Using two hairsticks at once?

[enting]

Does anyone wear styles that require two hairsticks? I only ever use one and don't know what to do with a pair of matched hairsticks. I know some people just insert the second one for looks, but is there any practical use for a second stick? What styles do you all use a pair of hairsticks in? Do you find them more or less secure than single hairstick styles?

[SteelRose]

They can serve several purposes. It can just be for looks on some things. Some (like the woven bun) require a pair. Sometimes the second stick is not as necessary, but it helps hold the bun more securely. I personally use them for all 3 reasons at different times.

I guess the answer to all of your questions really is: yes. :)

[AJNinami]

Using two hairsticks for me is mostly aesthetic, but sometimes I'll use them if I feel like a bun is sufficiently tight enough to hold them but has a good chance of unraveling if I only use one stick. I usually find them more secure, albeit somewhat heavier.

[meteor]

It really helps with double buns and with sectioned buns.

Also, some hairstyles do need a second stick, often the styles that are not center-held or the styles that start off with a stick in a braid or behind a ponytail and then require a second stick (or another instrument) to fix the ends.

Sometimes, a second stick adds a nice touch or a more secure hold. But sometimes, adding a second stick into a one-stick, usually center-held, bun can actually make it feel a bit more loose and less secure. It really depends... I feel like the longer the hair gets, the easier it is to put up with just one stick (since you can wrap hair around the base more times).

[cocoahair]

I sometimes use a second stick if my go to bun(nautilus) has a loop that is a bit too big. Sometimes the added stick takes up more room in the loop and it feels more secure. Other than that I do not usually do two sticks.

[chen bao jun]

One stick will hold my hair up but I have a lot of pouf and when I use two, I use the other to pin down the poufy part evenly, not for hold, but for aesthetics.

[Arctic]

My short-ish hair does better with 2 sticks for now. Buns are sturdies that way.

[spirals]

I was prompted by one of torrin's videos to try 2 sticks yesterday. I figured it would hold better and I was right. Every single one of my sticks is part of a matched pair, yet I only ever use one at a time. That's going to change. It's a big help in keeping my heavy hair from sliding down my head.

[EdG]

My cinnabun requires two sticks. I wear the sticks so that they cross (wearing them parallel as in my photo hasn't worked for some time).
Ed

[spidermom]

I like to wear twin buns sometimes, so of course I need twin hair sticks. Also, my hair used to be classic length, thick, and heavy, so it would often require 2 sticks to properly secure it, although I usually preferred a sturdy fork.

[enting]

Oh wow, so many responses already, thank you! It seems I might need to venture out of the realm of center-held buns. I'd love more names of specific buns that two sticks work well in :).


Sometimes, a second stick adds a nice touch or a more secure hold. But sometimes, adding a second stick into a one-stick, usually center-held, bun can actually make it feel a bit more loose and less secure. It really depends...
I was trying to figure out how two sticks in a center-held would work, and I just wasn't seeing it working in my mind. I think this is why, I think on me it *would* loosen it.

Cocoahair that is brilliant! I will fix a too-loose nautilus loop by digging deeper and grabbing more scalp hair which turns it into more of an oval. I like your idea!

When using two sticks, are they inserted on the same plane or on different planes? I can imagine two sticks on different planes acting almost like a narrow fork turned on its side. I know some LHCers use forks that way.

[meteor]

Oh wow, so many responses already, thank you! It seems I might need to venture out of the realm of center-held buns. I'd love more names of specific buns that two sticks work well in :).


I was trying to figure out how two sticks in a center-held would work, and I just wasn't seeing it working in my mind. I think this is why, I think on me it *would* loosen it.

Cocoahair that is brilliant! I will fix a too-loose nautilus loop by digging deeper and grabbing more scalp hair which turns it into more of an oval. I like your idea!

When using two sticks, are they inserted on the same plane or on different planes? I can imagine two sticks on different planes acting almost like a narrow fork turned on its side. I know some LHCers use forks that way.

You can hold 2 hairsticks together at once as you are wrapping hair around it. Some folks find it more comfortable, but it can create a loose hold sometimes.

