Right Turn Ahead!!!

Well when it rains in California we are in shock so us mom's must find creative outlets.  Oh and by rain I mean the sidewalk was wet when we woke up!  Ha ha ha
So as my little one got ready for a "Diva" themed party my brain had to come up with a quick hairstyle that at least would stay out of her face through the party.  After all she was going to be full of make-up and nail polish - Goodness all I could think of is having that all over her hair!   So off I embarked!   

*  I started with parting the hair on the side and making a rectangular shaped box.  I secured that hair so it wouldn't get messed up.  

*  Take the remainder of the hair and comb it back into a tight ponytail so it stays clearly out of your way.

*  Then I took about a 1 inch section of hair in the front and curved to the side (please see picture for this to make sense) and I secured that as well.

I didn't take a picture of the side
part so I added arrows to show you the
direction your comb should follow

*  Now it is time to French Braid.  I chose to do the "inside out" braid as it always shows up better on dark hair.  The only difference between a traditional french braid and the inside out french braid is that instead of bringing the hair strands "over" each other you reverse and bring them under. It takes a minute for your hands to get used to it, but you can catch on quick.  

HINT HINT HINT:  You need to be standing in front of your child when doing the beginning of this braid or it won't work and be in a straight line.  As the braid curves around you will move with it so have your child sit on a chair where you are able to move around them.  

*  When you start to come towards your child's forehead begin to curve the braid to the right and stand to the side of your child while you braid this next section.  Repeat this (except stand to the back of your child when you go towards the back.  When I braid towards the back I ask my daughter to tilt her head to the side as it helps me not to have to bend too much (she isn't a fan!) 

*  Secure the braid (just past the ear) with a small rubber band 

I took a picture of the comb because using a comb with the fine teeth like this one makes all the difference in the world when doing these smaller braids.  It helps avoid those nasty and annoying bumps!

And then she went to her DIVA party

It's a Twisty Turn-y kind of Friday!

So sometimes what I embark on isn't what I end up doing.  Today that was the case, but not because it didn't turn out... it was because I was too busy punishing my little one and lost track of what I was doing! See I told you my mornings are JUST LIKE YOURS! So even though I had already planned on twisting and turning my daughters hair, because of the way the morning was going the day turned out to be a "Twisty Turn-y Friday"!  Perhaps this weekend I will complete the hairstyle I was supposed to do today.  

I decided to part her hair on the side and then on the smaller side I did 2 diagonal parts.  On the larger side I did 3 diagonal parts. These parts were going straight back.  I secured each part with a loose rubber band so they didn't get in my way.

Then I started twisting!  Split the section into two equal sections and twist them going the same direction - I for some reason always choose to twist the hair to the right.  To make it easier I twist one section and then ask my daughter to hold it (tight with two fingers (may not work with younger ones so you will have to do it)).  Then when you have two sections twisted to the right, twist them together to the left (or simply the opposite direction that you initially twisted the hair).  Do this all the way down the hair and secure it with a tight, small rubber band.  

I did learn a very easy (and hilarious) way of doing this today.... My daughter was sitting on a kitchen stool so as I was twisting and my arms were all over the place I decided to stop driving myself crazy and twist the hair by walking around her in a circle!  I looked ridiculous, but it was SO MUCH EASIER and it brought great laughs to my daughters to see me walking in circles around her!  

REPEAT this with each of the sections you have. You will end up with 5 "twisties"when you are done... 2 on the smaller side going back at a diagonal and 3 on the larger side going back at a diagonal as well.  

Then comes the easy part.... Pull it into a high ponytail or bun!  Then you have to fancy it up so throw in a wonderful bow!  

Click here to check out more of Clare's Bows! 

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

I just got off the phone with CLARE from Custom Bows By Clare and she will be the first GIFT GIVEAWAY we will be featuring!!!  STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS TO FOLLOW NEXT WEEK! 
I was excited to see how this turned out.  This one (and the one I intended to do) are also great for gymnasts!  Toss the rest of the hair into a high bun or pony for any meet!  These "twisties" also hold up well overnight with the help of great serum and hairspray - It helps with those early morning meets! You level 4 moms know exactly what I am referring to!

Exciting Times - More to Come!

Well this blog is growing and I have to say I am so excited to see it grow!  Last night I decided to google "Gymnastics Braids" - this is something I used to do all the time for meets and just for fun - Anyway, much to my surprise when I looked under "blogs" I came up as #2!!  

I have to say I was SHOCKED as this was just my little fun thing.  Ha ha ha, but I will take it! 

