[oceanica]

OK I'm not sure what I'm asking here. One time at a church camp that we went to once a year I met an aa girl and we were the best of friends for that week, but the next year I didn't see her. Anyway she loved doing my hair. I have stick straight hair, somewhat fine. She used to put it in some sort of a twist that would last all day. She was a master of hair at about 8 years old. She put the twist in along the front of the hair - it wasn't really a braid, not three strands anyway - and I swear I don't know how it stayed in. It would start at the hairline next to my face and she incorporated hair so that it sort of framed the face. She tried to show me how but I could never do it. I wish I could find out how it was done because Athena's hair is not really long enough to braid but it's growing and I bet it would look really cute. Does anyone know how to do this?

[jarian]

You would have to use a holding gel or spritz and part a section of the hair and roll the hair along. It's almost like braiding the hair to the scalp, but instead, rolling it to the scalp. Practice a few times and you'll get it! It will also help if the hair is damp or wet before appyling the gel or spritz.

[jarian]

Also, support it with a rubberband at the end of the twist so that it will hold.

[wellnow]

Originally Posted by jarian

Also, support it with a rubberband at the end of the twist so that it will hold.

A coated rubberband so that it won't pull/tangle her hair...that is very dangerous when the hair is fine (such as a babies)....

Also, I would suggest you get a Barbie Head or the like so that you can "practice" styles on it before trying a style on your baby's head(or your own)...I learned how to braid some pretty cute styles like that...too bad I don't have a child...yet

[JenC]

were they flat twists??

[Dickons]

I think I know what you mean...

Seperate you hair into two sections - secure one.

Take the other section and start rolling it - easiest to start at the top and move down - secure it in a way it will not unwind.

Take the other section and do the same - taking care to roll it in the same direction you rolled the first one.

Take both section in different hands. Twist one over the other in the opposite direction than you originally rolled sections. (It will not work if you go the same direction.)

Continue until you have twisted the two sections to where you want to put a band on it.

Note once you have the hang of it and know French braiding you can create a Twisted French braid.

It works really good on fine hair that never stays put...

Kind regards,
Dickons

[joskids]

I learned to twist, braid, use beads, etc., because my older daughter has a biracial child and she's really, really good at this stuff. Now that I have two biracial daughters, both with very long hair, I can do quite a lot with it and it's bonding time for me with the girls. It all just takes practice and some patience.

A good resource to consider is a book called "It's All Good Hair." Gives a lot of great pointers about products and how to style.

[oceanica]

Hey thanks everyone! I'm not sure which one of those it was. I tried just rolling Athena's hair and it looked cute, especially since it's pretty puffy on the sides, but it made the two really thin areas at her temples look more noticeable. There's not enough hair really to do much with it but it is longer than I thought! (Btw she has a big bald spot on the back and then straighter hair below it... is that going to grow in someday? It seems to be getting worse!) I braided the sides a little but at 5 months she just won't hold still enough.
Jen, I tried the flat twist on my hair and had a pretty good result!

[sparkle1908]

Her hair should grow in as she gets older..my niece was bald in the middle of her head for a long time...she slept on her back and I'm sure that the rubbing caused that....also, if her hair is thin at the temples, make sure you aren't trying to twist/braid that part...that will pull her hair out since it causes stress on the very sensitive hair follicles....

[oceanica]

Hey Dickons, I was looking this over again and I believe that may be the technique! Thanks - her hair is a little longer now so I will have to try it.
Athena has a "hairdresser" (my assistant at work) who always does 3 pigtails attached to each other which is the cutest thing ever... but I can never seem to get it tight enough. Besides the fact that she gets REALLY mad now when I try. But anyway I really think what makes it so cute is the parting. That's why I love those box braids too! I hope I will be able to do her hair right as she gets older!

Sparkle thanks for the tip... I will avoid pulling on those areas.

[mnmomma]

I learned how to do twists by watching a video on youtube - they have some great demos on there! I love that when I take them out, DD's lovely curls are really defined.