Half Braid Heart

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I thought we would throw this post up really quick since it is that last of our Valentine's hairstyles for the year.  It's called the "Half Braid Heart" and it's made with a French Braid that only gathers into it's plates from one side of the braid.

I started by dividing the hair in half directly down the center of the head.  I then created a small arch on each side of the part and began my braids inside the arch next to the original part. 

Do one side of the head at a time and as you create your braid, only gather in hair to the outside (closest to ear) plates of your braid.  This will give it the floating effect but still have it secured into place.  Once you have gathered all of the hair from that half of the head into your braid, secure it at the nape of the neck with an elastic. 

Move over to the other side of your head and repeat the process.  Once your second braid has gathered all of the hair, remove the elastic from the first side and combine the two sides together.  Now secure those with the elastic.

This will complete your heart shape.  We finished our ponytail off by creating a 5-Strand Braid but you can curl it or use any braid that you like.  Add some cute Valentine's hair clips and your princess is ready for a fun heart day!

We hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!  From our family to yours!

 (Pretend that she's holding a mini Snickers.)  :)

Heart Line

I don't know if you remember or not, but back when i had posted our "Heart Topper" hairstyle I promised to have another hairstyle up soon that uses the same concept.  Well, here it is!  Basically it's just a line of Heart Toppers going down a ponytail.  You can find the original post here and that will help you know what technique to follow to create your hearts. 

 I started with a small heart Pull-Through up at the front of the hair before pulling it all back into a ponytail. Once all of the hair was in an elastic I added some ribbon.  I added 3 strands of red that were the same length as the ponytail.  (The halfway point was secured under the elastic so I actually ended up with 6 strands of ribbon hanging down.)

  Looking back I wish I had done 3 different colors but I didn't think about it at the time.  It would have been cute to have different colored hearts.

I created a "Heart Topper" and simply made sure to pull one ribbon strand in with both sides of my heart.  I continued this same process down the ponytail making one heart directly underneath the previous.  Also, be sure to alternate which ribbon strands you use so that you don't run out of ribbon.

When I got down to where I wanted to stop I secured one final elastic around the entire ponytail and then just clipped any remaining ribbon.

I added a heart hair clip to the bottom of my "Heart Line" and then curled the ends of the ponytail. 

*I think this hairstyle would be just as cute without the ribbon as well!*

Friday's Film: Triple Heart

This is a new hairstyle that my princess thought up this year and she named it the "Triple Heart". 

It's a really simple idea but I wanted to show you how to create the individual parts and then let you see how it is assembled.

Here are some pictures of the finished product.

This side view help you see how I divided the top sections before creating the Pull-Throughs.

I only left about 2/3 of the hair out on the bottom and used the rest for the tops of my hearts.

Once you make your Pull-Through, separate the two braids on either side to create the top of your heart.

Bobby pin the hearts into place once you've created the shape that you want. 

The last step is to add a fun Valentine's hair clip.

Now your princess is all ready for her big day - plus you will get some beautiful waves out of these braids for the next day!

Heart Headband

 This is another fun style that is fast and easy and can be used for the upcoming Valentine's holiday.  We call it the Heart Headband because it gives the illusion of being a headband and the Pull-Throughs look a lot like hearts. 

Start by creating a part from ear to ear across the top of the head, exactly where a headband would lie. 

Divide that top area into as many small sections as you like and secure each section with an elastic at the very back of the section.  (So that all of your elastics will lie right on that original part.)  Grab your Topsy Tail and create a Pull-Through out of each small section. 

Now you're going to follow the same process as we did on our "Puffy Pull-Throughs" hairstyle a while back.  (You can find that hairstyle and directions here.)

 Basically you will be pulling some of the strands of hair from each Pull-Through out so that they puff up and look like the top of a heart.  Do that with all of the Pull-Throughs to create your "Heart Headband".

 Comb the rest of the hair straight down and you can leave it that way or curl it.  We had some braids in the day before so she has some waves from those. 

