Waterfall Twists into Mermaid Braid | Cute Hairstyles

May 12, 2013

Feel free to follow CGH on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos of our hairstyles and family!

Many fans have emailed or tagged me in photos from Pinterest and Instagram asking me to film a mermaid braid tutorial.

To be honest, I haven’t loved the style enough to film one because I didn’t particularly like how the strands pulled into the braid from the front and sides.

Thinking about it for some weeks now, it hit me that we should create a hairstyle combination using the Waterfall Twists as a base for the style… and then use the falling strands of those twists as the “add-ins” for the Mermaid Braid!

When I tried it out, as soon as I released the braid… it nearly took my breath away! We L-O-V-E-D it!!!

CGH#3 wanted to be my model knowing that today is Mother’s Day, and she asked to do the video introduction as well! Isn’t she adorable???

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 small hair elastic, hairspray, and accessory {if desired}.

Time Requirement: 8-10 minutes

Skill Level: Hard

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Begin by brushing hair, and making a center part right down the head…
2. Complete a waterfall twist on both sides of the head, beginning near the temples and ending at the back of the head…
3. Take the ends of both twists {you should have 4 strands total} and create three strands from them {I do this by joining together two strands, one from each side, to create one strand}…
4. Now begin a simple braid….
5. After one complete stitch, pick up the nearest waterfall strand {the hair running through the twist} on the left side of the head and add it into your left-most braid strand…
6. Now pick up the nearest waterfall strand on the right side of the head and add it into your right-most braid strand…
7. Next, complete a regular braid stitch without adding in any hair {this will space out the stranding and create the mermaid braid look}..
8. Repeat Steps 5-7 by adding in the waterfall strands until you run out…
9. After all waterfall strands are included, finish the rest of the hair off into the simple braid…
10. Secure with a hair elastic…
11. Add any accessory or ribbon as desired.

Enjoy!

Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you think, and as always… feel free to share!

Happy Hairdoing!

* Note from Mindy: Google Reader will be shutting down on July 1st, so if you want to follow our blog… you can do so at BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader for women!

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Wrap-Around Prim Braid | Catching Fire | Hunger Games Hairstyles

April 14, 2013

It looks like Lionsgate has been releasing sporadic photo stills from the upcoming Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire!

The one that I am most interested in shows Prim embracing Katniss right after her sister returns home from the games.

What I love about this photo is that it symbolizes Katniss’ promise to her younger sister that she would return to her, a promise that she kept.

The released photo shows a good side shot of a super-cute braid that Prim is wearing! The hairstyle looks like a variation of the Katniss braid, but leaving some hair down in the back. {The movie still is credited here.}

Taking a quick look at the photo, my girls and I deducted that it is a winding braid, using a lace braid technique along the partline and forehead. Then, right about the right temple, the braid turns into a Dutch braid until just behind the right ear, then back into a lace braid diagonally around the back {allowing for hair down}. The braid is then finished into a simple braid that can be worn down in the back or over the shoulder.

For another super-cute look, you could continue the diagonal braid as a Dutch braid instead of a lace braid… giving your a beautiful variation of the Katniss braid from the original movie and Catching Fire!

If you would like us to replicate more “Catching Fire” hairstyles, simply let us know in the comment box below! And… if you loved this tutorial, PLEASE BE SURE TO SHARE IT!

Get practiced up on this hairstyle, because I feel it will be one that millions of young girls will wear to see Catching Fire when it releases in November, 2013!!!  I know Brooklyn and Bailey are anxious to see it!

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, curling wand, 1 small hair elastic, hairspray {if desired}.

Time Requirement: 5 minutes without texture, 10-12 minutes with curls added.

Skill Level: Hard

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. {Optional} You can use a TopStyler to add curls previous to braiding, which is what the Hunger Games hairstyle team uses, but I used a NuMe curling wand to add texture to the hair.
2. Begin by creating a deep side part on the left side of the head…
3. Pick up a small section of hair at the back left of that part, closest to the crown. Separate that section in to three smaller strands, and begin a Dutch Lace Braid.
4. Creating a lace braid, you add in hair only on the side of the braid closest to the part line.  Continue directing the Lace Braid towards the face…
5. As you get to within about an inch of the hair line, begin to curve the braid slightly to create a soft arc shape…
6. As you complete the arc, just above the right temple, you will need to begin adding hair into both sides of the braid by using a few stitches of a regular Dutch braid.  This is because you will also want to incorporate the bottom hair so that it isn’t in the face…
7. Continue the Dutch braid till you get to right above the ear…
8. angle using the Dutch lace braid technique seen in the video.Once you reach directly above the right ear, you will want to switch back to forming a Lace Braid.  {You will only be adding hair into the top side of the braid nearer to the top of the head.}  Remember that Prim has long hair remaining below the braid that flows down her back.  Using a lace braid for the diagonal braid in the back will allow the bottom hair to remain, like a half-up/half-down hairstyle, just as in the photo.  From the top of the right ear to the bottom of the left ear, you will want to create a 45 degree angle using the Dutch lace braid technique seen in the video.
9. When you get to the bottom of the left ear, make sure you tug the hair into the braid a little tighter, in that last stitch, to keep the hair from hanging awkwardly over the ear.
10. Once you have gathered up all the hair into the Lace Braid, finish it off using a simple braid, and secure with a hair elastic.
11. Spritz with hairspray, if desired.

