Dressing Up an Easy Hairdo

Brush and spray the hair to start.

Part it how you like. Livvy always looks best with a side part.  This part is on the right side.

I start on the right and pull enough hair to start a braid.

Instead of braiding like normal you do a dutch braid. 

When you do a basic braid you always pull each piece over the other.

With a dutch braid you do the opposite.  You pull the pieces under so the braid looks like it is sitting on top. 

Keep going under the braid on each side.

You want the braid to sit about 1 1/2 half to 2 inches below the part.

Then you add hair as you go back like a french braid, but still pull the pieces under each other.

Once I get to about an inch behind her ear, I don't add pieces and continue to braid like normal except pulling pieces under instead of over. 

Add an elastic.

Repeat  on the left side.  Now you want the two braids to be sitting at about the same place on each side of the head.  So start you braid further from the part.  Just picture an imaginary part as if it were on the left  side and start your braid below that.

Remember to pull the pieces under instead of over as you add hair.

Brush as you go just like you do in french braiding.

When I get to about an inch behind the ear, I quit adding hair and finish the braid.

Add an elastic. 

As you can see the dutch braid looks fuller instead of flat like the basic braid.

Pick up the two braids and pull them together into a V.

Add an elastic. I usually have Liv hold her hair down or out of the way, so I don't pick up hair underneath as I put the elastic on.  

Take out the elastics on the ends of the two braids.

 Undo the braids.

Brush it out.

Add a ribbon or clip to make it look nice. 

I like to do this one for church or special occasions and I usually curl it as well.

Disneyland Hair

Over the years we have traveled to Disneyland several times.  We take tons of pictures and I can't tell you how many times I have heard, "What is up with my hair?  Why do I look so terrible?"  The moisture in the air does great things, but after a while it goes fuzzy and looks like you didn't do it.  So we have tried a lot of things like tight braids for Olivia, and my other girls worked harder on their hair.  Natalie's hair style is the one.  We did it every day and I can now say this is the best Disneyland hair we have found.  So if you want a style that stays in through fun ride, can get wet and looks cute all day, this is it.

 Start out with the regular brushing and spraying with water.  

I part her hair on the left side.

Begin french braiding high above her ear.

Remember the key to this looking nice is to brush pieces as you braid.  If it looks lumpy, take the time to fix it. 

Your goal is to keep the braid straight or parallel to the part.  Don't make a diagonal line with the braid.

Continue around her head adding from the top and then from the bottom.

You want the braid to stay as straight as you can all the way around because you will end in a higher side ponytail.

When you finally get to this place about 1-2 inches behind her ear do a basic braid to the end.

Add an elastic.  I had my daughter hold this one, but an elastic is easier.

Go to the front right side and do the same thing. 

It will be a pretty short french braid.

Continue until you meet the other braid. 

Finish it off with the basic braid.

Add an ouchless elastic.

Cross the braids and hold as tight as you can.  In this one I put the right over the left.

Add a hairband.

Try to keep it as high as possible.

Take out the elastics on the ends of the braids.

Her hair is a lot shorter in this picture, but it still works with all lengths of hair. 

Curling it adds the finishing touch.

Add a ribbon.