Chic Hairstyles: Part 4

Dutch Braid Pigtails

By: Marley Smith

I have tired many new braids through my previous posts and decided to build my skills on a particular one, the Dutch braid. The Dutch braid is created by adding in strands while you braid. But instead of crossing the new hair over like in a French braid, you're passing it from side to side underneath.

For this hairstyle, I decided to do Dutch Braid Pigtails. The braids are created by splitting the hair down the middle of the head into two equal sections. Next you Dutch braid along your hairline until you reach the level of your ear. Once reaching the ear add in all extra hair and start braiding normally (Butcher,65). Make sure to secure the hair with an elastic so the braid won’t come apart. Do the same on the other side of the head. You will then be left with a beautiful style that frames your face!

While creating this style I learned that it is easier to use a comb to ensure that your hair is parted evenly. I also learned it could be worn in different ways. In the book Butcher claims “By stretching out the braids you’ll emphasize their shape.. to keep the look modern” (Butcher, 64). This is an important tip because it helps the braid elevate from a simple look to a more complex one.

After completing this look I was amazed with the results. It was so

simple, fast, and looked great! The braided pigtails perfectly shaped the face leaving an elegant look. Best of all it took only about 5 minutes to complete and is a perfect go to hairstyle for someone in a rush!

Would you wear a Dutch braid in pigtails?

What would you do to get creative with this hairstyle?

Citation:

Butcher, Christina. Braids, Buns, and Twists!: Step-by-Step Tutorials for 82 Fabulous Hairstyles. Apple Press, 2015.

Chic Hairstyles: part 3

Instructions With Pictures

For my third hairstyle, I decided to and up-do called Dutch Crown Braids. This hairstyle creates a crown of hair to sit on top of the hairline. It is perfect for long hair because you can pin the hair all around your head to create a double crown look.  It is a great way to wear your hair up, and perfectly frames the face making it gorgeous for any occasion.

To achieve this style, it is helpful to brush out your hair to ease any tangles. Also, the book recommends using a comb to perfectly achieve diagonally parted hair for this style (Butcher,109). Next, I started Dutch braiding all the way around the hairline adding hair in from the part line of the model’s hair. The last step is to take the braids and to pin them along the hairline to create a crown look.

Me braiding one side of the models head

Tips:

In the book, it states that it is helpful to “finish the style by Stretching out the braids” (Butcher,109). When learning this tip it gave me a helpful way to make the look more voluminous. Another tip from the book was to add to the style by placing flowers in the hair (Butcher,108).  This is a good tip because it can turn the look from an everyday up-do into elegant hairstyle for special occasions.

I really recommend this braid because I was amazed by the finished look. It is a great way to wear your hair up and can be worn for many different events. However, it was a more difficult style than other ones I’ve done previously, so it is helpful to be experienced in braiding before attempting this hairstyle.

The Finished Look!

Do you like this hairstyle?

What occasions would you wear it for?

Make sure to keep an eye out for my next post to see another amazing hairstyle!

Butcher, Christina. Braids, Buns, and Twists!: Step-by-Step Tutorials for 82 Fabulous Hairstyles. Apple Press, 2015.

Chic Hairstyles: Part 1

Taming hair in the morning is stressful and time consuming, but what if there was a way to speed up this process. Well, there is! This hairstyle is both quick and easy, while still being elegant. It also suits all hair types from curly to straight and short to long! 

A book called  Braid, Buns, and Twists by Christina Butcher gives chic hairstyles that can be worn for all occasions. It provides simple how-to illustrations and photographs showing these breathtaking styles.

The first hairstyle I tried was the French Braid. I was interested in this hairstyle because the book stated “The French Braid sits close to your head and is a beautiful way to wear your hair up” (Butcher, 42). This means that this braid is a good way to get your hair out of your face. It also means the braid should start off tight so it is close to the head. From that I learned I had to start with smaller pieces of hair to achieve that. When I modeled this hairstyle on someone else, I started by using a basic braiding technique. Then, I started adding small sections of hair from each side all the way back down their head. Lastly, I secured the hairstyle with an elastic.

Tip: Make sure that the sections you add in are even (Butcher, 43). This is a really important tip because it helped me keep the braid keep straight.

Overall, I recommended this hairstyle because it is quick and easy to do. There are many variations to wear this braid, you can wear it loose for an effortless look or tightly for a more sophisticated one. It is very versatile and can be used on all hair types!

Would you wear a French Braid? If so, how would you  personalize it?

Make sure to read my next blog post to see what the next hairstyle will be!

Citation:
Butcher, Christina. Braids, Buns, and Twists!: Step-by-Step Tutorials for 82 Fabulous Hairstyles. Apple Press, 2015.

Chic Easy Hairstyles Part 4

For this next hairstyle, it will be a variation from my previous post of the Curly Front Twist called the Braided Headband. Similarly, this braid goes across the front of your head but instead of twisting, you are braiding. Starting at the front from one side of the head, you want to French braid across your head. By taking three strands of hair and putting one strand over the other, you repeat while taking more pieces from the side in between every other rotation. Once you get to the point you want to end the braid, you finish the tail of the braid and pin the braid to the side of your head with a bobby pin. A tip from Jenny Strebe in 5 Minute Hairstyles says you can create more fullness by "pulling on each section, as if you are fanning out a deck of cards" (Strebe 10).

In all this braid is very similar to the Curly Front Twist, but requires a little more skill to be able to French braid. However, once you have mastered the French braid this is also another quick, easy hairstyle to wear. Jenny Strebe also says this style is ideal for every hair length (Strebe 10). Do you prefer the French braid or the Twist braid? 