So... it true Melissa fashion, once something takes off I have to keep running, right!? Especially since it's the only "running" I can do now.  :-) So I wanted to first say 

THANK YOU!!!!  Thank you for sharing this with friends and for following my posts!  I love it! 

Then I wanted to share with you my ideas for what is to come.  I am in contact with a few companies and some amazing gymnasts (FINGERS CROSSED!) to see if I can get some giveaways going!!  I am really hoping this will happen as it will be awesome to watch this grow and it gives all of you a chance to win some awesome stuff.  Don't worry dancers and you dance moms - I will branch out for you too!  I have to start with the crazy gymnastics life I live and trust me, many of the bows, books and leotards I am trying to get can be used for dance too! 

So please keep spreading the word and help me continue to grow so these companies see the value in helping with the giveaways!  SHARE WITH YOUR FELLOW MOMS AT YOUR SPORTS, DANCE STUDIOS & GYMS! 

THANK YOU * THANK YOU * THANK YOU * THANK YOU

EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY

Sorry, but ever since my daughter's Kindergarten teacher started using that term "EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY has been a regular saying in our home.  So now it will stick in your head for a while.  

You can thank Mrs. Walter! Ha ha ha

Well this hairdo is exactly that!! It took me MINUTES and I had two girls done in 10 minutes.  If your kids hair is dry or curly you need a water spray bottle and may need to add 2 minutes.  

Simply part their hair on one side and then part it over to the ear in a right angle and when you are perhaps 1 1/2" from the ear part it again so it looks like a square.  

Secure the hair so it stays out of your way.  

You will then section this "square" of hair into 3 or 4 sections.  I only do this one section at a time but I highly recommend using a clip to hold the rest of the hair back so those little hairs don't jump into your hands or you tend to pull them and hear a huge squeal from your child!

Take the section in your hands and, once again, part it into 2 more sections (geez can I type the word "section" enough here!) 

Twist each section inward.  So your right hand will twist LEFT and your left hand will twist RIGHT.

HINT:  When twisting hold the hair straight up above head (not out towards your body) it will increase the effect)

Use a small rubber band and secure it close to the scalp

REPEAT THIS WITH ALL 3 or 4 SECTIONS and TA-DA you are done! 

To add a bit of flair to the look I took a curling iron and did quick ringlet curls to the hair left in the sections ONLY... be careful, when moms have curling irons in their hands all of a sudden we start to curl all over the place and it ruins the effect.  :-) 

Oddly as this is, with all the more extravagant braids and hairstyles I do it was this SIMPLE hairdo I did that I received a TON of comments when I picked up the girls from school.  Go figure!  

Again, this is another good way to get little hairs out of the way and create a stylish way to have a competition or recital hairstyle.... simply do this and then pull the rest of the hair into a bun or ponytail.  You can add jewels or glitter to the hair for flair.

Don't Ask, Just SIT... and watch SpongeBob :-)

This was before I grabbed the hairspray :-) After I saw it on
the camera I grabbed the spray! 

So this morning Dani comes downstairs and as she takes her regular position at our kitchen stool she dares to say, "Mama, what hairdo are we doing today?”  Unfortunately she received the answer that she dreads.  "Ummmm, I don't know Dani so be nice and quiet so I can think and here is the TV remote... I think SpongeBob is on."  By the way, thank goodness for morning cartoons and nighttime singing and dance shows that keep my kids quiet and calm while Mama is creative.  (Yes, I capitalize Mama - my friends (Janelle) laugh that I have actually capitalized it as my name!)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

So, as she watched TV, I started and pondered... I knew I wanted to braid and for some reason I was in a mood to knot her hair.  So I embarked:                                                                                             

Awww hairspray, much better! 

*  I sectioned her hair into three even sections at the top.  

*  I secured two of the sections so they were out of my way.

* I then planned on sectioning each of the 3 sections into 3 sections but I started by only grabbing the 1st section.  I used a bobby pin to hold down the rest of the hair, as it tends to "jump in" 

*  I then did I regular every-day easy braid on the first section.  At the end I used a large band to secure it. (Did this so I could remove it easily)

*  Then I took that braid and near the scalp I tied the hair into a KNOT.  Then I flipped the braid forward to get it out of the way.  

*  I then grabbed another section (section 2 of 3) and began to braid but I pulled the first braid into the braid (simply by incorporating it into the middle section of the braid).  As I made my way down the braid I slip the initial band off the first braid... hold on to it and use it to secure the 2nd braid.  

*  Then, once again tie it in a knot close to the scalp.

