Textured Braids | Cute Hairstyle Accents

June 09, 2013

I apologize for the delay in posting to the blog, as we have moved to Texas these past two weeks and have been without internet.  Our past two styles posted automatically on YouTube, but we did not have time to schedule these posts here before we left.  Just catching you up! xoxo

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Today’s hairstyle is a half-up, half down style that is quite a bit different than others you may have seen.

It is also very easy to do. CGH#3 volunteered to do the style, and it was perfect because her hair showcases these braids very well! You can also use one or more of these braids as accents in any hairstyle.

The braids are very similar to our Loony Braids tutorial that has been very popular on YouTube, but instead of braiding with one large strand and two smaller strands… these textured braids are made reversed with “one small strand” and “two larger strands”.

The added pullback I created on CGH#3 here is optional, and if you choose to use it, you will need to bobby pin it to be sure it covers the third braid…

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 3 small hair elastics, 1-2 bobby pins and hairspray {if desired}.

Time Requirement: 5 minutes

Skill Level: Medium

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Begin by taking the top section {crown area} of hair and pulling it towards the back of head {make sure to leave about 1 inch of hair above each ear that should not be pulled back}…
2. Now, braid this section using a lopsided braid, meaning two regular strands and one small strand.
3. When you are done with this braid secure with an elastic and pancake {pull out} the elbows of the braid to add texture and shape to the braid…
4. Now, pick up a section of hair on the right side and repeat another lopsided braid . Try to use a section similar in size to the first braid {do not grab the front section over the right ear into this braid}…
5. When braid is done, secure ends with an elastic and pancake the edges as you did in Step #3.
6. Now take the edges of hair over both ears, and a little hair from the left side of original braid to create a third braid of the left side.  You should be pulling the hair over the right ear across the top of the original braid.  This just adds a little extra texture and uniqueness to the braids…
7. Create the third braid and secure end with an elastic.  Pancake the elbows for added emphasis.  {Optional: Create the third braid  without crossing the hair from the right over both braids}.

Video Tutorial:

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!

Also, feel free to watch my twins’ video this week from their YouTube channel BrooklynAndBailey!  We all ate CRICKETS!!!

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Corner Flip-Under Accents | Hairstyle Tips

May 19, 2013

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

Welcome everyone to Sweet Pea’s “official” first hair tutorial! She is now two years old, super wiggly, but absolutely hilarious to watch!

I have been asked for toddler hairstyles for awhile now, and Sweet Pea was my only toddler, but my son cut off one of her corn rows with scissors about 5 months ago! We have had to wait until now for her hair to be long enough to film a tutorial!

We love the Topsy Tail, and have used flip-unders in several hairstyles over the years. Princess Hairstyles and Girly Do Hairstyles are also pro’s at showing us how to use this tool in creative hairstyles!

These corner flip accents can be done in any hairstyle alone, or in any form of combination. They are also for girls and women of all ages!

                    

For girls in sports {cheer, gymnastics, volleyball, softball, etc}, it would be perfect to combine the corner flip accents with a simple ponytail or braids.

In the video below, I show you how to create these corner flips on Sweet Pea, using a small Topsy Tail {you can find one at Claire’s, Sally Beauty Supply, Ebay, or Amazon}.

I then show you how I used the corner flips as accents on different styles on CGH#4 and CGH#3!

Enjoy!

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, toothbrush, leave-in conditioner, 3 small hair elastics, hairspray and accessories {if desired}.

Time Requirement: 3-5 minutes

Skill Level: Easy

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Begin by wetting down the hair with a spray bottle…
2. Now, part a rectangle section of hair from the left part line to the right part line about one inch deep…
3. Secure that section with a hair elastic near the right-rear corner of the rectangular part {for my daughter’s AA hair, I used a toothbrush and some moisturizer to help tame any fly-aways and frizz}…
4. Repeat Steps #2 & 3 with two additional rectangular sections so that you have a total of three…
5. Gently loosen all three elastics by pulling them away from the head, which will allow for you to flip the ponytail through…
6. On the first section, insert the thin side of the Topsy Tail tool through the hair, but under the elastic, in a diagonal direction, towards the right-rear corner…
7. Before you pull the loop of the Topsy Tail through, insert the ponytail through the loop and gently flip the ponytail under…
8. Feel free to separate the ponytail into two sections and by pulling them apart, cinch the elastic back down again…
9. Repeat Steps #7 & 8 for the next two rectangular sections.
10. Incorporate any other hairstyle combinations {braids, buns, curls, etc.) using these accents.

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!

Also, feel free to watch my twins’ video this week from their YouTube channel BrooklynAndBailey!

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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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Reverse Fishtail Braid | Cute Braid Hairstyles

May 05, 2013

Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to see BrooklynAndBailey‘s recap of the 2013 Radio Disney Music Awards, and enter their first giveaway… OPI Minnie “Minis” nail polish!

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I know that Fishtail Braids are all the rage these days, especially any that are variations of the original fishtail braid.

Recently, we have found photos on Pinterest of this cute Reverse Fishtail hairstyle, but we did not know how to recreate one. {I also just found out that Princess Hairstyles has a good tutorial on a French version of this braid.}

As you know, the stitches on a standard Fishtail Braid have a distinct “v” herringbone pattern.

Well, a Reverse {or Inverse} Fishtail Braid has an inverted “^” pattern which is very different than what you see around.

I spent a few hours a week or so ago perfecting this hairstyle on my mannequin head, and as I completed the first five stitches or so, it seemed like I was doing something wrong! Just as I figured on giving up, all of the sudden… the braid popped out perfectly! A beautiful inverse herringbone pattern!

 

I then recreated it on CGH#3 that day, and had her go show it to Bailey, her older sister. Bailey quickly asked… “How did you do that? I want to learn it!” So, last week, we were pretty much wearing reverse fishtail braids every day!

Hope you enjoy, and if you do… please feel free to share!

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

Time Requirement: 5-8 minutes

Skill Level: Medium

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Begin by combing all the hair into a high ponytail or desired location of the fishtail and secure with a hair band {I sprayed the hair with water first, to make the ponytail clean and crisp}…
2. Separate the ponytail into two equal sections…
3. Take a small sliver of hair from the outside edge of the right section, and take it behind the rest of that same section and combine it into the inside edge of the left section {in a regular fishtail braid, you would go over the section of hair, and not under}…
4. Now take a small sliver of hair from the outside edge of the left section, and take it behind the rest of that section, and combine it into the inside edge of the right section {simply the opposite of Step #3}…
5. Continue Steps 3 & 4 over and over again until you run out of hair…
6. When you get to the end of your braid, secure it with a hair elastic.
7. You may tug on the edges of the braid to soften the fishtail, and create a more romantic look, if desired.
8. Add any desired hair accessory {such as a bow, ribbon or clip} to finish it off.

If you liked this, you may very well love our other Fishtail Braid tutorials!

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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