Gymnastics Hair

Alex is wearing her Gymnastics shirt today and wanted hair to match. ;) We did a simple style, but it works well to keep the hair out of her face.

I started with a puff-braid headband by parting the hair down the middle at the front and going all the way around her head. I pulled the back-middle together with the ends of the 'headband'.

Next is the section on top right behind the 'headband. I just parted out 3 little sections.

I pulled all of the hair together into a ponytail... There really isn't anything fancy here, but it looked cute and Alex was happy with it! ;)

We do a lot of "all-up" hair dos during the summer and this was a nice change from our typical ponytail. We'll probably do the same thing for dance next year, but I might part the front differently...

She had to try a cartwheel, of course! ;)

 

I'll have another gymnastics do tomorrow, from that show everyone is always talking about. ;)

ROCKAHOLIC ... New Detangler, New 'Do

We created a fun new 'do today inspired by our new "BORN TO ROCK" detangler by TIGI. It was really fun and too cute! Alex was full of attitude, so I have a lot of pics. And then there's the product review, so this post is just a bit longer than usual. ;)

This style works best with clean, damp hair. I used water and a little of Alex's new detangler/defrizzer to re-wet her hair. I made a very deep part on the top, on the opposite side as her natural part -there's a good reason for this. ;) Then continue the part down the middle all the way down.

Next, separate the top section of the smaller side, leaving out a piece in the front. Make a pull-through knot.

Braid the front piece, then pull it and the remaining hair from the top section together in a low pigtail. --For toddlers or shorter bangs do the front piece first. Put it into a pony or pull-through, then add it to the top section.--

For the other side, leave the bangs and front piece out but do the same for the top and bottom sections.

Okay, this top part may look funny and this is one of those moments I Really wish I had video capabilities. ;) You want to take the bangs and a small part of that side-front piece, brush it all straight forward to the hairline and then straight up. I suggest holding it in place here and adding hairspray for umph. Add an elastic several inches up.

This is the really important part to getting that 'bouf' rather than a flat twist. You want to twist the elastic straight down. For Alex's short hair, it was just two little turns. Then comb that side piece straight up, lay it in line with the 'bouf', and secure it with an elastic to the first piece.

I was totally out of bobby pins. (Yes, for shame!) So, I just used a cute clippie to hold this part in place. I left the end hanging. For longer hair, you could add a braid to this end piece and add it to the pigtail.

I straightened the ends, and voila! Now for the tons of pics from today. ;)

Her "Barbie Girl" bows were a proposal set I had made for a dance studio. They went with something else, but Alex was perfectly happy to keep them! ;)

Here's the one smile I got for the whole day. Go figure she was standing by our old Jeep. ;)

I thought we were finished with pictures after we got inside, but Alex ran into my office with these arm warmers. So adorable! ;) And then we got to talking about her new Tink shirt she was wearing. She had a different pose for each word... this one was "Fun"

and here's "Spunky"

I believe this last one is "Tough" or maybe "Feisty" ;)

 Now for the new product! I have to say how impressed I am with the new spray! So far, I love it! And at $15.00/bottle, that's a good thing! ;) But really, these last pics were a few hours after I had fixed her hair. It was still all in place and calmer than it usually is after just 20 minutes! I have used other defrizzers and found them greasy, but this one seems to just add some extra moisture and vitamins or something.;) It detangled faster and easier than others we've used without being grimy. And the very best part of the whole thing is the smell! Alex and I both love it, something pretty rare! ;) Overall, I give TIGI's "BORN TO ROCK" Leave-In Detangler & Defrizzer 5 out of 5 Stars!

  

Sailor Moon

Alex had bangs once before, despite my wishes. (Drama Boy cut her hair! It is still growing out in a few places...) So, I was a little reluctant to cut them again. Turns out, I LOVE them! ;) We went with sweepy, longer bangs because of her natural wavy curl and soft/fine hair. Here's the new look...

Now, for the style: Anyone familiar with the animated series "Sailor Moon"? It is an older show, but one of the first asian cartoons to become really popular in the US. Well, this hairstyle is from the show, but the basic idea is really popular amongst children models for asian clothing stores online and Alex has requested it numerous times. 

7Right, so here it is. We started by pulling up just the front, leaving out her new bangs.

Actually, I thought it was really pretty at this step, but promised the piggies... Next, I sectioned out the remaining hair, basically into quadrants.

I put pull-through knots in the bottom two. You can do these with a topsy turvy, but I just stick my rat-tail comb through the middle and then poke the elastic through. Pull the hair tight and it comes out the same. ;)

I pulled up the pull-through ends diagonally and added them to the top section, making pigtails.

I added 1/2 of the very top ponytail in to each pigtail.

The last step is the bun. Just take a very small piece out of the ponytail and do not include it in your bun.

Use the rest of the hair, twisting it and then wrapping it around the small piece. Pin it down or add an elastic to hold in place. If using an elastic, be sure to pull the extra piece all the way through each time. That's it, you're done! ;)

(Oh, and here's another secret for working with toddlers... download a couple of games on your phone just for those really cranky moments! She has only played with my phone a handful of times, so she felt pretty special. And it entertained her well enough that she didn't want me to be finished! ;)