Messy Bun Video

I've had a few requests for a messy bun tutorial.....Here is my version of a messy bun:

There are dozens of ways to do a messy bun- the trick is finding which way works for your hair type. This way happens to work the best on mine, and my daughter's hair. I have tried several different variations over the years, but have finally settled on this...for now, anyway! It stands up to a long day on the playground or soccer field- which is HUGE when your daughter plays as hard as mine. She hates bobby pins and clippies, so this worls great for us. In the video, you'll notice I use blue elastics so you can see them easier. Normally I like to use elastics that match her hair better. Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions!

Four French Braids to Messy Buns

When I started, I had no idea what I was going to do (that's usually how it is...) but I love how this turned out. I parted off four rectangles on the top of her head and french braided them alternating direction. Then, I simply pulled them back into two messy buns.

Not the best pictures (it's hard to photgraph a moving target leaving for school,) but I love how it looked like the braid zig-zagged because they touched....

Topsy Tails

I have done topsy tails on my girls since they had enough hair to pull back, I have used them many times to hold back bangs that we were growing out. But I alwyas took little squares up front and did a row up front because the hair was so short. My talented friend, Mindy does hers like this- with more of a rectangle. I love how it makes them look like twists- but they stay in for days! Great for camping and boating!

"Rick Rack" it is!

I loved everyone's suggestions for the name. It was hard to narrow it down. The one I chose was:

Robert and Hannah said...
This is way cool and looks easy to do. A great change on a regular braid! I would call it "the rick rack" because it looks like rick rack lace.
October 17, 2008 6:30 AM

She was the first to come up with 'rick rack' and I love that. It is easy to say and type for future posts. Hannah can choose whatever accessory she wants. But for the others that voted for the winning name, I have a prize for you, too! Just e-mail me your addresses, and I'll get those out to you!!!

P.S. I must clarify that I did not make this up. A lady showed it to me once. She came up with it by accident. I thought it was way too cool to keep to myself, and it needed a name for blogging purposes. I hope she doesn't mind! ;) Plus, I was looking for another excuse to give away something cute!

Cool Braid Thingy

Here is a video how to do a cool braid. I really didn't know what to call it, it looks more like a weave, but it's actually just a braid. I am having a contest to give it a name. Post your ideas in the comments below and I'll chose my favorite name. The winner receives a free hair accessory of their choice.

Here is the finished product. I have tried doing it on wet hair, but it doesn't work. I don't know if it is just because my dd's hair is so coarse, but it works better when it's dry. Also, the longer the hair, the better. If her hair was just a little longer, it would be weaved all the way to the ponytail, or I could just secure the two together in the back and leave the rest of the hair down. I don't love to just leave this hangin' by itself. But you could certainly do lots of them all over like a twist or a braid and tie them back into a messy bun. That would be super cute. I'd love to see what people do with this!

I'd Like to Thank....

I am so honored! I haven't been at this very long, but I received an award! Can you believe it? Babes in Hairland was so thoughtful and nominated me for it! I must say, I love her styles. Nothing too far out there- just absolutely adorable.

Here the rules for the award: Nominate at least 3 more blogs (It used to be 10, but come on, lets save some for the others...and notice I said AT LEAST 3...feel free to do more!) of any kind that you love to read. Write a post about the blogs you picked, linking back to me and to them. Once you’ve posted, return here to let me know your post is done and be sure to let them know, too!! So here are my picks for the award - in no particular order:

Craft-A-Lot. This girl has got it going on! Let me tell ya! If there is ANYTHING you want o learn how to do- she's your gal!.....Scrapbook, bead jewelry, make bows, sew, quilt, knit, or crochet, make cards, cook gourmet, hang a light, install wood floors, change a faucet, rig new door knobs, or just be an awesome mom and friend! (Plus, she loves give-aways!)

Hairstyles for Girls. Yeah, I know she just started her blog but, just take a look! Her girls have gorgeous hair (a little envious, here!) And she has fantastic ideas. I can't wait to see what else she comes up with.

A Feathered Nest. She's like a professional blogger- does that count? But she threw together a wedding in A DAY AND A HALF! Sounds like my kinda gal!

