Waterfall Twists into Mermaid Braid | Cute Hairstyles
May 12, 2013
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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!
If you love this photo, please feel free to pin it!
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???
If you love this photo, please feel free to pin it!
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:
- Begin by brushing hair, and making a center part right down the head…
- Complete a waterfall twist on both sides of the head, beginning near the temples and ending at the back of the head…
- 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}…
- Now begin a simple braid….
- 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…
- Now pick up the nearest waterfall strand on the right side of the head and add it into your right-most braid strand…
- Next, complete a regular braid stitch without adding in any hair {this will space out the stranding and create the mermaid braid look}..
- Repeat Steps 5-7 by adding in the waterfall strands until you run out…
- After all waterfall strands are included, finish the rest of the hair off into the simple braid…
- Secure with a hair elastic…
- 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!
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:
- {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.
- Begin by creating a deep side part on the left side of the head…
- 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.
- 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…
- As you get to within about an inch of the hair line, begin to curve the braid slightly to create a soft arc shape…
- 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…
- Continue the Dutch braid till you get to right above the ear…
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
Comment on this post »Ladder Braid Side Ponytail | Cute Hairstyles
January 13, 2013
The twins and I will be attending IMATS in Los Angeles this next weekend {Jan 19-20} and would love to meet any fans who may also be attending. For anyone who does not know. You can learn more information about it here.
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For this weeks’ tutorial, we essentially show you two tutorials in one! First, how to create a Feather Braid, and secondly, how to use that braid to create a cute Ladder Braid into a side ponytail.
{We have used this braiding technique for awhile, although we are just now filming a tutorial… and some of my hair-blogging friends have great tutorials as well, such as Princess Hairstyles, Girly Do Hairstyles, and Babes in Hairland!}
My twins are learning how to recreate this fun braid in their own hair, which is why we show you how to use it in a cute side braid… because it is easier to do on yourself that way!
The girls love this because the braid seems much more grown up than the simple ponytail version.
You will also note that this braid has a similar fun look as a few of our other ponytail combos, such as the Braided-Over Ponytail and the Side Fishtail Combo.
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 3 small hair elastics, hairspray and accessory {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 3-5 minutes
Skill Level: Hard
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Begin by brushing all the hair over to one side, like you are gathering a side ponytail…
- Pick up a small section of hair on the underneath side of the head next to the nape of the neck, and secure the rest of the hair out of the way with a large hairband…
- Grabbing the small section, begin making a simple braid…
- As you go to cross over the outside-left strand of hair, pull out a tiny sliver-strand of hair and leave it out of the braid…
- Repeat the same with the next stitch of the braid. As you go to cross over the outside-left strand again, pull out a sliver-strand of hair and leave it out of the braid…
- Repeat until you have 2-3 inches left in the braid, and secure with an elastic. This braid is what you call a Feather Braid.
- Now, release the rest of the hair from the large hairband and pick up another similar-sized small section of hair {this time near the front}…
- Braid approximately 4-5 stitches into this braid and then add the first sliver of hair from the Feather Braid into the middle strand…
- Complete one more stitch of the braid, and again, add in the 2nd sliver of hair from the Feather Braid into the middle strand…
- Continue until you run out of slivers to use, and then finish off with a normal braid and secure with an elastic. You should have a ladder looking braid sitting on top of the remaining hair.
- Now, reach your fingers through the bottom two “rungs” of the Ladder Braid and pull the remaining hair though the rungs…
- Remove both small elastics from the side braids, gather all of the ends together and secure with one hair elastic.
Enjoy!
If you liked this hairstyle, please feel free to share!
Happy Hairdoing!
* Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader!
Comment on this post »DIY Dutch Waterfall Braid | Cute Braided Hairstyles
December 09, 2012
Last week I showed you how to create the Dutch Waterfall Braid on my daughter…
Because it is a tricky braid to learn, and because so many fans are asking for it, this week’s tutorial will show you how to do it on your own hair {DIY}!
You can see that it is the exact exact same technique, but they key to mastering the braid is learning how to “feel” for the stranding in your own hands, and without being able to see the back of your head.
Trust me, this is a braid that everyone is going to comment on! Please do not get discouraged and give up if the braid does not turn out perfect the first time! ☺ {Practice always makes perfect!}
In last week’s tutorial, I ended my daughters Dutch Waterfall Braid with a simple braid and elastic band. In this tutorial, for a more mature look, I chose to end the braid behind my left ear using two bobby pins in a crossed pattern. Once you master the braid, you can pretty much end it in any creative way you wish!
Steps:
- I started by straightening my hair, but I really think this braid would be lovely on curly hair as well. I also teased the top of my hair to create a little extra volume {creating a more mature, softer look}…
- Begin by picking up a small section of hair where you want to start the braid {I started on the front, above the right eye}…
- Divide this small section into three strands…
- Begin a normal dutch braid. This means that the middle strand will always go OVER the outer strands {or you can say the outer strands will always go UNDER the middle strand}…
- Do one complete stitch by taking the middle strand over both outer edges once…
- You now drop the middle piece and let it fall out of the way…
- This is where it gets a little tricky… now pick up a small section of hair to add back into the braid and add it back as the MIDDLE piece. Do NOT add it as the bottom piece or the braid won’t work. You have basically just dropped the middle strand and replaced it with a new strand in the exact same location.
- Now take that middle strand and cross it over the outer bottom strand. This will create the outer edge that pops out of the braid…
- You then add hair to the top-outer strand {this is exactly what you would do with a regular Dutch braid) and cross the middle strand over that one…
- You have now just finished your second “stitch” at this point.
- Repeat steps 5-7 over and over again until you get to a point where you want to finish off the braid. I tried to create a diagnol line going from my right temple to my left ear.
- When you get about 2 inches behind your left ear, twist up a small section of hair up from the left side and clip it out of the way using an alligator clip. We will use this piece later to hide the bobby pins…
- Now take two bobby pins and pin the remainer of the braid right behind your ear {making sure to “cross” the bobby pins for added security}. Your ear will also help hide the bobby pins…
- Release the clipped hair from the clip and allow it to fall freely over the bobby pins.
- Now adjust the braid and the rest of your hair to your liking, and add hairspray {if desired}.
If you are looking to use this hairstyle to attend a wedding or school dance, you may choose to curl the falling strands with a wand!
Enjoy!
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, 2 bobby pins, 1 alligator clip, hairspray {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 5 minutes
Skill Level: Hard
Happy Hairdoing!
* Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader!
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