What is a Dutch Braid?

A reader asked me this question (so psyched about my first question!!! :):):)) :
Hi, I am just wondering, is a Dutch braid the same as a French braid?

I am so glad you asked Raych. The simple answer is no, a Dutch braid is not the same as a French braid.

But they are REALLY similar. If it helps, Dutch braids are also called Inside-out French Braids, Outtie Braids, or Underhand French Braid. They are occasionally referred to as Cornrows also, but that is incorrect as Cornrowing calls for a different braiding technique than Dutch braids (although the end result is quite similar).

The standard braid requires the braider to cross the outside strand OVER the middle strand. When French braiding, you are still crossing the strands OVER the middle, but as you cross each section you are adding in hair to anchor the braid to the head. (clear as mud right?)
Now Dutch braids, or however you want to call them, are made with only one change: you cross the outer strands UNDER the middle section (hence the Underhand braid title).
Here are some pictures to show the different results.

French

Dutch

French

Dutch

A lot of people naturally braid in the underhand way, thus producing the popping out braid when adding hair.Some find it difficult to train their hands (and brain) to cross the hair the way they are not used to, but I promise you if you can do one style of braid you can do both. It just takes a little practice at first.

Both styles of braid are really cute and can usually be used interchangeably in styles, for a slightly different look. Occasionally one of the variations will lend itself better to a style, as is the case with this one (where the question came from. In this style I use the Dutch Braid because it pops out from the head. This is useful because I think it help emphasize the braid and it make it easier to lace the ribbon through it. You could of do it with a regular French braid, it would just yield a different end result. If you do try it out with a regular French Braid I would LOVE to see pictures so be sure to email me!

Updo with Some Embellishments

This is a really quick and simple updo. I have "dressed it up" by adding a french braid going up to the bun. It doesn't show up to well in the pictures, but is really beautiful in person.

I am currently growing out bang so I added a braid in the front to keep them back. I secured the braid with x-ed bobby pins. Add or eliminate this step as you wish.

To create this 'do, you need to create the braid going up the back of your head. I tried to take pictures of this process but I couldnt.
Just bend forward so all your hair hangs over your head, brush it out really good. Section off hair at the nape of the neck and begin your braid. French braid as you normally would, except you are moving up the head instead of down. Just keep bend forward and let gravity assist you.
Stop French braiding at about the temples.
Gather all the front hair to meet the reverse French Braid and tie it off in a ponytail. (If you are classy you might want to choose a less obscene elastic colour than I did. I am not so classy today!)

ponytail is lifted to show off the braid

It can be fun to end here. When you turn your head the french braid pokes out and people get really impressed...

Okay, now you need to curl up that lovely ponytail. Use a curling iron, a flat iron, hot rollers, sponge rollers, etc. Whatever works for you in the amount of time you have.

Now take a small section of hair. Using the curl as a guide, roll it up towards the head.

Then pin it down. Don't worry about it being too tightly pinned, but loose loops are what we are going for.

Repeat the rolling and pinning

No science to it, just make it BIG

To loosen the look, start rolling some sections halfway up the strand. Leave the curled tail out loose.

Here's it is about halfway done. You will want to pause at this time and use a mirror to look at the back of your head. Check to see if both sides are looking even, if things are looking tight or loose enough for you and that you have enough little curls dangling out for your liking.

Then more rolling and pinning. I probably rolled about 8 sections. It's really fast. When all the curls are pinned up, you can use extra bobby pins to mess around with the bun and get it how you like.  You may want to use a small curling iron to touch up some of the loose curls. Whatever you want. Accessorize if that is your thing.

Finished view from the side

And the back

notice the loose pieces, there could be more in my opinion, but whatev' :)

Top/Front-ish View

 
Again, it is hard to see, but that braid going up the back is really nice in person

Its been a LONG time since I have posted a hairstyle. I hope you guys like this one.
I think this would work nicely for a prom or bridesmaid style. What do you think?

Time Saver

Since it is Wednesday I figured I would share with y'all a time saving tip that works for me.
 Lets face it, who REALLY has enough time in the morning?!

I don't usually like styling my hair when it is wet because it often looks to tight or slicked back for my liking. I also don't like to cause undue to stress on my hair by over manipulating it when its wet. Even more than styling wet hair, I do not like blow drying my hair! It takes FOREVER and makes my hair really limp.

Solution?
I wash my hair at night, then let it naturally dry while I sleep.

I have been known to wake up looking like Cousin It at time, but I find that straightening or curling will easily solve the problem. Or, and more often, I  just put my hair up and no one is any the wiser.

