Criss Cross Braids with Piggies

I was originally going for this (one that we love and do often), however once I got the braids in, I thought it would look cute if we did piggies. This was the first day of school, so we wanted to make sure that it looked cute. I think it did.


This only took about 10 minutes.

Patience Braids

Piper named these "Patience Braids," not only because she has to be extremely patient, but so does mom. I think they are pretty self explanatory, so instead of telling you how to do them step by step, I am going to tell you my mistakes so you don't make them too.

* I am so use to braiding under, that it has turned into a habit. The morning after, the top of the braid was crazy, if I would have braided over, this probably wouldn't have happened.
* I tried to get all creative with the parts...don't...just do simple block parts, I think it would have looked nicer.
* I started too late at night. Piper fell asleep. I did the last five or so braids while she was laying down sleeping.
* I did it all by myself. Recruit, recruit, recruit. It would cut the time in half.

I did these on Monday night, when we got ready for the day on Tuesday morning, I tried to straighten out the kinks. I did my best anyway.

Oh, the beads, these are optional, Piper loved the idea though. I know that there are a variety of different ways to finish up the ends, but this is how I did it.
* When I got to the end of the braid, I twisted the rubber band around a few times.
* I put the bead on.
* I folded the remaining hair over the bead.
* Then twisted the rubber band around again a few times.

Oh how I wish this looked better, and it can. And it will next time.



Piper really loved this. She would still shampoo her hair, just carefully. This morning we took them out and Piper ask if we could do it again really soon. However, before we took them out, she had a bath. She tried not to get the braids wet, but you will notice in the next pictures, she did, but we didn't have time to wait for them to dry, and the blow dryer doesn't really work in this situation. We didn't have time to take a picture as soon as we finished her hair this morning when it was really poofy, so these pictures are after a day of playing. Also, I curled the ends under with a flat iron.



This is the side that got wet:

Braided Flower

Or Teague (my little boy) named it The Roller Coaster.

* Start out with a half ponytail.
* In my mind a flower has five petals, so I did five braids.


* Then you pull each braid through the ponytail holder (I used my Topsytail jr.).
* Make sure that you pull the braids through, so they poke out of the center. So, from the side of the holder that is closest to the head, or farthest from you. (does that make sense?)



Piper felt like she needed to take this picture, ignore the messy counter space.


* After pulling all of the braids through, use a flat iron to curl the ends of the braids and the end of the hair left hanging down, and this is the result.

*This took about 15 minutes.

Four Braids crossed

I love braids!!

This one is really fun. I think that the ribbons could stand to be a little longer though.

* I parted her hair down the middle and then across so it was in four sections.
* I did four ponytails in back. One set pretty high.
* I braided each ponytail just long enough so it reaches the top of the ponytail diagonal from it.
* I crossed the bottom ones first up to the top ones....and used my Jr. TopsyTail to pull them through! You can easily just do it though.
* Then I crossed the top ones to the bottom ones.
* I flat ironed the ends to add a little umph. You could also curl them.
* Added ribbons.
* And...dh noticed that I should have crossed the top right one before I crossed the top left one, so it looks more woven. He's right! Now, this is going to bug me...O'well!

* This took about 10 minutes.

Pony triple braid

This is an easy one that will really add a little umph to the ponytail....and if you haven't noticed, I am a little partial to braids!

With this ponytail, I did a side part and did the ponytail low. I really love the way that the side part looks for some reason.

-Separate the ponytail into three sections (as if you were going to braid it)
-Braid each section. I start with the center section, that way Piper can hold the other two. Secure with a rubber band.
-Attach all three sections at the bottom with a rubber band, you will notice that your braids are most likely different length, so then I clip the other rubber bands.
-Add a bow or flower at the top of the pony and curl the hair hanging out.
-I also add a clip in the front.

This took about 5 minutes.

Indian braids

Some hairstyles already have names and you just can't change them.

Like blackeyedsue says, Indian braids are perfect summer braids! It was pirate day today and these were perfect to go under the bandanna.
I just part her hair down the middle and braid each section of hair. I braid under, rather than over, because I like how it looks at the top of the braid. And of course I tie ribbons at the bottom of the braids, and curl the hair that's left out.




Sorry about the shadows on the pictures! oops.

We also do these when she wears her crocheted hats.

Figure 8

We've been doing this hairdo for awhile. there are a variety of different ways to do this, including this way from Hair Today. Piper's hair is a little too long to leave some hanging out, but she will be getting a hair cut (trim) soon, so we will be able to do it like that then.

Basically I part her hair down the middle and do two high ponytails in the back, then I braid them. When they are braided I start with the left one and wrap it around the right one, then back around the left one and form a "figure 8" and tuck the ends under and hold it down with a bobby pin. Then I do the same thing with the right one. I use 4 bobby pins 2 to pin down the bottom of the braids and 2 to pin down the top of the braids just so they will stay down. Then I add cute bows or flowers or whatever.

The Cowgirl

I don't know why she named this "The Cowgirl," but that's okay.

I parted her hair down the center and did two high ponytails in back. I braided each ponytail about a third of the way down. I put a rubber band around the two outside strands on each braid, then I combined the middle two strands into one and continue with one braid the rest of the way. The rubber bands will be hidden, or you can cut them out.

Wow, I just noticed that these pictures aren't the best. Sorry.