Friday's Film: Heart

I love this time of year and I love Valentines Day.  There are so many fun hairstyles out there and we have a few fun new ideas that we will be sharing here as well.  One of the most popular hairstyles for Valentines is the Heart so we thought we would go ahead and post an instructional video on that for you today. 

We have done this style before and called it the "Valentine Heart".  You can find that original post here along with pictures of all the angles. 

This is our finished product picture from the Heart that we created here in the video. 
Happy Heart making!

Heart Topper

When you're running low on time and you want to add a nice touch to your average hairstyle, try topping your ponytail or piggies with a heart.  This is a great idea for Valentines Day and it takes less that 5 minutes. 

Begin by pulling all of the hair back into a ponytail.  (Or two piggies, a bun, a side ponytail, or whatever you like.)  Now grab a small section of hair from that ponytail and make sure you grab it from on top.  Tie a small clear elastic around that section about 1/4 inch below the main ponytail elastic.  Using your Topsy Tail, create an Inverted Pull-Through by sticking the point of your Topsy Tail underneath your section of hair so that it point upwards behind the elastic.  Pull the small section through the loop on your Topsy Tail and ten pull it all the way through.  Separate that small section into two equal halves and twist each side instead of leaving it flat and that will help it hold it's shape better.  Create a small arch on each side for the top of your heart and then combine the two sides just below that second elastic.  Secure those two ends and the rest of your large ponytail into place using another clear elastic. 

Now your Heart Topper is finished and you can complete your ponytail with whatever braid you like.  We've just done a Regular 3-Strand Braid here. 

In a few days we will be doing a whole new hairstyle using this ponytail-heart technique so keep checking back because it will be cute!

Cupid's Heart

We have come up with a new hairstyle that is perfect for Valentines Day.  We call is "Cupid's Heart" and it is VERY easy - don't let the pictures fool you!  :)

Start with wet hair.  It will not hold nearly as well if the hair is not wet.  Create a part directly down the middle of the head so that you now have two equal sections. 

Using a rat-tailed comb you will create half of a heart on the left side of the part.  (We started the inside of our heart about 3.5 inches back from her bang line.)  The half-heart will start and end right on the middle part.  Comb the hair outside of the heart down an have your princess hold the hair that is inside the heart.  Now move over to the right side and create the other half of your heart.  It needs to be a mirror image of the left side so make sure you take your time and really have it look nice.  Make sure that all of the hair outside of the heart is combed down and then tightly smooth out all of the hair inside the hear and combine it right in the middle with an elastic to create one ponytail.  You should be able to see your heart-part really nicely now.  The hair outside of the parts should still be divided into two sides with that original middle part.  Go ahead and divide your ponytail into two equal halves as well, one for each side.  Temporarily tie off the right side (ponytail and hair) with an elastic so that you can work on the left side without that hair getting mixed in. 

Start on the top-middle part of your heart and begin french braiding by gathering three small sections from the hair not inside the heart.  Gather hair into your braid each time you plate. 

The outside will be gathered from the hair that is loose and the inside will be gathered from the ponytail.  Have your braid lie directly on the hear part so that you can keep the shape that you want.  Continue gathering hair all the way down that half of the heart and tie it into a temporary elastic when you finish at the nape of the neck. 

 Move over to the right side and repeat the steps.  When all of the hair is gathered and you are down at the bottom of the head, remove your temporary elastic from the left side and combine both sides together in one final elastic. 

 You can finish off that new ponytail however you like but we have chose to do a Quad Braid here.  (You can find the video for a Quad Braid here.)  Add some fun Valentines hair clips and give it a good spray with hairspray. 

It takes a good 15-20 minutes to complete but the idea is quite simple.  :)   

X's & O's

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  This is our final post for the Valentine's hairstyles and it's a fun one.  Today is all about hugs and kisses so this is our "X's & O's" style. 

