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52updos The challenge - Subscribe
This is a blog following a personal challenge to change my work hair updo every week. In the end the idea is that I will have done 52 different updos, wait and see if I can actually make it happen.

I will give you the directions on how to do it, and post a picture of the end result on me. Some things will take a long time, other things will be done in a jiffy. There is only one thing needed: practice. Practice makes perfect!

This blog will be updated roughly every week, first to be added soon, so check back regularly for new updo's. You can easily search for an updo using the Site Search feature that you can find on the bottom of each page. If you have an RSS reader you can keep track of the new entries using the RSS feed.

Have fun!



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Also, HaloScan sometimes has something up its butt, so you might have to click a button twice if it doesn't work the first time.
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Mood: excited

52updos 1. Rope braid Tuesday, July 3rd 2007 @ 17:42 - Subscribe
This is a nice and quick updo, which you won't see outside that often and is bound to get noticed. A small girl looked at me with her mouth gaping when I was shopping yesterday, so, it worked on her! wink.gif

The rope braid is very easy to do. First you make a ponytail and tie it. High, middle, low, whatever you like is fine.

Divide the hair in two parts, holding them in your hands, left on left, right on right. Now slowly start twisting both parts clockwise with your hands. It takes a bit of practice, but when you get the hang of it you can do this pretty fast.

When you have twisted about 2 to 3 inches cross the right twisted tail part OVER the left one, this being a counter clockwise movement. Twist again for 2 to 3 inches, and cross right over left. Keep doing this until you run out of hair, tie it off, done.

This updo is actually easier if your hair isn't too long yet, otherwise you can sort out the bundle of hair by twisting the right hand one and just making sure not to get the left part entangled in it. Then when you are about 2-3 inches done, cross it over the left and start twisting the former left one. This will take you a bit longer to complete, but it can be done on any length.

Make sure not to let go of the hair strings or you can start over again. Also, don't twist too tightly or the two parts will look a bit crooked as they are starting to tangle up by themselves. You want a smooth look on your twists.

Here is a picture of what this looks like when done about half way up on the head. I added a scrunchie over the first tie to make it a bit more interesting.



Someone made a nice little video on how to do this, you can see it here.

Good luck!



Observances

1) Make sure the ponytail is well situated; the twisting tends to pull the tail a bit to the left.
2) For work I need to put a pin on each side behind the ears to avoid hair falling out on the sides.
3) This style looks better with a longer tassel than with a short one.
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Mood: pouty
Time needed: 5, video included

52updos 2. Basic ponytail Monday, July 9th 2007 @ 14:36 - Subscribe
Well.. I wanted to do something with hair sticks, but alas, for the life of me I couldn't get stuff to work, and as I didn't want to risk damaging my hair by continuously trying I gave in and decided on something else for the week.

To make the tail a bit more pretty to look at you can apply curlers to your hair. I put them in the night before and left to dry overnight. You may need to apply some mousse though to make the curls stay longer.

Here is a picture of what my updo looks like this week. I put a hair friendly tie in first and then put a nice scrunchie over the top of that.



I doubt I will have to explain the application of a pony tail, however for those wanting to see it still, this video shows how to do it. Of course you can create one high, low, side, anywhere you want it to be.

Good luck!
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Mood: trippy
Time needed: 5 minutes, excluding curling

52updos 3. Double low braid Tuesday, July 10th 2007 @ 17:55 - Subscribe
One gets tired of that ponytail rather quickly, so I moved on ahead with the styles and leave the ponytail to use when nothing wishes to work.

For this technique you need two braids. One braid is easy enough. You take three strands of hair and then move the left side over the middle one so the left side becomes the new middle one. And then you take the right side and move it over the middle one. Now the right side has become the middle one. Move the left side over the middle one, and so on and on until you reach the end of the hair and tie off.

To make two braids it is easiest to divide the hair in two, and then tie one in a low ponytail. Braid the other one and tie it off. Now take the ponytail out and braid that one too and tie it.

The basic updo is now done, but you can of course vary a wee bit. In my case I used two leather strips and made a tie of that. Start by placing the center of the leather strip right above the tie you made with the elastic, and put a single knot in it around the tail. Both leather ends that are hanging loose should be the same length, roughly. Now simply start wrapping the two ends downward around the hair and when you get to the end wrap one more time upward. Again put a single knot in it and leave the ends hanging loose. Nice and simple, and very secure. I found it more secure in fact than the usual bands. Here is a picture of my hair done this way. I put the braids on my back for the picture, but in fact they were worn on the front the whole time.



If you need a video on how to braid since that may be easier than my explanation in text, here is one that tells you how to braid on someone else and then tells you how to braid your own hair.

Good luck!
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Mood: courageous
Time needed: 10 minutes including ties

52updos 4. Cinnamon bun with hairfork Tuesday, July 17th 2007 @ 18:05 - Subscribe
The next style is up again. I had to wait until I managed to get it up really nice without any stray hairs sticking out all over. Today was that day.

All you need for this style is a hair fork. Of course you can also use hairsticks, but this was my method of choice. I used a three prong bloodwood fork for this updo, and for those curious or wanting one, I purchased mine at 60th Street Productions.

Take the hair and put it in a ponytail where you want the bun to be, and then twist the length clockwise to make one long string of twisted hair. Make sure the start of the twist is tight. Then turn the string clockwise around and around, making a cinnamon bun, as it were, until you have no hair left, and then tuck the ends under.

Take the fork and stick the prongs through the first full roll in an upward direction. Now turn slowly, making the prongs grab hair at the scalp and then making them face downward. Slowly push the fork through the bun and let the prongs come out through the outer roll at the bottom.

Here is a picture of this updo on myself. Do take note that the result will vary with the length of your hair, the thickness of it, and of course your own skill to make it work.



If you need more instructions there are pictures on this page, and she also has a video available at the bottom.

Good luck!



Observances

1) This do is very hard to get right with freshly washed hair. After one day I can get it to stay with a few Amish pins.
0 Comments
Mood: wacky
Time needed: 2 minutes