If you’re like me and have long, thick locks of hair you know how frustrating it can be to make your hair do what you want it to in the style that you want it. It’s hard to control so much hair and weight. For girls like us, there are infinite ways to style our hair. That’s not the problem. The trick is to know how to do it in a way that is realistic and works for us. I have tried Pinterest tutorial after tutorial, I’ve tried all the tricks in the book, but the truth is I’m not a hairstylist and I don’t have time to try to be! That’s why I have taken the time to create my own tricks of the trade and save you all the time and headache trying to do the same.
There are 3 main styling issues that I have endlessly struggled with and that have turned my hair grey trying to conquer—volume, a workout do that doesn’t involve getting poked in the eye by my ponytail, and the infamous ballerina bun.
I have created my own, tried and true, tutorials for each of these to help all of you with the same problems! Here they are…
1. How-To get Volume
Usually my hair is almost as flat as it is in the first step of the tutorial you see above. Volume is a struggle for every girl, but for girls with long, thick hair it’s almost impossible. It’s one thing to leave your apartment with volume, but to have long-lasting volume is another thing. The volume tutorial I have for you gave me lasting volume up to the morning after (no joke).
The first step is to fully wet your hair. It’s best if you do this right after coming out of the shower.
The second step is to blow dry your hair about 50 percent on high. Make sure to apply a heat protecting spray before you blow dry.
Third, starting in the front and working your way to the back, take sections of your hair and hairspray the roots. Blow dry each section upwards toward your face starting at your roots and working your way down to the end of your strands. Make sure to fully dry your sections, especially your roots.
Fourth, flip all of your hair to one side. Doing the same thing, hairspray the roots sections of your hair at a time until you reach your middle part. Blow-dry each section upwards. Then, do the same to the other side. And you’re finished! Enjoy your long-lasting volume!
2. How-To Workout Do
Working out should not be a hassle because of your hair. I had tried high ponytails and low ponytails, but it didn’t matter what I did; I still felt like a horse whose swinging tail couldn’t help but swat my face every time I did the slightest movements. Finally, I discovered the low fishtail workout-do. It keeps everything secure and has a very small range of motion.
The first step is optional. I like to use a headband to save any fly-a-ways from getting loose. Set your headband in place first if you wish.
The next step shows you to start your fishtail in the middle of your head so as to secure any short pieces of hair. However, if your have shorter strands, make sure to start even higher.
Lastly, fishtail braid and secure with a pony! It’s easier if someone else does it but it’s not impossible to do it to your self. I have done it to myself, easily, multiple times.
To learn how to fishtail braid click here!
3. How-To do a Ballerina Bun
Ballerina buns have been my greatest battle and my greatest victory. I have tried bobby pins and sock buns, and neither of them worked for my hair. If you have hair like mine you know that bobby pins are pointless and ineffective—they just don’t cut it. That’s why my best investment has been mini hair claw clips. They are a hair-savor! I use the Goody Classics Mini Claw Clips, but any mini claw clips will work. They are much stronger than bobby pins; they can control your hair a lot more effectively, and work for almost every hairstyle.
To use these gems in your ballerina bun the first step is to put your hair into a high ponytail to ensure your hair is secure and won’t fall out.
Next, flip your ponytail upside down across the top of your head and secure a portion of it on top of your head about an inch away from the root of your ponytail.
Step 3; wrap your entire pony carefully and tightly around the clip. Take another clip (either a clear clip or one that matches the color of your hair) and secure this portion of your pony towards the root of your ponytail (so that your pony is now in a circle and has reached a full 360-degree loop on top of your head).
Lastly, keep wrapping your hair around your clips, making sure to cover them up, and secure the end of your pony with a few bobby pins.
The best part about this technique is that it is tight and your hair is secure enough that it won’t fall out at any time of the day!
There you have it! Hopefully, these hair-dos work as well for you as they do for me. Good luck, girls!