Added bonus when its hot out in the summer I have a really cold shower right before bed and my cold wet hair keeps me cool enough to fall asleep!

Washing at night works for me, what about the rest of you? How do you fit more into your morning routine?

Where I've Been...

...back in the dark ages!

 Just kidding. Although that is what it seems like...

Growing up sucks!
Due to graduating and finding new jobs, we got to move at the start of the year. But this meant WAY more expenses than I am used to and no more student loans/discounts to rely on. Also, it took a while for my work to pick up. So all this added to having to make decisions and gas money beat out internet expenses (it was a close race though...). I occasionally went online at the library to check email and read a few blogs because I am addicted so I could still feel like a part of the circle, but it has been a strange four months. I knew I was a Google junky, but I didn't realize just how much I relied on my internet connection to get through my life. Paper maps and actual cookbooks are way less practical than their electronic counterparts!

Anyway, things have normalized and bank accounts have turned back into positive numbers so we have allowed ourselves the privilege of internet again! YAY!  I am sure this is how people felt when they got indoor plumbing, I am that excited! So stay tune, I've got a lot to say.

Top 50??

Holy cow!
Lori over at Masters in Teaching has compiled a list of the top 50 hair blogs and little old me made it. Go check it out: http://www.mastersinteaching.com/top-50-hair-blogs-and-articles/
Can you believe it?
There are a lot of great blogs mentioned on her list (who knew there were so many?). Her brief description of each lets you easily navigate what your looking for, so if your in need of new information or inspiration check out the blogs she has linked.

Thanks Lori, I am totally honoured to be noticed, especially since I have really been slacking around here...

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.

The 5 (hair related) Items I Can't Live Without

Ok, the title might be a bit of an exaggeration, BUT I do have issues about hair and without these things my life would not be complete.

#1: My combs:

This wide tooth comb has been with me longer than my driver's license. I lost it for about 8 months and it was horrible. If she ever broke I would likely cry. On a less insane note, wide tooth combs are a must for everybody, its the safest way to detangle wet hair. Brushes cause hair to stretch (which wet hair is vulnerable to do anyway) and break easily, and rat tail type combs' teeth are to close together causing too much pulling and stress for wet hair. You could probably get away with a normal tooth comb, but I don't own one.
As for my rat tail comb, that's much newer to the collection and let me tell you, I will not go back to parting without it! I do not use the tail like a lot of people, I use the teeth. I find that the super close together teeth make a really crisp line. Delicious!

#2: Goody brand Ouchless Ponytail Holders

These elastics are a cut above. I am cheap, I'm sure I mentioned that before, so I have definitely tried different brands, dabbled with the dollar store knock-offs, yada yada. These bad boys are worth every penny. Once in a blue moon I have one loose its elasticity or snap in half. But it is NOTHING compared to every other brand I have used. Last year for Christmas my mom bought me a pack of bands from the Dollar store, 11 out of 12 elastics snapped before I could get them in my hair. The twelfth broke mid day (whilst my hair was in a ponytail I might add....). Don't even bother.

#3 Bobby Pins:

Love them! My mom hates them. She is of the old school belief that bobby pins are not meant to be seen, and while that might be nice in some classy looks, one a day to day scale bobby pins have become sort of trendy. Plus they are so useful!! How else would we keep our pesky half grown out bangs out of our faces? Or tuck in the those silly hairs that poke out of french braids? And what would a bun be with out a few bobby pins? NECESSARY! (I will add I didn't always have the fancy bobby pins from Sally's, I usually just get the cheapest Goody ones available, and while the expensive ones do work a little better, its not necessary IMHO.)

#4 My Hairspray:

Love it, need it, cant live without it. No day is complete if it hasn't been used. I'm not picky about any particular brand here either. They all work and as long as it doesn't leave white flakes in my styles I'm sold.

#5 Flat Iron:

While I do not use this bad sally very often anymore (I've gotten lazy in my old age, haha!) I wouldn't trade this guy in. Well actually I would, I want a smaller on so I can use it to curl as well but yeah... Anyway I used to use like Revlon or Conair straighteners and they worked pretty good, but never lasted more than a year. Then I got rich or something, and splurged on this BaByliss (actually my friends aunt runs a salon so I got it at cost, but still WAY more than my normal heat tools). Let me tell you I will never go back to the Walmart brand straighteners again. This thing is a cut above! She will get rid of any kink or curl in no time flat (pun intended!). I saw at Winners a few months back that they had the 1" Chi straighteners for like 40$ so I will be keeping my eye out for that next time I'm there.

So what hair tools/products/accessories can you not live without? Please share because it makes us all feel better when others are also hair obsessed!