Hair too heavy and slippery for forks or sticks...

[Linguaphilia]

I'm at my wits' end :D Despite trying my best with all sorts of buns and sticks and forks, I cannot make them work. My hair tends to escape, or the updo is way too tight, or too loose and pulling on one section of my scalp, etc. I have come to the conclusion it is simply too heavy and slippery to be suited for all those beautiful sticks and forks. The only thing that works is a braided cinnabun with crimped u-pins.

And yet it seems that everyone here uses sticks and forks effortlessly for an entire day without having to redo it 1000 times a day. I am envious... But surely I am not alone in this?

[wilderwein]

Unfortunatly If I wan't to have a stable updo that holds on for more than an hour (If I'm outside) I need to have as base a ponytail =/ I use a scrunchie to tie it, and I hope it won't damage my hair terribly. But I guess If I had to redo my hair every 30 minutes it would be more damaging.

No you are not alone on this. I have the exactly same problem, and my hair isn't even as long as yours AND part of it is bleached, wich it kinda makes my hair less slippery. I don't wanna imagine what will happen when I'll have more virgin hair.

[Amapola]

My hair is incredibly slippery too. When I want it to hold still I use a Ficcare.

Sticks and forks always seem to slip at least once or twice during the day, sometimes more often. But I put in a Ficcare and that is that; it stays right where I put it until I take it down at night, even if we've been hauling hay or building fences.

[Quasiquixotic]

My bullet proof items are tusks and ficcare. Tusks will always hold my hair. And ficcare generally will as well. Your mileage may vary, I'm sorry you are having problems. But you know, slippery hair has benefits too. Hugs.

[meteor]

I'm at my wits' end :D Despite trying my best with all sorts of buns and sticks and forks, I cannot make them work. My hair tends to escape, or the updo is way too tight, or too loose and pulling on one section of my scalp, etc. I have come to the conclusion it is simply too heavy and slippery to be suited for all those beautiful sticks and forks. The only thing that works is a braided cinnabun with crimped u-pins.

And yet it seems that everyone here uses sticks and forks effortlessly for an entire day without having to redo it 1000 times a day. I am envious... But surely I am not alone in this?

You are not alone! :D

I used to get really discouraged by this, but now I've resigned to starting *all* my buns with a braid (or multiple braids). It just holds so much better, especially if you are using just one stick/fork.

You could try:
- Braided Nautilus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VaypM-4PFY
- Braided LWB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DKLqSQWZos
- Braided L-Infinity Bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fzn4gNWIVQ
- Simplified Ellingwoman Bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_biroGTJ7A
- Pinless French Bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iu2yQJdtls
- etc.

You could also experiment with spin pins. Also, consider claw-clips - they might provide better grip, due to more teeth.

Also, starting a bun from a ponytail base makes it easier to hold in place, e.g. Chinese Bun or Braided Chinese Bun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z3lpLReQds).

[yahirwaO.o]

Yeah same problem here. Sticks are way more damaging for me because it pulls bad and doesn't even stay well. A pony base is pretty my default thingy and the only toy that seems to be help is my leather hair slide.

My hair insanely slipery and even a regular ponytail is a nightmare sometimes. Braids fall and turn into porcupine mess. Damp hair usually holds better, but hate having wet hair going on.

My solution is simply using a regular hair tie or a scrunchie for buns that holds all day without pulling!

[Jennah]

You could try:..

Thank you for posting those. That youtuber Haartraum is out of this world! I love her hair, her buns, just amazing!!!!

[Ferryl]

Spin pins were my answer. They are easy to use, hold all day, and equal about 20 bobby pins. I put my fork/stick in and then put 2 spin pins in and I never have to worry about it. It's really helped distribute the weight of the hair since it's gotten past waist.
They're also relatively cheap and easily found at most drugstores.

[meteor]

Thank you for posting those. That youtuber Haartraum is out of this world! I love her hair, her buns, just amazing!!!!
^ Thanks a lot, Jennah! :)

Oh yes, Haartraum/Nessa is such a great hair inspiration! :agree:
She also shows/explains styles very well and is an incredibly skilled braider, even at such great lengths. :crush: Her blog is also pretty interesting (and she adds English translation most of the time): http://haartraumfrisuren.de/

[Jennah]

^ Thanks a lot, Jennah! :)

Oh yes, Haartraum/Nessa is such a great hair inspiration! :agree:
She also shows/explains styles very well and is an incredibly skilled braider, even at such great lengths. :crush: Her blog is also pretty interesting (and she adds English translation most of the time): http://haartraumfrisuren.de/

Her braids were perfect. I thought it was her perfect hair, but now that you mention it, she is really good at braiding and making the hair neat. I´ll check her blog. Thank you. :)