REPEAT THIS FOR SECTION 3 and FOR THE REST OF THE HAIR SECTIONS ACROSS THE HEAD.  

 When you complete the above secure all the braids with smaller tighter rubber band and add a bow or clip. 

Once again the conversation went like this in our home... "Honey, go pick out a clip" (I simply received a LOOK and the shoulders sunk so far down I thought they would hit the floor) Dani got off the chair, walked two steps to my hair "bag-o-tricks" and picked one of my ribbons.  In other words... Mama, I am too lazy to go upstairs and get one of my cool bows!  Ughhhh oh well, Mama was too lazy to argue :-)                                       

                                                                                                                                   

I have to say this hairdo took a bit longer, but SOOOO CUTE.  The more I thought of it, the more I thought how much you can do for it!!! FLOWER GIRLS, EASTER, even older girls can use this.... add some jewels into each knot and it would look AMAZING. You can also do cascading curls on the hair you leave down... needless to say I wasn't going to take the time this morning to do this.                                                                                                                           

Also the knots are small enough not to bother gymnasts or dancers for shows or competitions.  This hairdo would look great (especially with glitter spray and a high bun or high ponytail can be incorporated into it instead of leaving it down.  In fact, I will be throwing it into a ponytail right after school for practice

OH those LONG days of School PLUS Practice!

SPORTS MOMS ARE ON THE GO...... 

If your kids practice schedule is anything like ours there isn't exactly room to rest on many days.  We run like a well oiled machine.  However, I have to say... KUDOS to my kids because they have the schedule down pat!  I pick them up from school and already have their gym bags, snacks packed as well as water bottles and dinner (yes, dinner!).  We jump on the freeway and their homework gets done as we travel to the gym where they will stay for 3-4 hours of practice.  When we get there they get ready and off to gymnastics time.  You will notice there isn't exactly time for hairdos in this lovely afternoon schedule and a simple ponytail is not exactly going to hold up through 3-4 hours of running, turns, flips and twists!  We love their Coach Eddie, but I am sorry Coach Eddie, ponytails are simply not your talent!  Ha ha ha

So.....

These practice days I must send the girls to school with a hairdo that not only will hold up for school but for these crazy practice schedules as well.  This is much easier said than done.  It is also much easier with my eldest daughter who has thicker hair.  The youngest has that thin whispy hair that always seems to get away!    Below are two hairdos that I managed to do fairly quickly before school and they BOTH held up through a crazy day of school and gym.  Both girls returned home with their hair in tact and no Coach intervention was necessary :-)




I will show you the easiest one first as her hair is thick and I can pull the heck out of it and she barely feels it (a mom's dream).  This hairstyle works best with wet hair or use a water spray-bottle to style the hair.

*  Start by parting the hair pretty far to one side and pull the hair completely over to the other side. begin a regular french braid close to the ear area.

*  It holds better if you take smaller pieces, but if you are in a hurry you can take larger pieces over to the braid.

* As you get over to the middle remember to make the sections smaller and include the hair ONLY from the right side of the head (not from the middle as you will need this hair for the bottom of the braid to help it curve at the end.

* Then use that middle hair to pull into the braid towards the end to secure the curve of the braid.  By doing this secure "curve" you prevent the braid from swatting your child in the eye during sports or dance.
OPTION!  If your child has extra long hair you can make a bun at the end.  OR you can cheat like I did on a previous occasion where I took a brown scrunchie and wrapped the braid around it to make it look like a good side bun.

I found this pic and this is not my
previous "do" but this is what the
bun looks like when your child
has long hair OR you do my cheat!
 This also look amazing for gymnastics meets and/or dance recitals!

Now this next one took a bit longer, but my youngest daughter has hair that won't stay in a ponytail or even pigtails if I secure them with all the bands in the world!  These actually stayed ALL DAY!  It took me 10 minutes for the entire hairdo and was easier than it looks.  

You start by parting your child's hair in the middle and then again from ear to ear (much like a lower case "t" ) then secure each section with a clip or rubber band so it keeps the hair out of the way.

Take the top right section and begin a french braid with small sections (the small sections help the hair stay in place and keep those baby hairs).  Stop french braiding after 3" or so then continue with a regular braid (see photo).  Secure the braid with a easy-to-remove rubber band.

Then grab the lower right section and pull it into a high piggy tail.  I had my daughter hold the braid forward while I collected the hair into the piggy tail - helped keep it out of the way.  Put the braid into the "piggy" and firmly secure.

