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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Yarn Extension Fishtail Braid | Temporary Color Highlights

April 21, 2013

BONUS: Be sure to see our Disney-exclusive “Tinker Bell Hair Bun” tutorial on the DisneysStyle YT channel!

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This is not a new hairstyle by any means, and it can be seen all over Pinterest, but we wanted to show you how we create it in our household!

We were simply feeling the urge to help bring out the “Spring” feeling by filming this tutorial!  It definitely helped!

This fishtail braid with blended yarn highlights is perfect for cheerleaders and dancers, but also great for girls during Spirit Week {using school colors} or Crazy Hair Day!  My twins wore this out last week and had lots of people intrigued and taking photos!

Now, you all know that I am not a fan of highlights or permanent coloring in my young girls’ hair.

What I love about our Chalk Highlights tutorial and this Yarn Extension Braid, is that there are ways to get a cute color accents in the hair without a long-term commitment and potential chemical damage!

Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, 1 hair elastic, 12-14 yarn strands {from 3 or 4 colors} each measuring twice as long as your hair.

Time Requirement: 10 minutes, including tying in the yarn.

Skill Level: Medium

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Begin by sectioning off the top part of the hair and securing with a rubber band to keep it out of the way, leaving the rest of the hair down…
2. Now, take a yarn strand and tie it onto the base of a sectioned strand of hanging hair {you do this by placing the yarn perpendicular behind the hair and at the base, and tying a simple square knot in the yarn around the hair. To keep the knot from slipping, you can teaze the hair a little below the knot}…
3. Next, grab another piece of yarn {different color} and tie it on the next strand of hair {try to place different colors of yarn next to each other, so their is a variety}…
4. Once you have placed all your yarn strands {we used about 13 strands}. drop the remaining top hair down over the top to hide the knots…
5. Now, sweep all hair over one shoulder, gather it, and separate it into two sections…
6. Begin a regular Fishtail Braid by taking one outside tiny piece of hair, cross it over and into the other section of hair. Be sure to include a yarn strand in each section…
7. Now repeat on the other side.
8. Repeat Steps #6 and #7 all the way down {remember, try to get a strand or two of yarn in each piece you cross over}…
9. Once you have completed your fishtail braid, secure it with a hair elastic. You can also take some of the extra length of the yarn and wrap it around the elastic to hide it.  We show you how to do this in the video…
10. Lastly, go back and tug/pop out any hidden strands of yarn so that you can see them better. You can also pancake the fishtail a little to broaden the braid, soften the look, and help the colors show through.
11. Prepare for compliments!

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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