ballet bun

I've had a few people ask me how to do ballet buns.  I decided a blog post would be the easiest starting point to show you. First of all, I'm afraid this is going to be a little wordy.  I'll try to keep it simple.  And Jeni, you know how Jason and you are about your yard and vehicles? I'm that way about my girl's hair...so hopefully you can just take what you need.  Also, please excuse Phoebe's puffy eyes, I took these on Sunday, after a long day Saturday and early church sunday morning.

In the hair world, please remember that there are many different types of hair, head shapes, hair lines, etc, so what works for me and my girls may not work for you.  I'll try to give a few different options so you can use what you like.  And I have had absolutely no professional hair training.  Unless you count barbies when I was 10, and my 3 daughters, who have been my guinea pigs since birth.

Now on with the lesson.

The first thing to decide is how you want to pull the hair back.  Phoebe has a low hairline, and her hair looks better parted to the side rather than pulled straight back.  Plus I like the sleek look for ballet, so I do "barbie bangs" on her.  If you've ever noticed how most barbies come, they have this little trick done on their hair.  It also works better because I like ballet buns to be a bit higher than regular ponies or buns that I do.

so first:  Barbie Bangs

Part the hair on the side, I like to go even further to the side than usual.  

Next, section off a "bang width" portion of hair, and smooth it over to the side.  I am not a product guru,  but use what you like to keep it sleek.  I work with a squirt bottle instead of fresh from the bath soaking wet hair, but I do keep it fairly wet.  Anyway, comb that piece over and do the same on the other side.  

Then you are going to pull those sections back and secure them at the nape of the neck with a baby elastic under the rest of the hair.  

Now, you don't have to do those, just pull the hair back to a pony however you choose.  If you did the barbie bangs, join that little pony up with the rest in a big, kind of high pony.  Not on top of the head, just at the top of the back of the head.  That's where I like it, anyways.

From here there are a few different options, too.  You can braid, which is probably the easiest, or I like to corkscrew.  I've found that braided or corkscrewed buns stay better for Phoebe's long hair, and look sleeker for ballet, too.

Corkscrew is my favorite, I like the way it looks.

To do a basic corkscrew braid, you use 2 sections of hair.  Get them fairly wet to prevent flyaways.  

Now you are going to twist the 2 sections clockwise while you twist them together in the opposite direction. 

 Keep it as tight and smooth as you can, and go as far down as you can.  secure it with a clear baby elastic. 

 Phoebe's usually loosen up just a bit after I let go of them, that's ok.  

then wrap it around the pony, and bobby pin like crazy.

 

 I also hairspray it like crazy...after all, it has to survive through 4 costume changes! 

Braided buns are the same, but with a braid instead.  It works just as well, but looks a little different.

Isn't this a beautiful costume? I love the pink and red.

I hope this made sense!  Let me know if it didn't, I'll try to improve it.