Hairstyle: Lace Rope Braided Half-Updo

No, I am not sporting beachy waves created by heat styling products today. :) I managed to resist

Instead I'm wearing a Lace Rope Braided Half-Up. As you can see in the second photo, I rope braided the sides of my hair, using the lace braid method, and then continued each rope braid until they met in the middle, where I fastened them together with a France Luxe Barrette.

Of course it's always in hindsight that I see all of the flaws in my photos. For example, the hair from the crown, above the braids, isn't as nicely combed as I would have liked, but as so often happens, things show up in photos that don't seem as obvious when I look in the mirror. Sometimes that flash acts almost like an x-ray, exposing every imperfection. Since it's dark outside now though, I had no choice but to use a flash.

I see that my perfectionism is trying to kick in. I am supposed to be breaking myself of that habit. Well, I guess that just posting these photos is proof that I'm at least making a bit of headway in that area.

In any case, this is a nice style idea for days when I want to enjoy my length, but keep the canopy hair somewhat protected by being out of the way.

This style could be varied by taking the two braids, combining them and then making a single braid from them. I'll be showing that type of combination braid in a future entry.


I am looking at the calendar, and I am almost in disbelief that November is almost over. Christmas is in less than a month!

I imagine that many of my friends managed to do Christmas shopping this past Friday, when there were some good sales on. I was not brave enough (or well enough) to venture to the stores that day.

I hope that everyone has had a good weekend.

'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.
xo

Rose Bun

Today I'm wearing a Rose Bun. I made it by putting my hair in a ponytail, dividing the ponytail into three and then making three separate Rope Braids. Written instructions on how to make a Rope Braid can be found in this entry.

After the Rope Braids were made, I then coiled all three braids, pinned them into place and created the Rose Bun.

 

In these photos, there are a lot of sticking-out ends. If I were planning on having a more polished look for an evening out, I would likely dampen my hair with distilled water and perhaps add a bit of gel before making both the ponytail and the Rope Braids. I might also add a hair stick or another hair accessory for adornment only. In a future entry, I'll post photos of such a polished Rose Bun.

Before too long, I'll make an instructional video for making Rope Braids for those of you who prefer visual instructions.

I enjoyed and appreciated the comments to yesterday's entry, and I will respond tomorrow in the comments section. I'm still having a rough go with the migraines, and I can't spend any more time writing today.

'Til tomorrow, my friends. Much love to all.

Hairstyle: Rope Braid Half-Up

Today I'm wearing a rope braid half-up. The rope braid is one of the easiest braids to make, but one of the most eye-catching. People always notice a rope braid and often are fascinated by it.

I first learned how to do a rope braid with written instructions, and I found it easy to do. I'll give some quick instructions.

Part hair you would for any half-updo. Divide that hair into two equal strands. Take the strand on the right and twist it in a clockwise direction or, in other words, to the right. Cross it over top of the left strand. You will be crossing the hair over to the left, or counter-clockwise. Now the original left strand in your new right strand. Twist this strand to the right and cross it over to the left. Repeat until the braid is done.

So in brief:

Twist to the right.
Cross over to the left.
Twist to the right.
Cross over to the left.

Keep it going until you have run out of hair to twist, tie off the end of the braid with a hair friendly tie or elastic, and you're done. Prepare to be asked about your braid.

Rope braids are also a base for a beautiful bun, which I'll post another time.

In the meantime, you can take a look at this and some of the hairstyles I've done in the past at my website, http://www.frannyslonghairstyles.com/