Here is the video tutorial… enjoy!

Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you think!

Happy Hairdoing!

* Note from Mindy: Google Reader will be shutting down on July 1st, so if you want to follow our blog… you can do so at BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader for women!

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The Nested Braid | Easy Hairstyles

April 07, 2013

For those of you who do not know, my twins, Brooklyn and Bailey, launched their YouTube channel three weeks ago! They have a handful of videos up that show a little more about their personalities and interests! If you like their channel and videos, please feel free to SUBSCRIBE!

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Today, Brooklyn wanted to show all of you an easy hairstyles that she has been using lately.

I asked her if she wanted me to do the style on her, and she replied with a smile, “No, I can do it!”  {That teenager independence, or twindependence, is already making its appearance!}

Brooklyn was still a little nervous to do this tutorial on her own, but keep in mind that she just turned 13 a few months ago.  If you feel she did a great job, feel free to leave a comment below!

This “Nested” Braid uses a simple braid from the bang area, down the right side of the forehead, and then incorporated along with the middle strand of a simple side braid.

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 small hair elastic, 1 hair band, hairspray {if desired}.

Time Requirement: 3-4 minutes

Skill Level: Easy

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Begin with a deep part, allowing most of the hair to fall to one side of the head {middle parts will not look as good with this hairstyle}…
2. Pick up a medium section of hair near the forehead on the front side of the hair, where the majority of the hair lies…
3. Begin a simple three-stranded braid with this section {this is a great way to incorporate bangs to keep them out of your face}…
4. After finishing the braid, secure the end of the braid with an elastic matching your hair color…
5. Now swoop the rest of your hair loosely over to the right shoulder, and divide it into three strands to create a simple side braid…
6. Add the original braid from the forehead into the middle strand of this side braid….
7. Once the small braid is added, make a simple side braid with all the remaining hair…
8. After finishing the side braid, secure with a hair band (feel free to remove the small elastic from the original small braid, if it shows at the ends of hair}…
9. Gently tug on the elbows of the braid to broaden it, and you are finished!

Enjoy!

Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you think! As always, if you enjoyed this hairstyle, please feel free to share it!

Happy Hairdoing!

* Note from Mindy: Google Reader will be shutting down on July 1st, so if you want to follow our blog… you can do so at BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader for women!

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Double Braid Sparkly Headband | Braided Headbands

March 31, 2013

We wanted to do a hairstyle this week that would be different than all of the other braided headbands you see out there.

This one promises to get lots of attention because of how simple it is, yet it can be accented with thin sparkly headbands that you can find inexpensively at Walmart, Target, or Claire’s, etc.

This style is perfect for girls of all ages, and would be particularly beautiful as an accent to an updo for Prom, Homecoming, or any other formal occasion!

This hairstyle incorporates two thin braids, on either side of the head, which are then brought up over the head and pinned down just below the opposite ear.

Then the sparkly plastic headbands are placed in to accent the braids to your liking. {I pancaked the front braid just a bit to add a contrast to the braids themselves, which ended up being a very good touch!}

Items Needed: Curling wand, brush, rat-tail comb, 2 small hair elastics, 4 bobby pins, hairspray {if desired}, and two thin sparkly headbands.

Time Requirement: 5 minutes

Skill Level: Easy

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Begin by brushing out the hair, and curling with your favorite curling tool {I used a 25 mm NuMe curling wand} or overnight no-heat method…
2. Hairspray the curls when you are done curling, and leave them alone for a few minutes to let cool and set…
3. {Optional} Tease the top of the hair a little, from the crown down the back, to add mega-volume…
4. Pick up a section of hair near the ear and begin to braid it over the head {make sure to braid in the direction you want the braid to lie, which is up and over… otherwise, the braid will lay funny when you are done}…
5. When braid is finished, secure with a hair elastic.
6. Repeat Steps 4 & 5 on the other side of the head.
7. Now, finger comb through the curls and smooth the top of the hair lightly with a brush, as needed…
8. Bring each braid over the top of the head, and secure behind opposite ears with bobby pins {two crossed bobby pins works great}…
9. {Optional} You can tug on the edges of the braids, like I did to the front braid, in order to pancake them.  It adds a subtle differentiation to the style.  I left the back braid alone.
10. Now, place one sparkly headband in front of the first braid, and place the second headband between the first and second braids…
11. Adjust the braids and headbands, as desired.
12. Finish off with hairspray {if needed}.

Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you think! If you enjoyed this hairstyle, please feel free to share it!

Happy Hairdoing!

* Note from Mindy: Google Reader will be shutting down on July 1st, so if you want to follow our blog… please don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader for women!

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