole thing, brushed it through (especially to settle down my bangs), and twist the sides in one step instead of two, and without trying to get the extra volume.

Braid Rose

This is a really easy but really cute hairstyle.  Just gather a section of hair near the forehead, braid it down to the end, add an elastic, and then coil it up.  Tuck the tail underneath, and put in a few bobby pins to hold it in place.

Lace Headband

I've had this lace for years in my "treasure" box of notions I've inherited from sewers gone by.  I used it in the waistband of Belle's Easter dress, so it is fun to put it in her hair as well when she wears that dress.  You can buy lace like this at a fabric store.

Draw the bangs back and use a bobby pin to hold them in place.  Put the lace on the top of the head covering the bobby pin.  Tie it in a bow at the back of the head under all the hair.

Add some bobby pins to the the lace like in the picture.  Mine are glittery ones from Gimme Clips.  Try to cross over the hidden one underneath to keep it sturdier.

Dorothy Gale Hairstyle (Wizard of Oz)

When I was a little girl, The Wizard of Oz would come on TV every once in a while on a holiday.  I loved watching it with my family. I always thought Judy Garland was gorgeous.  I once heard a rumor that Shirley Temple was considered for the part of Dorothy.  Certainly this wouldn't have been her hairstyle.

Start with a part down the center.  (I've altered it a bit here to accommodate for Belle's front side cowlick by beginning the part at the side and curving it to the middle for a centered part at the back.)  Clip one side of hair out of the way temporarily.  Starting at the forehead, make a rolled twist to about 3/4 of the way down the side.  Twist the hair, and gradually add in more and more as you go down, using a comb to smooth it out along the way if you need to.

Insert a bobby pin at the bottom (going toward the top) so that the last bit of hair to be twisted back is stuck down with the hair at the scalp.  Make sure the pin is hidden within the roll of hair.  If you look carefully in this picture, you can see where I'm putting the bobby pin (I use two hands when I'm not holding the camera!)

For the last half, you will french braid. Using the twist and some new hair from the side, you'll get your first two sections for braiding.

Gather up the third section from the top.

Continue french braiding.  Fasten it off when you are a couple inches down, leaving long tails you can curl.  Repeat on the other side, and add bows, if you like.

Belle wore this as an everyday hairstyle, so I skipped the bows and curls.  I don't know if this is exactly how Ms. Garland wore hers in the movie, but this is what it looks like to me.

A Word from Lilla Rose

Lilla Rose Independent Consultant, Linda Menke, is sponsoring a special Mystery Hostess Party starting Sept 15^th and ending at midnight on Sept 29^th.  Everyone that orders will have a chance to be the Mystery Hostess and receive all the Hostess Rewards!  In addition, due to a vendor swap also going on this month, the party is guaranteed to earn at least $450 in sales and all other orders will only increase that amount.  This is a great chance to order that new Flexi or other item you’ve been wanting (Check out the Flexi of the Month for Sept. – it’s beautiful) AND, if you are chosen as the Mystery Hostess, you can get lots of Lilla Rose loot for the holidays or for yourself. 

Don’t forget that Flexi Clips also make great scarf clips so a great gift idea is to give one with a pretty scarf.  The XS, S, and M sizes are best for scarves.  Also the smaller Flexis and O-Rings make adorable napkin rings and curtain ties as well. 

To order from the party, Click Here.  Add yourself as a guest by entering your information under “New Guests Register Here.”  From there, simply shop and check-out.  NOTE:  Items ordered through the party will not ship until after the party closes on the 29^th.   Then I will select a Mystery Hostess, get the Hostesses Rewards ordered, and close the party.  If you order, be sure to check your e-mail early on Oct 30^th as you won’t have more than a few hours to decide what items you want for your Hostess Rewards before I have to close the party (by midnight on the 30^th).   Items will probably ship by Oct. 2^nd.  If you have problems or questions, please e-mail Linda at cliptomania@ymail.com.  Have Fun!

Belle's 1st Day of School

My little girl is a third grader now!  Once when we moved in the middle of a school year, I gave her a star hairstyle to help her feel more confident meeting new friends, so she could remember she was a star!  She asked for it again for her first day.  I've posted our star before here.

The curls are from a curling iron.

Feather Fashion Clip Extensions

Feathers have been in style for at least a year now.  I've seen a lot of extension that are semi-permanent, where you have to use pliers to attach a metal ring to a piece of hair near the scalp.  Personally, I prefer to be able to take whatever is in my hair out every night.

Feather Fashion Clip Extensions sent us these (real) feathers to try out.  I like them because they have a tight grip that doesn't hurt, but are easy to put in and take out, and you can use them over and over.  The teeth open and close like a snap barrette, and there is a little rubber tubing one side to keep it from sliding.

This hairstyle is a simple french braid.  I braided back a bit, inserted the clip behind the braid, and then continued a bit further with the french braid.

For anyone that is crafty and creative, the little ring that holds the feathers on is malleable, so you could open the ring, remove the feathers, and hook on something of your own creation.  I would consider buying the feathers just because the clip is so neat.  

To get these feather clips, you can email abell@lifestyle-prod.com. You can see the other colors they have at their facebook page.  (They are $5 each with $2 shipping for up to 6 clips.)