Release and undo the braid that is in the "piggy" and then braid the entire section all the way to the bottom.  Then loop it up and secure it into the initial rubber band (if the initial band is too tight you can just add a new rubber band.  Secure any loose hairs (especially from the bottom of the braid with bobby pins)

If you have cute ribbon and have one heck of a time tying it into your child's hair here is a trick I learned when the girls were babies:

Cut the ribbon and tie it on to the rubber band BEFORE placing it in your child's hair.  This will work with all rubber bands (even the small ones you use on babies).  This used to work so well with that "pebbles" hairdo we would do on the girls as babies!  Then I take clear or glitter nail polish and put a very light coat of polish on the tip of the bow so it doesn't frey.  The kids love the sparkle and usually moms have this more available than anti-frey glue from craft stores!  Then simply put the rubberband in your child's hair.  Wa-la! 

I am REAL not PERFECT

I was discussing this blog with a neighbor who was following me and I had no idea she even knew of it.  Turns out she was told about it and it took her a while to learn it was me, her neighbor who was this crazy braid lady!  Small world.  Anyway, one topic of conversation was the inevitable question....


"Do you REALLY do these before school?"  and "What time do you guys wake up?!"  


Well the truth is I am awful in the morning and I am always rushing!  I actually responded with, "What, you don't hear me screaming "Hurry Hurry Hurry, We are gonna be Late!" coming from my house?"

The truth is that unlike other blogs that I have always come across on websites you will notice that I don't tend to post my "perfected" pictures.  I want everything to be real.  I am a mom trying to get 2 girls ready for school in the morning.  My girls have long hair and they have two very different hair textures so it isn't always easy.  So throughout my blog you will see the flyaways, the frizz and the mistakes... but it will be the same that we will all go through.  I am usually doing these in a rush trying to get them out the door and always running late.  Oh and yes, the pictures are taken on my phone as I don't truly have time to bust out the camera!   In other words, there is nothing I am doing that you can't do, I don't have any special training or talent and all of my friends can tell you I was NOT blessed with an abundance of patience!!!  I have to say, there is a sense of accomplishment and joy as I master these "puzzles" people commonly call braids :-)  

New is Not Always Improved!

NEW IS NOT ALWAYS IMPROVED

When my oldest was born she needed a haircut at one month old!  Yes, I had to sneak into her room while she was sleeping with safety scissors and clip away her bangs so she could see.  Then her first pigtails were at 6 weeks old!  (yes that is her in the picture) I still can't believe it has been 8 years.... I guess that is how I became more and more creative with hair - 8 years of practice!

Well, when she was an infant I learned a few tricks and I also learned a few things to stay away from.  I will start with those! 

#1  NEW and NOT IMPROVED!  While shopping I came across Ouchless Rubber bands.  Of course I thought, what could be better for my baby.  I bought them and took them home.  On the same trip I purchased scalp sunscreen (more about that later) I used the rubber bands and the sunscreen at the same time.  Much to my surprise I saw the rubber bands disintegrate in front of my eyes - I almost died!  As a new mom I FREAKED OUT and wrote a letter to the sunscreen company as I assumed it had to be the sunscreen.  I thought "What the heck did I put on my baby's skin!?!?"

Much to my embarrassment I soon learned the truth, it wasn't the sunscreen but the lovely "ouchless" rubber bands that disintegrate before your very eyes :-(  No, I never sent the apology to the sunscreen company ( can we just blame that on being a busy first time mom and not on my pure embarrassment!?)  

Needless to say I STRONGLY recommend that you use the old traditional rubberbands that HURT when coming out.  You may think I am crazy but no, my kids don't scream each night as I have a special way of removing them.  You have to be VERY careful, but I remove them using a cuticle cutter.  I simply use the tip to lift the rubber band and SNIP!  If you don't have a cuticle cutter, use the edge of a comb and lift the rubber band, then you can use any nail cutter.  WARNING:  husbands with large hands don't do this well and you will end up with kids that look like Alfalfa from the Little Rascals.

Please look below to see the ones I am speaking of so there is no confusion.  The rubber bands I use are super cheap and usually you can buy the packs of 150 or so at the 99 cents store or even at your local drugstore for $1.50

Of course I should say I am not promoting the companies (or getting PAID :-) but the truth is that this is who I use so I guess they are just lucky for the free promo!

Here are the silicone ones that disintegrated - you can usually tell because they are described as OUCHLESS and are shiny... they are usually also advertised as silicone bands too:  

Now.... not to confuse you, these bands are also advertised as "ouchless" and are amazing.  In fact, I don't think we could live without them in our home. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE!