ETA: (pic (http://haartraumfrisuren.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/1510_SriLanka_3_Trinco3-600x450.jpg)) :bigeyes:

[sarahthegemini]

My hair is too slippery for anything other than an elastic, a beak clip (but only if positioned perfectly) or a claw clip. Nothing else holds for more than 5 minutes. Ooh, actually no, I got it to hold for an hour in a stick. Once. Never again :-/

[LongCurlyTress]

So glad you started this thread Linguaphilia!! I make a nautilus with a hairstick through it now, but I can only do a bun at nape length now due to heaviness and it is very uncomfortable and pulls scalp hairs if I make it any higher. Although I love it when the bun shows from the top of the head like gossamer has her buns in her videos. Her hair is past? floor length and she uses 3 spin pins and some u pins in her videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTH6aLk13wDc9BpAnEsBIiA Good luck and thanks everyone for posting the previous suggestions.... taking notes now...:popcorn:

[Llama]

I've never tried a hair fork but sticks do not work on my hair either- exact same thing with it either pulling or too loose.
I like to use spin pins, flexi 8s, claw clips, and this "updo stick" thing I found at the grocery store : http://www.amazon.com/Conair-Updo-Stick-Versatility/dp/B007824F6S
Those all seem to hold my hair up securely

[spidermom]

I've had heavy, slippery hair all the way to classic length, and for me, it was learning a bit about construction and pinning in a way that locked. The Gibralter and Spidermom's bun that stays are two that lock in really well but don't have to be tight.

[Crystawni]

I've found if I twist my slipmonster whilst in a ponytail hold (cinnabun-style, but works for lwbs, etc.,), and wrap the tail a few times around the stem of the bun underneath, which is then held in place with a spin pin through the ends and stem before inserting the hairtoy of choice, my buns hold like a rock.

Usually.

If not, I have to resort to a hairfriendly ponytail holder (not something I like doing), then bun with a stick, fork, clip or barrette with no spin pin needed. Or I French twist, then twist the tail into a bun (cinnabun or lwb) and clip it with a medium or large Ficcare.

If I can secure the ponytail part well enough, the rest behaves. Mostly. I have my days when nothing works, the hair is heavy, the slip turns to slop, and my scalp kills.

[Stormynights]

Right after I shampoo I need a 4 prong fork to keep my hair up. By the third day I can use sticks or anything else just fine. I fix it in the morning and it holds all day.

[QMacrocarpa]

The Conair Updo Stick linked by Llama looks like a commercial version of a simple idea I've called an "elastic slide". Basically, you loop the ends of a hair-friendly elastic around the ends of your hairstick once the stick is in place in the updo, sandwiching updo hair between the stick and the elastic. I use elastics in a color that blends fairly well with my hair. It makes a stick hold much more firmly than a stick alone, more like a beak clip. You can increase the tension of the elastic as needed by twisting it before looping the second end around the stick.

This also lets you do styles with sticks that aren't very stick-friendly otherwise, like log rolls and folded-up braids. In fact, I picked up this technique from the log roll video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk9GF6Xbb2M) (starting around the 45 sec. mark).

I don't have slippery hair, but I do like the extra hold when I'm riding my bicycle with a stick in my hair.

Someone should come up with a better term than "elastic slide," because the concept has totally failed to catch on around here under that name. ;-)

[Llama]

The Conair Updo Stick linked by Llama looks like a commercial version of a simple idea I've called an "elastic slide". Basically, you loop the ends of a hair-friendly elastic around the ends of your hairstick once the stick is in place in the updo, sandwiching updo hair between the stick and the elastic. I use elastics in a color that blends fairly well with my hair. It makes a stick hold much more firmly than a stick alone, more like a beak clip. You can increase the tension of the elastic as needed by twisting it before looping the second end around the stick.

This also lets you do styles with sticks that aren't very stick-friendly otherwise, like log rolls and folded-up braids. In fact, I picked up this technique from the log roll video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk9GF6Xbb2M) (starting around the 45 sec. mark).

I don't have slippery hair, but I do like the extra hold when I'm riding my bicycle with a stick in my hair.

Someone should come up with a better term than "elastic slide," because the concept has totally failed to catch on around here under that name. ;-)



This is a great idea! Definitely going to try it sometime.

[Inga-Marjukka]

I definitely have a problem with hairsticks and forks, they only work if I braid my hair into multiple braids and make a bun out of them. I spent time and money finding a real hairstick without having to order one (rather run around than just wait, my blazing logic).

When I finally got one and was so excited about finally getting to do my hair like the cool big girls at the forum, it exploded in three pieces while I was trying to stick it into my bun. I was in class so it was a bit embarrassing. Before that unfortunate incident I had already lost hope, it was so slippery it was very stressful to use.

Scrunchies are my thing. Nothing brightens up my day more than looking like my aunt in the 90's :lol: