How to Create a Banded Puff Braid

November 16, 2014

A few months ago, Alicia, my friend from high school shared a photo with me on Facebook of this hairstyle that she simply could not figure out. At first, I couldn’t either.

It took several weeks, trying to reverse engineer the style in the photo, but the girls and I finally cracked the code! Today, we will be showing you how to create a Banded Puff Braid – a beautiful faux braided hairstyle that we know you’ll love!

This technique involves the use of small banded tiebacks to create this style, threading your newest one under and up through the previous one. Then as you go, simply pancake the stitches to your liking. You can do as many, or few, stitches as you want… it’s entirely up to you!

The steps may seem confusing at first, especially in the beginning as it was for me. Then you will see that as you go along, the steps will go faster and the puff braid will take shape, and you will LOVE it!

To see your own photo recreations featured in our CGH App, feel free to tag your own photos of this hairstyle on IG with: #CGHBandedPuffBraid

We’ve stopped every time we go out wearing this braid! Women and girls will simply want to know how you created it!

You can leave this braid as we have done, or finish the bottom ponytail into a braid, tucking and rolling it all up and underneath the puff braid for a gorgeous updo. Creating this on a base of curls, would make it super elegant as well! Your options really are limitless!

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 10-12 small hair elastics, hairspray or hair wax, accessory {if desired}.

Time Requirement: 15-20 minutes

Skill Level: Medium

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Start with a middle part…
2. Next, begin by separating off the hair on each side of the head, from just behind the ears on up to the middle part line {make sure you don’t take too much hair from the top area, since the large strand will not look as nice pulled back and spread flat against the head}…
3. Now, pull both sections to the back center of the head and secure with an elastic as a tieback…
4. Then, create two more small strands from behind the ears, pulling them back and securing against the head with an elastic, however this tieback will lay right on top of the previous one…
5. Now pull the bottom tieback up through and over the second tieback {effectively switching places}.
6. Then gather two more small strands of hair from the sides of the head and tie them back with an elastic…
7. Now thread the bottom tieback up through and over the top of your newest tieback so that it now lays on top {at this point, you should notice the hair beginning a twisting pattern}…
8. Next, go back and gently tug on the elbows of the hair twists, the outside first, then the inside, to pancake them and begin creating the puffed texture…
9. Repeat Steps #4-8 until you have gathered all the remaining hair into elastics, continuing to puff the braid after every stitch…
10. Now that you’ve run out of hair, secure all remaining hair into a ponytail with an extra elastic…
11. Add hairspray, hair wax, and an accessory {if desired}.

What do you think about this Banded Puff Braid? How many ways can you think of to incorporate this fun braid into a combo? Feel free to share this with a friend you want to learn this hairstyle with you!

Happy Hairdoing!

This week, Bailey gives us all a peek into her mornings {getting up at 4:45am}, as she goes to seminary/bible study and prepares for early AM cheer practice before school. Her Get Ready with Me – Cheer Edition video is now on their BrooklynAndBailey YouTube channel! To see the video, simply click below…

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The Knotted Ponytail | Hairstyles for Girls

May 18, 2014

Our Knotted Headband hairstyle from a few years ago was such a hit, we decided to give you a similar look but in a ponytail this time!

So today Kamri and I want to show you how to create The Knotted Ponytail…

We started off with three simple flip-unders on top as an accent to the hairstyle, before pulling back into the high ponytail. If you do not know how to create these, you can see how to make flip-unders here.

The inspiration for this ponytail knotting technique came from a hair blog named Princess Piggies years ago, but we’ve never had the time to show you how to do this until now.

Essentially, if you can make the first “stitch” of tying your shoe, you can easily create this ponytail! Kamri volunteered to be my model, and I always have fun filming with her… can’t you tell??? After we were filming, she asked me if I ate too much chocolate!

Feel free to tag your own photos of this hairstyle with: #CGHKnottedPonytail

We get asked for more and more sports hairstyles, and this one sure fits in… however the hairstyle would be simply adorable as wrapped up into a bun as well!  Accent the bun with a few small twist-in flowers, and you’d have a beautiful prom or wedding updo! Enjoy the tutorial, and prepare for compliments!

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 ponytail holder, 1 hair elatic, 2 small claw hair clips, spray wax and hairspray {if desired}.

Time Requirement: 3-5 minutes

Skill Level: Easy

Step-by-Step Instructions: {Best done on wet hair}

1. Begin by pulling the hair into a high ponytail, and secure with a ponytail holder…
2. Reach to the under side of the ponytail and grab two thin strands of hair, and gently comb through them so they are uniform and with out kinks…
3. Spray some dry wax or add Pomade to help the hair strands hold their shape…
4. Then, create the first stitch of tying a shoe {take the left stand over and under the right strand, and pull tight}..
5. Using two tiny claw hair clips, now clip each end of the strands to the sides of ponytail to keep them taught and out of the way…
6. Now, again, reach back around to the underside of the ponytail and grab two more small strands of hair, comb them out, add any pomade or dry wax, and then tie them in another simple stitch in front of the ponytail {this should create a second knot about 1 inch lower then the first one}…
7. Release the hair clips and move them down to hold onto the second knot ends…
8. Continue Steps #2-7 until you run out of hair.
9. At the end of the ponytail, when you are unable to create any more stitched without hair falling out, secure with a hair elastic…
10. Go back and gently position the knots to the desired look, and add hairspray {if desired}.