Chic Easy Hairstyles Part 3

In this third post, I would like to share one of the simplest hairstyles- the Curly Front Twist. This braid is very easy for quick mornings and to cover up that second day hair. First off, you want to have two strands of hair from one side of your head in the front, and as Jenny Strebe says in her 5-Minute Hairstyles book, “using only two strands of hair instead of three makes it a much easier choice if you are unsure of how to braid, or only have limited time!” (Strebe 104). Then, all you want to do is twist the two stands around each other grabbing more pieces of hair after every other twist, until you get to the other side of the head where you want to stop. When you get to the point where you want to stop the twist, with the two pieces of hair twist about half way and secure it with a bobby pin. A tip from Strebe is to use a little pomade if you have layers to control those flyways. Additionally you can pin the twist beneath the hair just so the bobby pin would not be visible.

Overall, this hairstyle is simple, easy but still makes you look like you put a little effort into your hair. How useful is this hairstyle to you and how often would you use it?

Eve Waters Braid #2

Eve Waters
Hairstyle #2
Jan 25th





Hello Bloggers! Last time I showed you the basic 1 french braid down the back with my model Austin. Today I wanted to spice it up a little and show 2 dutch braids. I am still using the book "The Braid" By Sarah Hiscox and Willa Burton. On page 24 the braid is called "Naomi" . The author shows the amazingly easy ways to keep it simple and cute. I had Austin be my model to show what it would look on a girl with not super thick hair nor thin. So it was perfect to show anyone could try this on themselves. I used to not be a comfortable braider but now I have lots of confidence just from at least giving some of them at least a shot. Hope you enjoy and try this at home!


My first step was gather all my materials for the braid, such as a comb and hair ties. Next I parted her hair at a slanted direction so it is not a middle part.


Next you start on one side of your head the dutch braid. The goal is to keep the braid tight and sticking to the head so it wont come undone if you decide to sleep with them in. KEY: You aren't french braiding like you would go over, over under... You will start by going UNDER over (repeat). You want the braid to be popping out of your head sort of to make sure it looks visible.
    

Continue on with under over until you reach the end of the ponytail and tie the hair tie on the end to insure it will not come undone. That is when you know that you are on the right track and have another braid left to go! Half way done!!

Continue on to do the next braid the same way as you did the first.

This is the finished product of what the hair should look like when you are done. Tight to the head and not to lose around the edges of her head.

 


This is what the book showed as the Naomi as an example.



Hope you like the braids and keep viewing them!! Thank you for taking time to read this! Any braid requests next? Should I try cornrows? I think its time for a challenge. See you soon!!

Chic Easy Hairstyles Part 2

Welcome back to my blog! In my previous post I asked how you would personalize the Full Fishtail Pony, because in this post I will continue off of that braid. In the introduction of the book 5-Minute Hairstyles by Jenny Strebe, she talks about how the braids in the book look great but it’s even better if you add your own special touch (Strebe 6). Meaning to be creative and add your own twist! 

                 After reading Strebe’s introduction, I began to look at the hairstyles and thought of ways to make them unique to me. On page 66 I had found the Braided Bun, looking at the picture steps I found them to be similar as the Full Fishtail Pony. I added my own unique touch to the Braided Bun by combing the hairstyle with the Full Fishtail Pony. Taking off where the Full Fishtail Pony ends, all I did was wrap the fishtail around in a bun and there I had a Braided Bun. The only difference between the two hairstyles was that the Braided Bun was a regular braid and you just wrapped the braid around into a bun. 

Images 1-3 Braided Bun modeled by Angela

                By making a little change in the hairstyle, I had made it personalized. The hairstyle was still quick and easy but it looks totally different. As Strede says on page 6 “Weather its adjusting the style of braid you use, or adding a special accessory, you can make each of these styles your own.” So get creative and have fun with your hair, it’s all whatever you think looks good on you.  

                How do you like your hair? Add a little twist and see what happens. Read my next blog to find out what hairstyle is next!

Chic Easy Hairstyles Part 1

Waking up in the morning is trouble enough, but what’s even more stressful is taming that hair! We tend to stick to morning routines and the basic boring looks because we just don’t have enough time in the morning. A book called 5-Minute Hairstyles by Jenny Strebe, including 50 hairstyles for the typical girl on the go, inspired me to experiment with some of the hairstyles to see if they are quick and easy while still looking good.

5-Minute Hairstyles by Jenny Strebe

This first look I tried was called a “Full Fishtail Pony”. I tried this look because "it looks great lived-in, so you don't have to worry about getting a little messy throughout the day" (Strebe 18), which means if throughout the day your hair gets messy, your hair will still be looking good. My friend Angela had volunteered to be my hair model, so getting started I gathered her hair in a high pony tail securing her hair with an elastic. Secondly I started fish tail braiding the pony tail by dividing it into two pieces and taking one small piece of hair from each side and bringing it over to the other side repeatedly. I fish tail braided until I got to the end of her hair and secured the end of the braid with another elastic. Lastly I went back to the top of the braid and slightly pulled the sides of the fishtail to make her hair look more voluminous, a tip from Strebe on page 18.

"Full Fishtail Pony" modeled by Angela

In all I recommend this look because it was very easy and quick to do. The Full Fishtail Pony is an effortless yet a very pretty braid. You can wear this braid neat or messy, which ever suits you. 

Would you wear a Full Fishtail Pony? And how would you personalize this braid? Read my next blog to learn what my following easy chic hairstyle will be!