 

Start with a small section up front where you will create a Pull-Through that goes off to the right side.  Part the rest of the hair right down the middle and clip the left side out of the way for a minute.  Pull all of the hair on the right side of the part into a ponytail.  (Make sure to include your Pull-Through from the front.) 

 Grab a bun mold and pull it over the ponytail.  (Bun molds can be found at Sally Beauty Supply or can be made by cutting the toe out of a sock and rolling it over itself.)  Once your mold is in place you will spread the ponytail evenly around it and then slip another elastic over the hair and the mold to hold it in place. 

 Divide the excess hair from the bun into two sections and create a braid out of each.  Wrap the braids around the base of the bun and bobby pin them into place.  Now your "O" is finished. 

 Move over to the left side and part the hair evenly down the middle of the section and then again evenly across the section so that you now have 4 squares.  Leave the top-right square alone and clip the other 3 squares into their own temporary clip to keep them out of the way.  

   Begin a Dutch Braid in the top-right square and have it curve down into the inside corner.  Gather all the hair from that square and then plate the braid again 3 times without adding in new hair.  Unclip the bottom-left square and finish up your Dutch Braid.  Braid all the way to the end of the hair and secure it with an elastic. 

 Now move up to the top-left square and Dutch Braid that until all the hair has been gathered.  Plate it 3 more times OVER the previous braid.  Now unclip your last bottom-right square and finish up your Dutch Braid.    Braid all the way to the end of the hair and secure it with an elastic.

  Now fold both of the long braids up on top of themselves and secure with another elastic.  Let the ends of the hair just flip over naturally and add some ribbons to finish your "X" off. 

 Add a ribbon to the "O" as well and you're all done!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM ALL OF US TO YOU!

Here is our princess which you all know so well and she is 7 years old.

This is our oldest son who is 5 years old.

This is our middle son who is 3 years old.

This is our baby who is 14 months old. 

Woven Heart

This is another one of my favorites.  You will want to leave yourself a good 30-45 minutes for this style as well but it's worth the time! 

Begin by creating a small section in the front of the head, right in the middle, and secure it at the back with an elastic.  We've used some fun colored elastics to make the heart stand out a bit more.  Separate that into 3 equal sections and set the middle section aside.  Braid the outside two sections into their own braids and place a temporary clip at the bottom to hold them from unravelling. 

 Now part out two more sections (one on each side of your original section) and make sure they don't go as far back onto the head as the first.  Combine one of the braids from the first section into the new section and secure it with an elastic.  Do this on the other side as well.  Now unplate any remaining braid that is below the new elastics.  Separate the two new ponytails in half and leave one half hanging down while you braid the other half.

  Part out two more sections just below your previous ones and add your new braids into them, securing them with an elastic.  Unplate any remaining braids that is below the elastics.    Separate the two new ponytails in half and leave one half hanging down while you braid the other half.  Now gather the last bit of hair just above the ear and combine that with the braid and secure it with an elastic.  do this for the opposite side as well.   Unplate any remaining braids that is below the elastics.    Separate the two new ponytails in half and leave one half hanging down while you braid the other half.  You will want these braids to go to the ends of the hair and clip them with a temporary clip so they don't unravel.  Now pull all the little "halves" from the ponytails that you didn't braid out of the way while you comb the rest of the hair hanging down and put it into a low elastic. 

 Move back up to the hair from your very first section and divide it into two pieces.  Twist the piece on the right side and pull it across the head and add it to the left side braid with an elastic.  Now move down to the second elastic on the right side, twist that hair and pull it across the head and add to the braid on the left side with an elastic. 

 Do this with the hair from the remaining two elastics on the right side and be sure that you are adding them into the braid on the left side so that the braid is being lifted into the middle of the head.  Twist each strand of hair on the left side of the head and weave them through the right strand so that they can be added to the right braid.  It sounds so confusing to type so hopefully the pictures help out. 

Finish your heart by adding one final elastic to the bottom to combine the two braids.  Now take the elastic out of the low ponytail so that the rest of the hair is hanging down flat. 

 You can curl the ends like we've done here or just leave it straight.