Double Knot, Half-up Do

I had a vision one day of how I wanted my hair to look, but could not achieve it. Out of frustration I tried something else and TADA! (don't you just love when things accidentally turn out great?)

Please ignore the weird squiggly-ness going on about the first knot, I fixed that before I left the house!

This is really a no-brainer so you can probably figure it out just looking, but if not...

This works well with damp hair. Start by sectioning off a bit of hair on either side of your part (notice I don't use all the hair in the top half of the head, I find when I do I cannot get the knot to lay flat)

Use a comb or brush to smooth down the rest of the hair (this will avoid the unfortunate squiggly loose-ness seen in the first picture)
Now take the section of hair from each side of the head to the back and tie it in a simple knot, just like when you start tying your shoes

I don't really know what is going on here, but hopefully you get the basic idea...

Now add a thin section of hair, from under the original sections, to each strand of the knot

Make a second simple knot. If you crossed right over left the first time do it the same way this time, or vice-verse (cross the same side over top again).
Use a small rubber band to tie off the two sections of hair, underneath your second knot, like so:

Separate the hair in the ponytail in half and pull (like when you tighten a normal ponytail) to force the elastic up, under the knot. And you are done.

Later when my hair was dry I added a few curls to the remaining hair.

I don't know what was up with my hair the day I took these photos, but it was abnormally thick, so the second knot looks way weird...The first knot is also sitting a lot lower on my head than normal... I don't know what was going on. I promise this normally looks better. Try it and see!

I got the basic idea of this from Shaunell's Hair (or Pretty Hair is Fun, I don't know what you would like to be called anymore... :) ). Check out her video for the Daisy Chain Braid to see the process I used here.

I hope you like this quick and easy style to produce a unique look! Thanks for stopping by.

Simple, Elegent Updo

Oh man I am so excited to be back up and running! Hopefully someone will still stop by and read this blog every once and a while. 

This hairdo is SUPER easy. It literally takes 10 minutes, start to finish. I think it has a simple elegance to it that makes it perfect for a special occasion, but honestly, its so quick and easy that I wear it to run errands!

Usually I don't like to style my hair when its wet, but this one really only works for me with wet, or at least very damp hair. So to start, wet or dampen hair (my preferred method? take a shower!) then add your favorite gel or mouse all over the hair.

Make sure your hair is detangled throughout.

I like to start with a side part, and because this is a pretty slicked back 'do make sure the part is nice and crisp

Okay, then section off the top half of you hair, like you are making a half ponytail:

Using a fine tooth, or rat tail comb, smooth this all out.

Give this hair a half twist. Make sure the twist is nice and tight to your head. Think of this like a French twist, only going downward instead of up.

Now you are going to bobby pin this twist to your head.I usually use about 5 pins to do this. To give the twist its shape I like to put the first pin in at the bottom of the twist like so:

I know its hard to see, but the arrow gives you an idea of the direction I push the pin

I couldn't really take pictures of this process while I did it because it takes two hands. One to hold the twist and the other to manoeuvre bobby pins. To pin your twist, slightly open the prongs of your bobby pin (gross I know, but I use my teeth to help me do this), gently stick those prongs into the twist, not to far, then drag the pin over to the open side of the twist, trying to grab some of your anchor hair (hair on your head) then shove that bad boy right into your twist.  I know that sounds really confusing, but your basically just drawing a quarter of a circle with the folded end of your bobby pin and shoving it into the twist. Clear as mud right?
But, here is what you have now:

If you pin well, this is a beautiful style all on its own!

Okay, hard part over, it is all easy from hear on out.

Make a ponytail about two finger spaces down from your twist (this is going to depend on the thickness of your hair, if its thinner go closer, thicker leaver more space)

Now make a rope braid in your ponytail, tie it off with a small elastic that will be easy to hide in your bun. The twisty braid will give a cool dimension to the bun.

Then simply wrap that braid around to shape a bun. Don't do this to tightly, you want this kind of flat on the head.
Tuck the elastic you used under one of the loops that forms in your bun from the rope braid :

the arrow shows where I am shoving the elastic, I use a couple bobby pins to secure it hidden away

Use bobby pins to secure your bun where needed. Be careful not to cover your pretty twist, but try to get your bun to hit right up against it.

Accessorize if you want (I chose no) and you are done!

Side view

Top view (kind of)

from the back

and the front

That's my simple elegant do. What do you think?

Side Swipe Dutch Braid with Ribbon

I always see these beautiful ribbon style on other hair blogs, but they are just too cutesy for me to wear. This was my compromise (sorry there are no step by step pictures but its easy, I swear!)

I seriously needed to colour my hair at this point.. Don't judge me I was busy with school!

 I started by making a Dutch Braid (if anyone needs a tutorial on this let me know) but instead of going straight down the head, I made it slant to one side.

