Please help: Updos for fine, shoulderlength hair

[AngelInDisguise]

I hope this thread is placed here correctly.

One of my major reasons for having my long hair cut to a pixie several times in my long life was that long hair sooner or later seemed to be boring. But this was also because I only knew two or three hairstyles.

To avoid beeing bored right from the beginning I try to learn as many hairdos as possible. Unluckily it seems as if my hair still is far toooooooo short for nice updos.

I do were following styles:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=25841&albumid=2007&dl=1227891271&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=24125&albumid=2007&dl=1225563413&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=24124&albumid=2007&dl=1225563413&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=24109&albumid=2007&dl=1225554212&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=24108&albumid=2007&dl=1225554212&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=24107&albumid=2007&dl=1225554212&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=24106&albumid=2007&dl=1225553854&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=24104&albumid=2007&dl=1225553854&thumb=1

1. Somehow uptiwisted an pinned with a Ficcarissimo
2. Topsy-Tail tailed up
3. Peacock
4. Do-as-if-it-were hairstick bun thingi
5. Half-up
6. Faked French-Braid
7. Chignon
8. Gibson Tuck

But there still must be loads more dos I just cannot find or think of.

So please do help a short and slippery and fine-haired with two left hands doing hairstyles - pleeeeeeeeeaaaase!

[Kirin]

Since you already know how to do a topsy tail, here's a hairdo that I use on my APL hair, but I could do it shorter.

Pull your hair into a topsy tail high, using only hair from ear level and up. Do the topsy. The rest of the hair that hangs down, braid and flip up, tucking back down into the top of the topsy and secure with a pretty barrette or clip. Because of the topsy and the braid coming up, it looks complicated, AND it makes your hair look like its longer than it really is.

[Boots]

Can you braid? You could french braid it, or do a half up and braid the "up" with many braid variations.

You could also do a segmented ponytai, or do it braided.

[Boots]

Since you already know how to do a topsy tail, here's a hairdo that I use on my APL hair, but I could do it shorter.

Pull your hair into a topsy tail high, using only hair from ear level and up. Do the topsy. The rest of the hair that hangs down, braid and flip up, tucking back down into the top of the topsy and secure with a pretty barrette or clip. Because of the topsy and the braid coming up, it looks complicated, AND it makes your hair look like its longer than it really is.

Cute idea!

[florenonite]

You've got a bigger repertoire of styles than I do, and my hair's longer than yours!

I'd suggest a French braid or, if it won't hold, two of them. If you can't braid then learn xP It'll be a very useful skill later on for a whole host of updos. I know what you mean, though, about getting bored and chopping. I've done that, but only as far as shoulder (I'm too scared to go higher than that, but at least at shoulder I can wear it down regularly without it getting in the way).

ETA: something that works great for me, as my hair, though longer, is also thick, is to make a ponytail, divide it into two or more sections, and either three-strand or rope braid those sections and twist them around into a bun. This allows you to make a braided bun at a shorter length than would otherwise be possible, and it looks really intricate.

[Vitalai]

You could also do your segmented ponytail or half-up topsy-tailed.

My hair is APL, so I'm not able to do many styles either. Half-ups are the way to go! You can do various braids with them, as well as buns. I'm able to do messy buns, like the infinity, that I wouldn't be able to do with my entire length.

You could also take two sections from both sides of your head together and twist them back. You could also braid these sections. This reminds me of a style my mum used to do on me. You braid a small section of hair from both sides of your head and secure them together. Then you do this again, but lower. When you secur these braids together, secure it with the tail of your first braid. You can repeat this as many times as you would like, but we usually went up to three. It's like a cage braid of sorts. I apologize if my instructions aren't very clear. I may take pictures of what it looks like today.

Here are also some styles that you could try out:

http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/crown-roll/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/pics/long/L003/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/barrette-fold/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/reverse-roll/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/hair-roll/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/lc-twist/

I found this great bun style. It should work on your length.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=63

[Arctic]

Folded braid is nice, and at your length it looks more like weaved bun than folded braid.

[Akiko]

You have a nice repertoire of updos!

How about a french twist? I was able to do it 10cm ago, which was your length. Flexi8 site has a good video instruction (http://www.flexi8.com/instructions.html?id=C63ctWHT). A french twist with a flexi-8 is really secure.

Ficcare also has a nice video instruction of a french twist which is slightly different. But that one might need a little more length. Have you tried?

[Tangles]

I agree, you know more updos than the average person, and you execute them better. If you're bored, you only need to get to about APL before you can do a lot more. :)

[AngelInDisguise]

Ladies, thanks for the compliments and the ideas.

Quite a lot of nice dos to try - and hopefully master.

@Kirin: I will try your suggestion as I like dos that can be done quite easily and look more complicated....

@ Frech braid: I already have mastered the braid and sometimes use it for me night-hairdo. Unfortunately my hair is really bad tempered and nearly every time I wanted to go out with the French braid either strands slipped out like mad or I braided some loops in which just should not be there. I have no idea how this happens though. But yes, you are all right, I have to practice this more as I simply love the look of this braid.

By the way: The dutch braid is also so beautiful but I am still to silly to do it.....

@ Boots: I still have problems with the vocabulary and can't think of what a segmented ponytail is... Could somebody help me out?

@ florenonite: This bun is a cute idea, althoug it might look strange with the few hair I have - but I will give this one a try also.

@ Vitalai: Oh yes, a photo would be nice. I see a picture in imagination but I would like to be sure I got it right!

And thanks for the links, I think I will spend some time trying out what I can manage with two left hands ;)

The braid over braid updo is so beautiful - but if I do two braids they are only half as wide as on the shown instruction. I tried it once but as my husband giggled like mad seeing it (and he actually normally is far too polite to react like this) I never gave it a second try. I simply seem not to have enough hair. :(

@ Arctic: I did not really dare to try this one as my braid is just so tiny. But then again I never thought that it could simply look like a bun. AND it might give me the opportunity to wear my hairsticks.

@ Akiko: I love the French Twist. For the instructions on the Ficcare site I am still too short-haired but I put it into the favourites to use this one when my hair finally gets longer (in a hundred years or so - felt years that is). I fear I have the wrong size of Flexis to hold the French Twist comfortably - my small is too tight after half a day. But an excuse to buy another one ;) . I would love to try a French Twist comb but can't find it in Germany, even not in online shops.

@ Tangles: Heavens, yes, but it will still take soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long to reach APL ;). And then there are still some minor layers I have to cope with.....

[AngelInDisguise]

For other shoulder-length sufferers:

I tried the folded braid with hairsticks - and it held all day although I still have layers which do not behave too well when beeing braided:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=26399&albumid=2007&dl=1228552965&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=26400&albumid=2007&dl=1228552965&thumb=1

Please excuse the strange colors, the pics where taken inside with artificial light but without flash.

And the first 'quite like a' cinnabun I dared to go to work with - thanks to scroos and bobbypins the updo survived the whole day:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=26401&albumid=2007&dl=1228552965&thumb=1

So, thank you all again for the ideas, I will surely keep on trying them!

[AngelInDisguise]

Just bringing up this thread again: I tried the Topsy-Tail-Braid thingi - it really works, also with little hair:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=27522&albumid=2007&dl=1229697163&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=27521&albumid=2007&dl=1229697163&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=27520&albumid=2007&dl=1229697163&thumb=1

Please excuse the bad quality of the pics (clicable ones in my album (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=2007)).

[AngelInDisguise]

Hum, talking to myself in this thread.... But never mind, maybe this might be a help for other shorties out there. My hair now is between shoulderlength and APL (when regarding the longest part of my u-cut).


Baggy Hairfork Updo (with Wee Shell Cardinalwood), inspired by The Holly onYoutube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U23DXFYt7G0&NR=1)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2632/dsc00005flw.th.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00005flw.jpg)http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/8840/dsc00004xhw.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00004xhw.jpg)http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7651/dsc00010pcm.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00010pcm.jpg)

Chinese Bun (with Flexi-Hairstick)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3567/dsc00016mgo.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00016mgo.jpg)http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/1216/dsc00014ees.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00014ees.jpg)http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/511/dsc00020axf.th.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00020axf.jpg)

Looking at the instructions once again I found out that I started the do in the wrong way. Good to know, this might become one of my favorites when I get it to look "properly". And it gives me a reason to buy some Ketylos!

French Twist (with Wee Shell Gabon Ebony)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/535/dsc00036d.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00036d.jpg)http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/8562/dsc00037.th.jpg (http://img56.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00037.jpg)http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4771/dsc00035ace.th.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00035ace.jpg)

Unfortunately rather a "French Dumpling" - but stayed all day without any need for correcting.

[AngelInDisguise]

And some more:

Braid over braid (with Flexi-hairsticks) - you will find instructions in the article section of LHC

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1667/dsc00051g.th.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00051g.jpg)http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5864/dsc00047t.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00047t.jpg)http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5251/dsc00056a.th.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00056a.jpg)

Uh, not neat enough, not really centered but also durable for a whole day at work.

French Braid

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4761/dsc00067g.th.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00067g.jpg)http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2947/dsc00070ucb.th.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00070ucb.jpg)http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1737/dsc00064ahx.th.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00064ahx.jpg)

Sorry, no better picture to show. What a pitty because I thougt the braiding was quite neat.

[amaiaisabella]

Very pretty styles, AngelInDisguise! My hair is too fine to do a lot of those styles, unfortunately :( I really like the YouTube link, though! I'm going to have to try it :)

[manderly]

Look at all those styles! Look at all those toys! In what way would wearing your hair in a pixie be any more exciting? ;)

Keep that in mind :flower:

[Pixna]

Wowsers! I can't believe how creative and talented you are. Those are LOTS more updos than I could do when my hair was long before. I can only wish I'll be able to do at least half of those when my hair reaches your length. I'm impressed!!!

[Hedera]

Great styles!

I like the braid-over-braid especially; that one might be really useful in summer, to wear under a hat.

[danacc]

Multiple buns are cute, too. You can separate them "pig-tails" style with a part (or parts) sectioning them off, or make them all right next to each other with no part.

[paper]

What a helpful thread AngelInDisguise! My hair is about your length, and I've been wanting to learn some updos. Maybe you could post your updos in the article section? I'm afraid they will get lost on the forums page.

[sagebabies]

I'm getting so much inspiration from this thread for my 22.5 inch hair! Thanks everyone. I have the gibson tuck in my hair today, although my hair is really thick so it sticks out in a sort of funny way, but it feels very nice and tight like it'll last all day.

[AngelInDisguise]

Oh, other readers than myself! ;)

amaiaisabella, thank you! You should be able to do most of the shown updos as I am myself *just* an ii. The updos will never look as impressive as on the much envied (at least by me) thickhairs in the forum but they are nice enough, I think.

manderly, of course you are right. I wonder how it comes that in the past I so often forgot this fact and ended up with a "sporty youthful pixie" again and again ....

Pixna, thanks a lot, you make me blush *cheecks turn red* - I myself always feel a bit like an updo-dummie.

Hedera, thanks for this idea! I'll try this as soon as we have a glimpse of summer here.

danacc, the multiple buns unfortunately look - let's say strange. They are just sooooo tiny with my little bit of hair that it is not a look I would like to leave the house with. I've seen them on Igor in the article section and keep admiring them.

paper, really, an article? Never dared to think about that.... there already is an article from Igor but then again, fine / thin hair is not what she has. Hm, I am indecisive.

sagebabies, I am glad the thread was some help!

[Ramona_Fosca]

Thank you for this thread, AngelInDisguise! I got many ideas out of it, so here's some input in return. :

Here's some of my favourites at around shoulder length:

French rope braid

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/th_blond1.jpg (http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/?action=view&current=blond1.jpg)

French tuck

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/th_braun1.jpg (http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/?action=view&current=braun1.jpg)

Sock bun:

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/2007%20Blond/th_Sockbun0703.jpg (http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/2007%20Blond/?action=view&current=Sockbun0703.jpg)

Chignon:

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/2007%20Blond/th_FrenchTwistwithrhinestomecomb0702n.jpg (http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/2007%20Blond/?action=view&current=FrenchTwistwithrhinestomecomb0702n.jpg)

Dutch braid, diagonal

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/2007%20Red/th_Dutchdiagonal080107.jpg (http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/2007%20Red/?action=view&current=Dutchdiagonal080107.jpg)

Rose bun:

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/2007%20Red/th_kordelknoten071231.jpg (http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/2007%20Red/?action=view&current=kordelknoten071231.jpg)

[paper]

Very nice Ramona_Fosca! You and AngelInDisguise are very talented at this length!


How do you make the rose bun?

[AngelInDisguise]

Ramona_Fosca, the french rope braid is so beautiful! I have to take some more effort to learn this until now the only thing twisting are my fingers unfortunately.

[amaiaisabella]

Ramona_Fosca, thank you for the pictures! I had forgotten I can still do a French Tuck, though I have difficulty securing my ends. I usually end up adding multitudes of bobby pins all over my head to make sure everything is secure, and wind up with a headache :( Any tips?

