Hair sticks - Hair too slippery to use them?

[maybeinthemtns]

I would love to be able to keep my hair up without using any elastics, and hair sticks seem like the way to go. The problem is - my hair just slides right out, around, over, or whatever, off the stick. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong? I try to catch as much scalp hair as I can. I use hair scroos and those work fine as long as I get enough scalp hair, so I don't really get it. Is there anyone else who has had this problem? I can't tell if it's my technique or if my hair is just too darn slippery for hair sticks.

[melusine963]

How long is your hair? Some people have a lot of trouble getting buns to stay put if their hair isn't at least BSL (the thicker the hair, the longer it needs to be to achieve certain styles). Spin pins are wonderful because they hold so well, no matter your hair type.

It could also depend on the type of hair sticks you're using. My hair is by no means slippery, but horn sticks slide right out. You might have better luck with slightly less smooth sticks, or with textured sticks.

[Islandgrrl]

I often have trouble with sticks and my hair really is not all that slippery. I don't know if it's technique (or lack) or The material or shape of the sticks, or what. Forks work much, much better for me.

ETA... actually the material and shape do make a difference. Very smooth sticks and very thin sticks are difficult.fatter sticks that are smooth but not super polished work well enough.

[ravenheather]

I also prefer thicker sticks for my slippery hair. Lady idun, elymwold, timberstone turnings, and grahtoe studio split antlers all work well for me.

[seamstress]

I had the same problem with my pencils (don't have hair sticks yet) and I tried braiding my hair before I put it up. It made the bun stay much better.

[Long_hair_bear]

Try a Larks curly q. I swear by them. They never fall out and hold hair like a rock!

[Nightshade]

Have you tried bunning when your hair is damp? My hair is so slippery that if I put it up dry with sticks, I so much as sneeze and it all comes down. Post-wash hair is easy to put up damp, but I keep a mister bottle for non-shower days. Mist, comb and put it up :)

[Verdandi]

I have slippery hair which lately have refused to stay put with sticks. It spit just about everything except ficcares out, and I second peoples suggestions for braiding and/or damp bunning. It makes a world of difference! That and a helping hair pin or spin pin when needed :)

[mouse2cat]

If your hair is a little tangled it will hold better. When my hair was a little shorter I had better luck with a vertical figure 8 bun.
Also I did this bun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6vq6paUaF0 which held really well with that base braid.

[Scarlet_Heart]

You could try hair textured hair sticks. Emergent Glassworks, Lady Idun, and Over the Hawaiian Moon make sticks with raised and indented spirals that are good for grabbing hair.

[Rosetta]

I've never figured out how to use sticks successfully, so you're not the only one ;) They just slide out of my hair, or my hair slides out of them, and my hair isn't even that slippery...
I've just given up on them, I mean there are so many better ways to wear hair up (for me) - I mostly use (ficcare-type) beak clips, they hold my hair immensely more securely than sticks.

[queenovnight]

I was thinking it might be the length too. Or do you use a lot of product? oils?

- Let me say, I have a metal hair stick and it doesn't stay half as well as my wooden ones. So it could just be the sticks you have.

[Rushli]

I was using a thin ed stick with no issues when all of a sudden my hair kept falling out of everything. I had just done a protein treatment and thought that may have caused it, but even after a few washes, my hair has stayed slippery. I got a lady Idun (thicker) stick and a Ed curvy stick and still had issues. Once I discovered wet bunning, I thought I would be ok, but I have found that once my hair mostly drys 6-8 hours later, it starts falling out again. Braid buns, however, have become my go to! It's the only way I can wear my sticks at the moment.

I am hoping that my main problem is being just past BSL with layers that like to fall out of everything. In a year or two (waist or hip) I will start trimming out layers so we will see if that helps.

[elea]

maybe try this:
grab hair in like low pony tail
thist
put up close to scalp
hold with 1 hand
pick some of 1 side of the twist with stick going up with other hand
go over twist still pointy bit going up
pick into other side
go down under twist
wrap hair around the stick under the 2 ends
end goes under
secure the bun with the 2nd stick as you would normally use a stick in a bun

IF this makes sense
i hope it helps
(i have not found a video of it but if someone recognizes and know of one, it would be even better)

[GoldenSilk]

I guess everyone's hair is different! I personally have found that braided buns and damp buns actually fall apart more often... My go-tos when my hair doesn't want to stay are twisted, center-held buns, especially a nautilus. A second stick helps with hold. Forks are even better. (I really do need more of those!) Less-glossy wood usually holds better than metal.

I get a lot better hold now that my hair is not layered and is long enough to go around the bun multiple times. I also trim my ends in a U-shape, to help keep them from all sticking out and causing the bun to unravel.

[ErinLeigh]

My hair is very slippery and also short.
I could get hair sticks to stay a few way.
First is to damp bun. IF I leave it be the stick will stay all day.
Another was to grab hair into hand like a ponytail and place the stick under it. Then I would just rotate the stick around the hair then tuck it in. It seemed to hold well that way as opposed to me making the bun first then putting the stick in.

Oh, I noticed a french twist secured with a stick held really well...Where you point stickup and then down instead of sideways. I have almost no experience with sticks, just started them, bit those I can do with fine, slippery hair.