Now you will need a piece of ribbon at least twice the length of your braid. Starting at the first plait of the braid, tuck one end of the ribbon into the hair and bobby pin it in

follow the arrow

Now thread the other end of the ribbon into a plastic craft need

I got a two pack of these at Walmart for 1$

(a safety pin will work too, or if you are patient and gentle you can just use your fingers to weave the ribbon through). Now following one strand of your braid, weave your ribbon through the braid. Do this one plait at a time or your ribbon will tangle up on your. Also don't pull too hard or you will unpin the ribbon at the top.

At the end of the braid I used tiny clear elastics to make a little bow. You could also just wrap the elastic with the ribbon, or trim off the extra ribbon.

Not that you care, but I cannot believe how much my hair has grown since this picture (May)

That's all!

Do you think its too cutesy? Would you wear this style?

Front French Braid into Messy Bun

I don't know what it is, but I am just really into side ponytails/braids/buns this summer! Two weeks ago I showed you the Front French Braid, and here is a second day style to go along with that. (FYI: I REALLY hate taking pictures of myself...but love sharing my hair-dos)

Please excuse my cranky face...

I tend to keep the braid in over night because it keeps my hair out of my face with essentially no damage to the hair. In the morning I brush out my hair, re-do the french braid, this time adding a few more french stitches and completing the braid to the end of the hair.

Then gather all hair (braid included) into a low side ponytail. You can leave it at that if you want. But, to take it further, create a big 'ole messy bun out of that ponytail. Add an accessory of choice and hairspray of course! And you are set to enjoy yet another beautiful summer day  ;) (enjoy it because its nearly over!)

From the back

Side view

As you can see I am not to concerned with this braid being neat and tight, I think it softens that look... What do you think?

What is your favorite look this summer? And how much do you hate taking pictures of yourself?

Also, wish me luck as my finals start tomorrow!

Wrapped Side Ponytail (Bohemian look)

This is a really simple way to dress up a side pony tail. I used a thin ribbon, but it would look cute with yarn or twine too! This ribbon has texture to it so it holds better, I think a silky ribbon would slip down too much...

Make a loose side ponytail and tie it off with a thin elastic (I like the clear Goody Ouchless). Slip your ribbon or string through the back of your elastic. Then wrap it around the elastic a couple times to hide it. Then begin crossing the ribbon/string down the ponytail for a couple of inches.
You can space the crosses as close or far away as you like. At the end wrap your ribbon/string around a couple times again and tie it off. I left the tail, but you could trim them off if you prefer.

As the day went on the layers in my hair started to poke out over the ribbon some. I liked the messy look, but of you don't want that, use some product on the ponytail first to clump the hair together, then make the crosses closer together.

I would love to have longer hair for this one. I think it would look so nice if you could tie the hair off at the shoulder and wrap down from there, rather then up so close to the head. If anyone with long hair tries this please, please, please send me a picture!

Do you like the Bohemian style that is popular right now? How would you describe your personal sense of style?
I would describe my style as preppy and feminine; although I do like to experiment with different looks occasionally (hence this one!)

Front French Braid

Just a simple idea for today (excuse the sloppy-ness, I was in a hurry the day I took this):

Some people call this the Lauren Conrad braid, or Braided Bangs... whatever you want to call it, I think its a really sweet style. I wear it AT LEAST once a week! It looks good on straight, wavy or curled hair. Tightening or loosening the braid also gives you variety with the style. An inside out, or dutch braid is also really nice for this style. I love this style for summer because its so laid back and easy, plus it just makes me think of the beach for some reason.

I also like this one because it looks like and works as a headband, but you don't actually have to use a headband! Because this style is so simple I didn't include a tutorial, but if anyone wants that, just leave a comment.

Does anyone else over-use this style? Or, what is your favorite simple summer style?

Securing a Headband

Right now I am absolutely obsessed with headbands and side ponytails! I cant get enough of either hairstyle, and don't EVEN get me started on dos that combine the two!!


What I really like about headbands is that they look great on girls of all ages. You just need to adjust the thickness and colour to suit your own style.

This tutorial is really basic, but I have been asked by so many people how I manage to keep my headbands in place. And let me tell you, it took me a long time to be able to wear them (I must seriously have the most ill-shaped head imaginable). Also, my head is very small so not many story bought headbands actually fit me, this technique will help keep most in place. However I really like using ribbon or fabric to create my own, in these photos I have on a ribbon, which I got at Walmart. The brown is very neutral in my hair, so the headband is not terribly flashy (which is fun sometimes), but the pink polka dots make it cute and feminine, just the way I like it!

I like to clip my hair up or put it in a ponytail for ease while I do this. Always start with a long piece of ribbon, you can but it down later. Wrap it around the head and make a simple knot in the back, under the hair. If you are using a thick piece of fabric or have really thin hair, you can also use a small elastic (the clear ouchless kind) instead of the knot.


Now secure the headband in place behind each ear by making an "X" over the ribbon.


Take the hair out of your temporary ponytail or clip. Brush it into place and your set for the day.

Headbands are also cute with a number of different dos. Check back and your sure to see more from me this summer, like I said, I'm obsessed! But in the mean time

How often do you wear a headband? What type is your favorite? and what kinds of cute styles do you wear with them?