As for examples of hairstyles that work well with 2 sticks or a combination of 1 stick + another tool (U-pin, claw-clip, fork, etc...), there are quite a few that start off with one stick and then need additional stick (or other tool) on the next coil or wrap... For example:
- Chinese bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujLLwnott3c
- Chinese braided bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WochaOEPNHM
- Knot bun (if there is enough "tail" left): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiGTXkUhFKE
- Celtic knot bun (if there is enough "tail" left): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7JpzFYSYUY
- Frame bun (bun starting with lazy wrap ponytail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umz6pNWk9oQ with the ponytail then wrapped around the base)
- Cinnabun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3o1lW0w7L8
- Figure-8/Infinity bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyc-1cT9_AE
- Pretzel bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElSCHnzYtM8
- Pinless French braided bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iu2yQJdtls
- Double buns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omAs53zZJlA
- All sorts of sectioned buns from half-ups: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZvXrEOfJ4w
... etc etc

[endersworld]

For most of my longhaired life, I've used sticks in pairs, especially on things like cinnabuns and my old go-to, which was two dutch braids wrapped into a sort of low, wide bun (I've got to recreate it at some point and take pictures - it's kind of hard to explain via text). My hair is really thick, and the second stick was usually placed wherever things felt loosest, to create a bit more hold. It wasn't until I learned a lazy wrap bun that I realized using two sticks could be a detriment in some circumstances...

But basically, it creates a more secure bun, and can sometimes be decorative if you have a really pretty hairstick and your bun is mostly held up by pins or a less visible fork.

[TheLuckyLurker]

Maybe I'm just doing it wrong. Every time I try to use two sticks, putting the second one in just dislodges the first.

[Wildcat Diva]

Helpful? Nautilus bun.
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j386/janineevans/F8D094EE-F714-428F-AE5D-5B40AE21F5E0_zpszrmjl4vo.jpg

[Arctic]

Maybe I'm just doing it wrong. Every time I try to use two sticks, putting the second one in just dislodges the first.

Do you insert the first stick with weaving motion, making sure it graps both scalp hair and bun hair? (This depends a bit of a bun, e.g. twisted bun vs center held one, but it's a good rule of thumb.) I find I don't often have to carefully weave the second stick in, especially if it's crossing the first and not going parallel with it. It still gives more support and security.

[Elbereth]

When I use both sticks, I weave both sticks in. Typically, one stick is enough to hold my hair up, but with two sticks the end result is more secure. First stick still does most of the holding, but second stick can address all the slightly loose bits that were left out from weaving the first stick in.

[enting]

Ooh, yes, that is a helpful image Wildcat Diva. I think I'm going to have to go back and stalk the various picture threads (again) to observe more. I wasn't paying attention to stick placement the first time around :o.
Meteor, thank you so much for the list! It makes me feel like I have somewhere to start.
TheLuckyLurker, good to know I'm not alone in trying to figure this out :).
Thank you to everyone else, too!

[TheLuckyLurker]

Do you insert the first stick with weaving motion, making sure it graps both scalp hair and bun hair? (This depends a bit of a bun, e.g. twisted bun vs center held one, but it's a good rule of thumb.) I find I don't often have to carefully weave the second stick in, especially if it's crossing the first and not going parallel with it. It still gives more support and security.

Well, not a weaving motion, but I always make sure to catch bun and scalp hair. I can tell it's nice and secure, and then the second one I can't really do the same with so either it just slides right out, or bumps the first one hard enough to dislodge it and the whole thing falls apart and I just throw them down on the floor and yell "Screw it, I'll just wear a side braid!". Why yes, I do have a slight tendency toward melodrama; why do you ask? ;)

[Moonfaerie]

I wear hair sticks mostly at the Renaissance Faire when it's sticky hot and I use two then because I want the extra hold. There is almost nothing worse than trying to fix my hair while I'm in a corset.

[embee]

When I started using sticks I always used two - my bun was not secure without. As I became more comfortable making a bun one stick was sufficient. Now the second stick is a backup in case I lose or break one.