Little Girl's Hairstyles - How to do hair for School Pics!

I don't know about the rest of you, but School Picture Day is probably one of my most stressful mornings (pathetic, I know). I stress because:

1: I can't be there to rearrange, comb, spritz anything back into place, and 

2: how do I get the hair to STICK, look natural, but not move until it's picture time?

I justify my erratic and tense behavior because, as I tell my girls, "I'm paying for these, so I want them to be PERFECT." So, now that you are feeling sorry for my children, let me share with you some possible ideas, that I think would be SUPERB for picture day.

I really really like my girls' hair down for pictures. I think that if I'm going to do something fancy, it should be visible, and since most of my fancy stuff is in the BACK of the head, it does nothing for their pictures, which I really want to show off their cute little faces. So, here's some of my favorites, with the hair down, that I think we'll be choosing from, since our picture day is tomorrow!

But, I know some of you may want to have the hair up, so I've picked a few faves for you too. They are at the end. Enjoy! Good luck with your morning!

Hair Down

French Braid Headband

Twists with curls (soft curlers)

Double Twist Braids with Waves

The Thumbelina

Side Puffy Braid Headband

Daisy Chain Braid with waved hair

Rosettes/Twist Bun Headband  (I will be sharing a video on how to make the actual headbands soon!)

Twisted Laces in Crown Or Side Puffy Braid

Hair Up

French Twist Braids with Stuffed Bun

If you wanted to eliminate the top twists, I think a side bun with a flower would be adorable for pictures as well. I'm leaning towards this hairdo myself.....

The Heidi Updo with Four Strand Braids

Side Pony with Twists

Little Girl's Hairstyles - How to do different hairdo's with a Daisy Chain Braid! 15-20 min each

So on the days when I decide to 'do some hair' I realize the pressure I've put on myself by creating this blog! I'm forever trying to create a new hairdo to teach or show, to give you ladies the ideas you want. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE playing around with new hairstyles, braids, ways of twisting the hair, etc. I am always striving to create something cute and different, but that doesn't take an hour and a half to do, and requires 7 hands! So, most of the time I attempt variety by combining hair tricks/styles I've already shared. We all know there are literally thousands of things you can do with hair, but half the battle (for me anyway) is SEEING something really awesome and saying to yourself, "hey, I can do that!"
So, here's two I did the other day, using braids I've shared previously, and therefore, braids and tricks that you all are already pros at!

Daisy Chain Braid Ideas!

For this hairstyle, I first did a side part, then did an angle part on the large side, from one temple back to above her other ear. Next I did two small Daisy Chain braids back to the same point, and ponytailed them off.

I then combed the rest of her hair into a side ponytail, and included the braid's ponytails, and put it in a stuffed bun on the side.

For this hairstyle, I did an angle part in front, dividing all the hair in front in half, and did two small Daisy Chain Braids back to ears, and ponytailed them off. Then I pulled the rest of the hair back into a ponytail, and did a 4 strand braid in her ponytail.

This one was not a happy camper about having her pictures taken. Having cute hair does not equal having a cute attitude!

I hope these inspire you! I'd love to see what you come up with using the Daisy Chain Braid!

Little Girl's Hairstyles -How to do a 4 Strand Braid "Heidi" UpDo 10-15 min

So, do your girls ever run and hide when you pick up a comb or a brush? That's what's been happening at our house lately. Maybe it's because it's summer and they just want to go outside and run around madly in their swimsuits. Who can blame them? All I know is that my girls BEG for 'just ponytails, k?", or "just a braid, puh-leeze mom?"after I've coerced/bribed/threatened-to-shave-your-head them into the bathroom.

SO, in my undying devotion to you fellow bloggers who take the time to peek at us once in a while, I've posted this little 'just a ponytail/braid' do for you. And of course, we tried to make it a little fun, all the while keeping it out of the face, and allowing them to see clearly while running to and fro on the Slip-n-Slide. Plus I like calling it a "Heidi Hairdo". :)

For this hairstyle, I zig zagged her part from forehead to neck, and put her hair up in two high ponytails.

I then did a 4 strand braid in each ponytail.

Next, and there are a variety of ways you can do this, I just wrapped her ponytail around the other. Now, I get that many of your lovely darlings don't have hair as long as what's pictured here. There are still options! You can place the ponytails closer together, right next to the part. This will have more of a 'bun' effect. You can also just join the braid's ends together in the middle with an elastic. But since my available model has this length of hair, here's what you can do as well.

With the second braid, I tried to layer it as I wrapped it around. Wrap it pretty much however it's going to lay best, and the tightest. I've done it two different ways in my pictures. I did it this way, shown below, and then it's different in the pics shown where she's wearing the flower. I tried to make a figure 8 with the braids.

Bring the ends together underneath and join them.

If you have long ends still at this point, tuck them under the braids, and place them where you'll be able to secure them with a bobby pin.

Secure the braids and ends with a bobby pin, using at least 2 on each side.

If your braid is standing up from the base, like the one on the left in the below picture, push it down so it lays flat, and keep securing the braids wherever necessary.

I stuck in a flower right on top of where the braids joined together underneath (big flowers are super for hiding things). And Voila! She's ready to go! (You may want to remove the flower for slip-n-slide fun though).

Doesn't hurt to be cute while you are having fun, right?

Little Girl's Hairstyles -- How to use a 4 strand braid with a French Braid! 15-20 min

SO, now that you all know how to do a 4 strand braid, here's how to put it in a hair do with a french braid! This is a great style for long hair, but you could work in a shorter length as well.

I really love any kind of braiding done up by the face, and I know I do styles similar to this often. BUT what can I say? I like it! So for this hairdo, I parted off a side part to the crown, and then crosswise down to the ears, and clipped off the back. And of course, I worked with wet hair.

I began french braiding, angling it toward her ear.

And I continued the braid down far enough to reach back into a ponytail. You could also join the two side braids down underneath the ponytail if you like.

Same french braid on the other side.

Next I combed back all the remaining hair into a low ponytail,

and brought in my two side braids.

Then I did a 4 strand braid in her ponytail!

Put in a cute bow, and she's done!

Little Girl's Hairstyles - How to do a 4 Strand Braid Video Tutorial

It's been a while since I posted a video, so here we go! Another favorite braid of mine. We love ponytails and fancy braids. Why? They are fast and easy, and look super duper cute!