Front French Braid

A truly simple staple at our house. This one is way fast I love it, so I do it A LOT! The best part is- the next day, you can just leave it in and put in some cute piggy tails, messy buns, or a ponytail!



I didn't even take the time to section off the hair (GASP!) I know, it is not in my nature. But the rest of the hair covers it up. I just did my best as I braided to keep somewhat of a line there. Start on the top of the head, right on her part. End the french braid about where a part would be onthe other side. Regular braid most of the way down and curl the ends.




Her hair is naturally wavy in some parts, and I can't just leave it down. So I curled it- this time with my flat iron (again- when the silly video on my camera starts working- I can do a clip.) Notice how the curl looks different than a curling iron curl.

Side by Side Inside-Out Braids

Here is the inside-out french braid on my middle daughter. I just parted her hair diagonally and sectioned off the top part of her hair. I use clips to hold the hair separated and braid it, only taking hair from the bottom. Add some curly bows, and there ya have it!

Flipped French Braid

With my middle daughter's hair being so thin, I like to keep it pretty short. As a result, I have to think of different hairstyles for mainly the top of her head. This one was a fun variation:

I parted off the top of her head and french braided it. I stopped the braid a little early and flipped it over and tied it back to the base of the braid.

I curled the ends back toward me and stuck a curly bow in. That helped to hold the hair kind of up and back.

Heidi Goes Tropical!

My 10 year thought of this all on her own and I think it is darling! It is a combo between the palm trees and the Heidi braids.

Start by making two piggy tails and braiding them into four. The middle two braids should be braided as far down as you can, but leave some hair loose on the bottom of the outside two.

Then take the outside two braids and loop into the ponytail holders.

Take the left inside braid and wrap it over the ponytail holder on the right.

Secure it under the elastic and use a claw clip if needed. If your daughter's hair is longer, you could wrap it all the way around the whole braid and back to the other. Just go as far as you can. You can use claw clips to attach it anywhere on the other braid to hold it. That is what we would do when we did the Heidi braids and her hair was longer.

Curl the ends of the palm trees or you can use some wax or pomade to make them spiky!

Soccer Ball

I haven't done this one in a while, but I realized it looks a little like the chain link. But I think this one is easier. My daughter and her friends call this the soccer ball. It's good for soccer because it keeps all her hair out of her face. Her friends like to come over and have it done before a game, too.

Start by making across her head- from temple to temple. Divide that into three squares and do three topsy tails (BTW- I call them topsy tails, 'cause that is what I have always called them since I was a kid- but I personally don't like using an actual "Topsy Tail". I prefer a good ol' rat tail comb to pull the hair though.)



Next, make another part across her head halfway between her temples and her ears. Divide that into 5 sections. With the section closest to her ear, just make a topsy tail. With the next section, add half of the hair from the topsy tail in front of it. The next topsy tail will have the other half from the first front topsy tail, and half from the next one in front. Continue doing this for three rows. You can leave it down, or pull it into a ponytail like I did.



I don't really love how the side parts turned out this time, but when it's time for school, I'm not going to mess with it.....

Sideways Inside-Out Braid

Here is the inside-out braid on my oldest daughter. It works the best on her hair- since she actually has a real head of hair.

I typically braid with dry hair. It is easier for me to work with the dry hair as it doesn't tangle the ends and it stays nice and smooth. The only time I braid wet hair is if it is bedtime and we are going for a wavy look the next day.

I parted it like usual and started my braid up at the front, left side. By starting with a small section, this helps eliminate the huge bulky braid I had the last time. But this time, I only gathered hair from the bottom side (last time I gathered from the top and bottom.) This turned the braid inside-out. (I will post videos as soon as I can get my computer to read the video file. I am having issues with that.) Once again, make sure the hair is already combed the way you want it going. I ended the braid early, pulled back the hair from the front of the other side and stuck a big flower in. It took less than 5 minutes.

More Tiny French Braids

This time, the braids are on top. Her hair is so baby fine, it made it hard. So I just added hair to one side of the braid and VOILA! It turned the braid upside down! I always try to braid upside down and I can only do it on myself. So now I know how to do it on my kiddos! It would have been cute to curl her hair, but we were running late, so we just added some Itty Bitties. Maybe next time.