[Ramona_Fosca]

paper, thank you! The rose bun is a bunned rope braid. Make a medium height ponytail using an elastic, do a rope braid, secure with another elastic. Bun in opposite direction (if you've twisted clockwise, bun counter-clockwise, this will losen the braid to some extent and will make it look like more than there is... Secure with a stick.


AngelInDisguise: Keep trying! Rope braids are actually easier for me than any other braid because you have only two strands to worry about. What really helped me getting them right was the tip to only twist on one side. Yes, that's right - only twist the strand in your right hand, cross over the (untwisted) left strand. Now twist the strand that's in your right hand, cross over the (untwisted)... repeat. It's easy, really!


amaiaisabella, thank you! For me, it's important to braid until the very end of my hair, secure with an elastic. When tucked under, I put a stick into the braid and right through the elastic. That usually does the trick, but yes - it's become more difficult now that I'm approaching APL...

[paper]

Thanks, I'll have to try that!

[dcmo]

These are some great ideas. Thanks everyone who has contributed, and please keep them coming!

[myotislucifugus]

I've been doing this style since my hair was shoulder length:
Make 2 loose french braids
Take the end of one, and cross it over behind your head so that it lies up against the braid on the other side. Gently roll the existing braid over the crossed over one, and pin.
Do the same for the other side, so you have an "x" at your nape. As your hair gets longer you can just double the braids up, and finally cross them over the top.

I hope that's helpful. I always have trouble following instructions without pics, which I can't post yet. (Soon)

[Samitra]

Since you already know how to do a topsy tail, here's a hairdo that I use on my APL hair, but I could do it shorter.

Pull your hair into a topsy tail high, using only hair from ear level and up. Do the topsy. The rest of the hair that hangs down, braid and flip up, tucking back down into the top of the topsy and secure with a pretty barrette or clip. Because of the topsy and the braid coming up, it looks complicated, AND it makes your hair look like its longer than it really is.

Tried this today, and I really like it! It's easy and comfortable, and it feels secure. My layers have gone wild though, and the braid part is all fuzzy and full of ends sticking out. But still, I like this hair do! Thank you Kirin!

[melrose1985]

You could also do your segmented ponytail or half-up topsy-tailed.

My hair is APL, so I'm not able to do many styles either. Half-ups are the way to go! You can do various braids with them, as well as buns. I'm able to do messy buns, like the infinity, that I wouldn't be able to do with my entire length.

You could also take two sections from both sides of your head together and twist them back. You could also braid these sections. This reminds me of a style my mum used to do on me. You braid a small section of hair from both sides of your head and secure them together. Then you do this again, but lower. When you secur these braids together, secure it with the tail of your first braid. You can repeat this as many times as you would like, but we usually went up to three. It's like a cage braid of sorts. I apologize if my instructions aren't very clear. I may take pictures of what it looks like today.

Here are also some styles that you could try out:

http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/crown-roll/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/pics/long/L003/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/barrette-fold/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/reverse-roll/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/hair-roll/
http://dressytresses.com/hair/gallery/instruct/lc-twist/

I found this great bun style. It should work on your length.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=63

Cute Styles!

[Ramona_Fosca]

Since I got a lot of ideas from this thread I thought I should let you know about two styles I've recently discovered for my F/ii, between shoulder and APL hair:

The braided beehive that Finoriel described in the article section (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=130): I would not have thought that this works so well for shortish hair.

(this is the first attempt,so please excuse the messiness)

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/bun.jpg

The other one is no particular style, just a combination of french braiding and bunning. It solves two problems for me: 1.my hair is just a little bit too short for a decent cinnamon bun - the volume that is taken out by the french braiding allows for the bun to work. 2. While I like the look of a french braid in the upper part,close to my head I don't like how short my hair looks if I just continue braiding. On one hand, it's not long enough to bun it braided, on the other hand it's getting a little toolong to tuck away. So here's what I do: I french braid only part of my hair, gather at the nape, bun.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/Ramona_Fosca/Hair/Leafes2.jpg

[hmmm]

I can't believe I hadn't seen this thread before... you guys are so talented! Lovely updos!

[sally_neuf]

The chignon is amazing!! Could you post some instructions please?

Thanks for all the lovely updos! They are so uncommon here, I want to them all for tomorrow!!

[lapushka]

That is amazing. I don't think I can manage that beehive style, and I'm almost BSL... damn.