The Long Hair Community

naturechild · November 16th, 2006, 03:13 PM

what is the strangest thing or coolest thing you have used to decorate or hold your hair?
For example right now I have a clear swizzel stick from a date to night club. I almost threw it away and thought " hey that would look cool holding a crazy 8 bun" sure enough it really makes it crazy.

I have been drooling over all of the hair toys (sticks are my passion) but now that I find myself unemployed I need to find cheap or FREE (free is good) ideas so zing things up. I have made some sticks from bone sticks from the local bead store but I have had them for awhile.
So I turn to other long hairs like me and ask what is the strangest or Weirdist thing you have used in your hair?

spunkymonki87 · November 16th, 2006, 03:22 PM

I haven't used all of these per se, but they definetely shake things up a bit:

The Sock Bun

Putting flowers in your hair: they can be stuck into the side of your bun or put behind your ear when your hair is down. Flowers can also be woven into a wreath to go around your bun or your head.

Ribbons: these are usually pretty cheap or something you already own (scavanged from gifts). You can weave ribbons into your braid, tie off the tassel with them. Some threads on the topic:

Ribbon Updos

Homemade Hair Lacer

An 1830s Braid Style

naturechild · November 18th, 2006, 02:47 PM

thank you these are lovely.
What do you think about the new hair snaps you can buy, or the hair Qoils (sp)

cindy58 · November 18th, 2006, 02:55 PM

I got a sample of one of the snaps from an ebay seller -- it didn't seem too user friendly when I tried it in my hair.

I have a big collection of cool barrettes of different sizes -- recently I have taken the smaller fancy ones that I was using before to hold my growing out bangs back and fastened them in the center of a bun. I used a hair stick first to hold the bun, and then fastened on the small barrette in the bun center. That looked really neat, I thought. I'll try to get a few pictures to show you how it turned out.

diginado · November 18th, 2006, 03:07 PM

According to my DH, the weirdest thing I do is buy several pairs of earrings that are very ornate or distinctive, same style, and attach one pair to hairsticks. Coordinating ear drops and sticks, I like it!! As long as I can get them on sale it's cheaper than buying all the fittings and I can switch the drops on a basic black pair of sticks (chopsticks) to match in a minute.
If I get three pairs of the earrings I can use one earring (sometimes) as a drop on a chain for a necklace.

naturechild · November 18th, 2006, 03:24 PM

ooo I like that one Diginado I am gonna try that one.
Can you sill find natural hair pins. Meltal snap my hair.

TheStorm · November 19th, 2006, 12:40 AM

Ribbons are very cheap and easy to get hold of and they are very versitile, there are many styles that can be done with them, from a simple bow tied at the base of a ponytail or the end of a braid, they can be used as one strand of the braid or as a headband too. Really the imagination is the limit with them.

Hairsticks can be made from just about anything that is long, thin and straight or straightish (I have 2 machine bolts from work as hairsticks) on an easier note though, knitting needles, pens and the like do get used often too.

Broaches... I have several I use in my hair, I pin them through my hair at the point where I put an elastic and fasten it over the elastic, my favorites are a silver scorpion and a golden lizard.

I have many shoe laces I put in my hair occasionally, mostly black, just tied in a bow around the base of a ponytail, or I have a couple of "rainbow" effect ones, that look really good braided into hair

This time of year Christmas decorations could be used, use your imagination on that one, I've used that red & white hazard tape at work before when there is nothing else to keep my hair out of the way.

Hope this helps, if anything else springs to mind I post that too or if you have any questions just ask.

**LisaJaney** · November 19th, 2006, 04:08 PM

I have porcupine quills that I use for buns. Two are thinner and short, and one is nearly 10" long (keeps hitting stuff, like when I get in-and-out of the car) Those are slightly odd...

dcs60 · November 19th, 2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaJaney

I have porcupine quills that I use for buns. Two are thinner and short, and one is nearly 10" long (keeps hitting stuff, like when I get in-and-out of the car) Those are slightly odd...

I'm not even sure I want to know how you procured porcupine quills!!

DragonMommie · November 19th, 2006, 06:58 PM

Free is Key!!!

I love the broach idea and I will definitely try it out. Sometimes I use earrings with long hooks to hang in my hair when I do a french braid.

I use yarn, sometimes single strands or I'll braid it first, I'll even weave it into my hair. I love anything long with sprays. I've made comb hair pieces for holidays, occaisions and my own wedding. I love sticking flowers into my hair, especially babies breath.

I like to use knitting needles and crochet hooks as hair sticks and pins. They can get pricey, but they are sturdy if you get the metal ones...AND they are long for you gals with extra long, heavy hair. If you have them already, they can be clutch at the last minute. I like to use them, just as is, because I like to show that I am into knitting without actually saying it.

Tonight, I downloaded a pretty fast and easy pattern for crocheting a headband and will start it as soon as I get off here. I've posted it below:

GAUGE:
One Headband Strip = 1 in. [2.5 cm] wide. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.

HEADBAND STRIP (make 3)
With 2 strands of yarn held together, chain 36.
Row 1: Double crochet in 4th chain from hook and in each remaining chain across. Fasten off.

Finishing
Place 3 Strips on top of one another and sew together at one end. Braid Strips, and then sew together at other end. Weave in ends. Cut ribbon length in half, sew one half to each end of Headband.

hazelceleste · November 19th, 2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcs60

I'm not even sure I want to know how you procured porcupine quills!!

You can buy them at http://www.treasureranch.com/treasur...quillsale.html . I've been thinking of getting a pair or two, actually. Lisa, do you think they hold as well as regular hairsticks, or are they flimsy? I've never seen a real live porcupine, but I imagine the quills are a lot softer than plastic or wood.

I'm a big fan of using lollypops as hair decorations. I either leave the wrapper on, or paint them with clear nail polish so they don't dissolve in the rain. I've also been known to spice up a hair pin with a pretty bead.

sapphire-o · November 19th, 2006, 10:08 PM

Am I the only person who has ever used Palm stylus as hairsticks?

Their replacement packs are quite cheap. Of course they're pretty short so they're only good for half-ups. I was wondering if they'd be OK for geeky men to use.

dcs60 · November 20th, 2006, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazelceleste

You can buy them at http://www.treasureranch.com/treasur...quillsale.html . I've been thinking of getting a pair or two, actually. Lisa, do you think they hold as well as regular hairsticks, or are they flimsy? I've never seen a real live porcupine, but I imagine the quills are a lot softer than plastic or wood.

See, I've once again learned something new here. Interesting.

Thank you hazelceleste for furthering my LH education!!