Hope you enjoy the CuteGirlsHairstyles App, and more importantly, continue to share these Sunday evenings with our family!

Happy Hairstyling!

Want an absolutely hilarious family game that is sure to generate laughs and memories? BrooklynAndBailey uploaded a video last week of our kids playing Jelly Belly’s Bean Boozled, a roulette version of the Jelly Bean Challenge featuring flavors like Stinky Socks, Moldy Cheese, Barf, Rotten Egg mixed in with similar colored fruity jelly beans! Click below to get a few laughs…

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Pull-Through Braid | Easy Hairstyles

November 17, 2013

My favorite hairstyles over the years happen to be the ones that are so easy to do, but they leave your friends wondering exactly how you did it!

Today’s braid is just like that! This came from Emily, a viewer who emailed me with a photo asking if I could recreate it.

The style looks something like a simple braid, but the elbows are not offset… they are exactly the same, looking like little inverted hearts sitting on top of each other.

Plus, this Pull-Through Braid is so easy, even a daddy can do it! {Although I can imagine dads getting out their Stanley tape measures to make sure that each stitch is exactly two inches long!}

In the video below, I show you how to create a high-braid version on my third daughter.

Then my oldest, Brooklyn, shows you her DIY side braid version that she did herself in about three minutes this morning.

Enjoy!

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 hair band, 10+/- small hair elastics, hairspray and accessory {if desired}.

Time Requirement: 5-7 minutes

Skill Level: Easy

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. {Optional} Add any accent twists or braids to the top, before pulling hair into a high ponytail…
2. Now, begin by pulling hair up into a high ponytail and secure with a hair band…
3. Separate the ponytail into two sections, a top section and a bottom section…
4. On the top section, slide down about two inches and add a hair elastic {you can leave it slightly loose}…
5. Next make a hole in the middle of that two-inch segment, and reach through the hole pulling through the underneath hair section…
6. Cinch the back elastic upward to create a heart-shaped segment look…
7. Now move down another two inches on your new top strand…
8. Add a hair elastic, make another hole in the middle of the new segment, pull through the underneath hair strand, and cinch the back elastic upwards.
9. Repeat Step #8 until you run out of hair…
10. Now, secure both sections, at the bottom of the braid, together with one final elastic.
11. Go back and pancake the hair {tugging on the elbows of each section} to flatten out the braid and give it a fuller, more beautiful look.

Please feel free to leave me a comment below letting us know what you think of the Pull-Through Braid!  As always, if you loved this hairstyle, please feel free to share it!

Happy Hairdoing!

Bonus Video: My twins below share a few of their favorite items for young teens who need a little help with their Christmas Wish Lists! They are so funny when we turn them loose with a camera!

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Cute Layered Ponytail | Teen Hairstyles

January 09, 2011

I saw a ponytail hairstyle very similar to this in the mall the other day, only I elaborated on it somewhat and I like how it turned out.  Today was the second day that I used it, and we were stopped all the time by people we know asking if we had posted it to the website yet… so here it is!

Side View…

This hairstyle is perfect for teens, since they are always looking for something unique, so I recognize that this hairdo may not be for everyone.

There are several variations you can use on this style… rather than lay the hair strands flat (like I did), you can twist the strands or micro-braid them.  It just depends on how you want it to look, so it really can be three styles in one.

Back View…

Front View…

Items Needed: Spray bottle, rat-tail comb, brush (if needed), 6 clear hairbands, hairspray, and accessories (if desired).

Time Requirement: 5-8 minutes.

Skill Level: Medium

If you like this hairstyle… be sure to let us know!

Happy Hairdoing!

* Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader!

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Daddy 'Do Hairstyles | Triple-Flipped Ponytail

December 14, 2010

Hi Ladies, I think you will love this one! This was the very first Daddy ‘Do hairstyle that my husband filmed (right before the Simple Braid tutorial we posted recently).

The style is really cute, and is actually one submitted by a follower on Facebook. What is unique about this hairstyle is that it looks far more complicated than it is!

It gives a similar look of the Fishtail Braid without having to spend alot of time doing the actual braid. All it takes is three simple flips and you are done!

Back View…

Side View…

The filming of this hairstyle tutorial absolutely cracked me up, because it REALLY shows how funny yet sweet it can be to have a daddy do a daughter’s hair!

First, notice how gentle he is being while trying to flip the hair, then notice how he confuses himself on how to put in a hairband… not once, but TWICE! As he misses it the second time, check out my daughter’s face! She could barely hold back her laughter (and you can hear me snickering as well)!

Items Required: Rat-tail comb, brush, Topsy Tail tool, spray bottle, three hair bands, hairspray, and accessory (if desired).

Time Requirement: 5 minutes.

Skill Level: Easy

My hubby was proud of the outcome and so was I! If you also like this hairstyle… be sure to let us know!

Happy Hairdoing!

* Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader!

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