12. Topsy tailed Dutch braid
Date: Sunday, September 9th 2007 @ 10:51 - Subscribe
Time needed: 12 minutes
This is a fun messy looking variation to a Dutch braid. Basically you start out by making a Dutch braid, starting about halfway on the back of your head and tie it off just like normal.
Now you will need a topsy tail tool, you cannot do this style without it. Stick the topsy under the braid, starting at the nape, and then carefully slide it up till it pops out right above where the braid starts, in the center. It may be a good idea to invest in a second mirror at this point so you can double check your hands on this one.
Pull the hair through the topsy tail and slowly start moving it upward. Then remove the tie just before it gets sucked in so the braided tail stays braided for as long as possible. You don't want the braid to start undo'ing itself before you have pulled the tail through to keep things nice and neat as you are fiddling. You may want to keep your head upside down at this point to avoid the weight of the tail sliding it back out.
Pull the topsy through completely, at times maybe aiding the thing by pressing it a bit flatter to make it pass through tighter spots more easily. When it is fully through, check at the nape if there is nothing wonky there, pull the tail a little further or pull it down at the nape to correct things, and then grab your favorite hair toy (I used a Flexi-8) to secure the style. Make sure to grab all of the Dutch braid and slide it closely along the scalp to ensure you have the topsy tail secured. You can do this all the way up where the tail comes out, or even half way up or at the nape as your braid will keep the hair centered after all. It's your choice.
It looks a bit like a peacock twist, but much more even as you don't have to twist your hair, so it is also more hair friendly in fact.
Here is what this looks like on me:
And a bit wonky picture with the tail lifted to show the Flexi-8 that is holding it in place.
Good luck!
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11. Dutch braid
Date: Sunday, September 9th 2007 @ 10:31 - Subscribe
Time needed: 10 minutes
This is a variation on the French braid (instructions can be found under style number 9). The only real difference is that the side strands cross under instead of over the middle strand.
The basic technique is the same, but since you cannot let go of a strand like is done in the French braid technique you will have to find a way to hold three strands in one hand.
The easiest way that I found to do this is to hold the outer strand (the one on the side of your ears) in your ring finger and pinky, the middle strand in your middle finger, and the inner most strand (the strand that gets hair added to it) in your index finger. This way you can get the fingers looped around the hair strands easily and it leaves the other hand free to grab the new hair from the scalp.
Though this technique is a bit harder than the French braid, it is much more forgiving in its neatness as the braid will lay much more snug against the head than the French one, since the actual braid is laying on top.
Here is the result on me:
Good luck!
Observances
For whatever reason when I finish braiding and put the pony tail holder in, I find that strands of hair are not making it to the end of the braid. Whether that is the braiding technique or an error on my part I don't know, however to avoid this you might want to tie the hair off a little higher than normal, leaving a longer tassel.
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10. Double French braid
Date: Sunday, August 26th 2007 @ 09:22 - Subscribe
Time needed: 15 minutes
Moving along from the French braid below, you an also create a double French braid. The variations are endless. I opted to let the two tails join into one braided tail, but you can let the tails end in one regular pony tail, two regular pony tails, or two braids as well. It is all a matter of preference.
The way this is done is basically the same as with the single French braid, just that you are doing it twice. You start off with a center part on your head all the way down to the nape, and the easiest way to go about it is to put the side that you are not working on in a side pony tail to keep the hair out of the way as you are working on the other side.
Be careful not to make the braid end up too high, it looks nicer when it ends up closer to the ears than too high so you can see them from the side. It is tricky to get them in the center, but, as always, practice makes perfect.
Here is a video on how to create a regular French braid, the whole proceedings are basically the same. To make them end up together in one braid simply braid on till a little past the nape, tie it off and do the other side. Then when you get a little past the nape with that one, take the tie out, join the two tails, and braid on as one.
Here is what it looks like on me from the back (note that this is a little messy, but is WAS only my second attempt at doing this style):
And from the sides:
Good luck!
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9. French braid
Date: Sunday, August 26th 2007 @ 09:08 - Subscribe
Time needed: 10 minutes
Sorry for the long gap between styles. Life happens at times.
The French braid is a fun style for when you have shorter hair. It is easy enough to catch the shorter hairs in it.
The creation of the French braid takes a little time but it easy enough with the right instructions. I can try to describe how it is done, but it is much easier to explain this with a video as images speak a thousand words.
Here is a video with instructions on how to do this on others, and on yourself.
Finally, this is how the French braid looks on me:
Good luck!
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8. Topsy tail braided bun
Date: Friday, August 10th 2007 @ 17:15 - Subscribe
Time needed: 5 minutes
This is a very cute looking style, and quite easy to do. It is also a very secure style when done with sticks, however you can secure it with a comb or even tiny claw clips as well. I opted for the latter to make things stand out better.
The first thing to do is make a low braid and tie off the end. Now place your hands right above the tail and part the hair in the center, creating a little tunnel going through the hair. Now flip your head forward so the braid goes up and carefully tuck the entire length of the braid through the hole. Bring it up yet again and guide it through once more.
How many times you have to do this depends on the length of your hair. I don't know what the limit of this will be though, you'll have to see what is possible.
The tassel of the braid you can tuck in the left and right of the center hair beside the bun part. Secure the bun using two or three claw clips, making sure the ends cannot flip out of their confinement.
Here is a picture of this updo on myself:
Good luck!
Observances
You will have to find out whether or not you can leave the tassel tie in place. I find that for me it is easier to keep it on the braid end, since it helps secure the updo, but of course without one is definitely preferred.
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