Style #7: French Braid with Scarf

Whenever someone comments on my hair skillz I point out that all the styles I'm trying are pretty easy and quick by saying, "I can't even french braid!"  Well I decided that was a ridiculous statement so today I did my first french braid.  All of the twists and dutch braids helped as I've gotten used to picking up chunks of hair as I go.  This was my first try and I decided to add a scarf around the top and tie off the ends on the back just because I can.  Not bad for my first french braid, though it's a little off center.  Some things I want to do differently:  Start with more hair on top and hold the top tighter.  Also, I'd like to weave the scarf in next time as I can already feel it slipping down.

Style #6: Two Buns in One

Oooh I might have a new favorite!  I've fallen in love with the front twists.  They look so complicated but are so easy and quick to do!  On Friday I did them at a red light on my way to work.  So today I did two twists.  The left side (with less hair) I twisted all the way around to a bun slightly off center in the back.  Then the right side I twisted around and wrapped it around the other bun.  When I secured them I let the two buns separate slightly, which left me with a cool twisted bun look in the back.  I used one bobby pin to tuck the ends of the second bun in before securing them both with a hair tie.  It has held up well to a morning of brunching and shopping and gotten lots of compliments.

Playing Stylist

I had fun trying out some of my new braiding skills on fellow teachers at today's professional development!  Shout out to my first guest model, Irene, for trusting me with my newbie skillz.

Style #5: Teen Princess

My husband named this one.  He does not like me using a curling iron so today he told me it made me look like a teenage princess.  I will accept that as a compliment.  This one has no tutorial inspiration.  I saw a girl with a set back dutch braid yesterday while I was out and decided to play on it.  I made a dutch braid on each side of my part, set back from the front.  I did not secure the braids with anything so the ends just flow into the rest of my hair.  I used a large barrel curling iron to set my curls and then loosened them with a comb.  I like it because I get to wear my hair down, but the braids thin it out a little so I don't feel like I have a blanket around my neck and shoulders.  Oh yeah, and I have a gold, glittery temporary tattoo that is rocking my world right now.

Style #4: Dutch Milk Braids!

These I have always loved and wanted!  From March 16th, it took me three tries to get these dutch milk braids to come out right for me.  First challenge was that I had never done a dutch braid.  Second, the tutorial I started with had me starting them at the back of my head.  Not only was I doing something I'd never done before, but I was doing it without looking.  Third, I have a lot of hair!  So by the time I'd worked the braids around to the front I was piling all of my thick tresses on top of my head.  So try #1 was a fail.  I look like I have a turban wrapped around my head.

I took down one of the braids and left the other.  If two braids from the back won't work, let's try one from the back and one from the front.  I thought the hanging braid looked cool:

Well, better, but still looks funny to me:

One more try.  I took out the other braid and decided to try both braids coming from the front.  Success.  I had much less hair piled up top in the front and two very neatly crossed braids in the back.  At this point my hands were tired so I put minimal effort into pinning down the loose ends in front.  A mess of bobby pins held the ends in place in the front.  I didn't need any pins for the braids and was surprised at how secure this style was for the rest of the day.  

Style #3: The Scarf Roll

From February 22nd, I have a collection of beautiful scarves, mostly from my aunt and my mom.  They are greatly under utilized.  This is a messy bun wrapped up in a scarf.  It was a nice Saturday pop-up shopping do.  I ended up tucking the loose ends in because it bothered me to feel them flap around my ear.  I got my inspiration from How to Hair Girl.

Style #2: Front Twists with Fishtail Braid

From February 16th, here I continued to exphairiment with the front twists from my first style, but this time brought them around on both sides to meet in a pony-tail at the back.  I finished it with my first ever fishtail braid all the way down.  I need some practice on those.  I used a wooden hair piece I got on our honeymoon in Belize to cover up the ponytail holder in the back.  I found a great tutorial on how to fishtail braid that was really helpful.

Style #1: Front Twist Side Bun

This was my first exp-hair-iment from February 15th.  Inspired by this beautiful tutorial, this style has stuck because it is so quick to do.  I've actually worn this one to work a couple times (which is saying a lot considering I only give myself 20 minutes in the morning between getting out of bed and getting out the door. I finished it with my wedding hair clips to add some elegance.