#2  SUNSCREEN:  Remember the company I wrote to.... Yea well, I actually LOVE that company and use their product daily - even now!  Baby Blanket has the best scalp sunscreen.  It comes in these wonderful spray bottles that you can spray in small amounts directly into your child's hair.  You only use a very small amount so it lasts quite a while.  Because this is made specifically for the scalp you don't have to worry about white flakes in their hair, greasy hair or any of the other awful messes regular sunscreen causes.   I strongly urge you to put sunscreen in the "parts" of your child's hair. It is amazing how quickly your child can burn.  If you can't find it or simply don't want to buy additional sunscreen, you can apply regular sunscreen with a Q-Tip.  I highly advise you not to use regular spray sunscreen!  Your child will have greasy hair with the look of dandruff. 

#3  HAIRSPRAY:  Oh all these companies have improved things through the years and with their improvements have come their "improved" price tags.  The truth is that in order to keep your child's braids in (or any hairdo) for school, sports, dance performance or holiday you WILL need hairspray.  It isn't simply for curls, it is for your sanity.  Moms, don't waste your salon quality hairspray or you will see dollar signs as the spray hits their hair.  Go to your store and remember the 80's.  Yup, the good 'ol 80's where the $2.00 Aqua Net did the trick.  Guess what??  IT STILL DOES and it still costs the same amount!  With two girls in gymnastics and the DNA that inevitably gives them a head full of frizz, this is a staple in our home.  

#4 The final staple in our home is also from "back in the day", but more from the 90's than the 80's! Remember having the spray bottles filled with water we used?  I used it to scrunch my hair.  Well why did we get rid of them?  Grab one at Target or any other drugstore for $1-$4 and keep it handy to make any hairstyle a million times easier for you!  If your child is anything like mine, this also does wonders when you discover that food has magically jumped into their hair (my little one always seems to lean over her plate and wa-la! FOOD IN THE HAIR!  ughhh) Well, I can't tell you the arguments and tears this saves us!  It also tames the frizz and makes braiding so much easier.  

Quick & Easy- Tame Those Flyaways

Quick & Easy  

Tame Those  Hairs That Get in Their Face

First I have to say, it's so good to be back!  

For those of you who don't know I had back surgery after years of waiting and 6 months of serious pain!  It took me a few weeks of being able to sit up and today was really my first day of getting my girls ready for school!  

By the way, I swear their hair spoke to me!!  My husband tried his hardest, but their poor hair was suffering, I found pieces of the comb broken on the floor (he doesn't know his own strength when getting knots out) and I am fairly certain their teachers were dying seeing their hair in their faces every day!!! 

Anyway, back to the hair... These hairstyles took me less than 20 minutes to do BOTH and I actually had to do Dani's twice as I was out of practice and her hair kept slipping out of my hands from the conditioning spray I used last night :-(   None the less, here is a great hairstyle that takes you 10 minutes, grabs those little hairs out of the front of their face and still allows the flow-y princess look the kids love! 

**** If your child had softer hair and more flyaways (like my youngest) I did a variation at the bottom. However, the instructions are the same as the first one.  

* For this first look I started by parting the hair a bit off centered and then securing the smaller side with a loose rubber band to get it out of the way.                                                                                        * Then part the side in half as well & secure that the same way      * French Braid the first section pulling hair into the braid from the front side ONLY - braid down as far as you can and secure it with a band that is easy to remove with ONE hand                                         * Then do the same for the second section(also pulling hair only from the front)                                                                                     * When you get to the ear  or right before (when you run out of hair) add in the other braid and continue braiding.

* After a few "loops" (so it is secured) use                                                                                          a hand to remove the rubber band from the initial braid.                                                                    *  Braid down as far as you can & secure with a small rubber band.                                                                                                           (See next blog on bands that work best)

 * On the opposite side stand behind your 

child and french braid the side straight back

*  Stop taking hair into the braid when you get 

to the ear and then simply continue a regular 

braid

* Rather than securing this braid individually,

    pull the braid back and join it with the opposite 

    braid and secure them together.

    *  You can lift the braids after securing them to 

   comb the hair flat down and hairspray the hair

   so it doesn't stick up.  

  *  Then simply add a bow (OF COURSE!) I have

  my daughter picked one of Custom Bows by Clare 

  this morning:

Click Here to Check out Custom Bows By Clare

ANOTHER VARIATION 

So here is another variation I did on my little one's hair.  Fairly similar except since her hair seems to be softer and has a TON of "flyaways" I parted it down the middle and repeated the initial design on both sides.  She chose to not wear a bow, but the truth behind that was that she was too lazy to go upstairs and chose one!! :-)