Help me choose a style to pay a professional braider to do!

[isbmlamloi]

This upcoming weekend I will be seeing SpicyBraids (http://www.spicybraids.com/) for our usual annual meeting at a convention we both go to (Arisia (http://2011.arisia.org)!) I don't know what to ask her to do with my hair this year.

My hair is almost classic (see my avatar to the left.)

Here are the styles she's done for me over the years:
2007: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/5149252597_1d88135104.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/isbmlamloi/5149252597/) 2008: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5343161261_4facb27b0b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/isbmlamloi/5343161261/)
2009: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3214903443_f892082758.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/spicybraids/3214903443/) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3215771662_98d3b146b2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/spicybraids/3215771662/)
2010: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4310292626_99cb072586.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/isbmlamloi/4310292626/)

I really need to take pictures the day of the braid and not the next morning after it's been slept on. :)

You can see more of her work here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spicybraids/sets/

I just don't know what to do this year! Does anyone have any inspiration photographs or ideas? Complexity is no problem; in fact, the more complex the better, in my opinion.

[Madora]

Here's a link to one of the most gorgeous braided hairstyles I've ever seen:

http://frenchbraidsbytwistedsisters.com/melanie/melanie%2016.jpg

Several other magnificent braids are featured too.

[fairytalegirl]

I agree with Madora. That is a beautiful braid!

[isbmlamloi]

:agape: Madora, that is amazing. Thank you!

I also like this as something COMPLETELY different from what I've had in the past: http://frenchbraidsbytwistedsisters.com/cindy/cindy14.jpg

I love the falling twists here: http://frenchbraidsbytwistedsisters.com/gayle/gayle04.jpg

[Madora]

Isbmlamloi, you have a great head of hair! Thanks for sharing those lovely braided styles. Glad you liked that braid with the lattice effect. I know my eyes popped out of my head when i first saw it months ago!

Please be sure to post some pictures after your braid of choice is completed. I love intricate braid work!

[Madora]

One more I found...a "Sisi wig" mixed with real hair:

http://de.dawanda.com/product/13359914-Sissi-Haarteil-Sisi-Hairpiece-Wig

[isbmlamloi]

Wowwww. Maybe once I'm past knee! :D

[ravenreed]

This is amazing. I wish I had someone who could do this on my hair for me!


Here's a link to one of the most gorgeous braided hairstyles I've ever seen:

http://frenchbraidsbytwistedsisters.com/melanie/melanie%2016.jpg

Several other magnificent braids are featured too.

[pepperminttea]

You've probably seen it already, but have you checked Dreamweaver Braiding's Examples page (http://www.dreamweaverbraiding.com/braid_examples.htm)? There's some stunning styles there that make my arms ache just looking at them! ;)

ps. I particularly love the last style in your post; is it a Dutch five-strand (or more strands)? It's amazing. :thud:

[looniac]

All of these braids are UH-mazing!!! I love them so much! Grow hair grow so I can has pretty braids too!

I really like this one from her flickr album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spicybraids/320141227/in/set-72157594424655799/

[Celtic Morla]

I htink the French Classic and the 9 strand Classic on twisted Sisters are gorgeous!

[isbmlamloi]

ps. I particularly love the last style in your post; is it a Dutch five-strand (or more strands)? It's amazing. :thud:

Yep! Dutch five-strand all coiled up and around. I was extremely happy with that one.


I think the French Classic and the 9 strand Classic on twisted Sisters are gorgeous!

I would love to have a 9-strand, but I don't think my hair is thick enough.

[Igor]

I love threads like these :inlove: I’m just sitting here with a dreamy look on my face

Its really truly art for hair. A display of what a professional could really do with a blank canvas!

*Dreamy sigh*

[Jessica Trapp]

I love all of them! :inlove: :inlove:

[eresh]

The link Madora posted first is absolutely stunning!!
And so are the styles already done on the OP.
I wish I could braid like that :)

[Hiriel]

Here's a link to one of the most gorgeous braided hairstyles I've ever seen:

http://frenchbraidsbytwistedsisters.com/melanie/melanie%2016.jpg

Several other magnificent braids are featured too.

*stares in wonder*

OK, I'm going to bully my boyfriend into learning some fancy braids! ;)

(He already does regular English braids much better than me, and he's never even had long hair!)

[Red Leo]

It is a lot of fun to do them and thanks for the cool sites!

[stinamoo]

I love the accent braids in your 2008 style - perhaps something inspired by that and Madora's link?

[Lostsoule77]

I liked all the styles you've had done. I especially liked the 2nd and last ones. For this year I def. think you should try the one that Madora first linked to. That is stunning & I think it would look great in your hair. Whatever you decide please post a pic when you get it. :)

[spidermom]

How about the perimeter braid? If you click on my user name, you will see two of my albums showing. One of them has the perimeter braid. Larger photo inside.

[coppercurls]

All lovely choices, but I think my favorite is the link Madora posted.

[KittyLost]

Here's a link to one of the most gorgeous braided hairstyles I've ever seen:

http://frenchbraidsbytwistedsisters.com/melanie/melanie%2016.jpg

Several other magnificent braids are featured too.

This is stunning, as are all the others! I wish I was braid inept haha.

[isbmlamloi]

Spidermom, that perimeter braid is awesome! I will definitely have to do that on myself sometime.

[isbmlamloi]

Here are the results! Not exactly the same as Madora's link, but definitely inspired by. I'm very happy with it!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5358162179_3084de5d7d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/isbmlamloi/5358162179/) http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5358162775_6f800542a3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/isbmlamloi/5358162775/)

I kept it at a "cascade" rather than a crown so I could still show off the hair's length. ;) Then the fact that the criss-cross strands are braids rather than ropes is entirely on me, I was going off of memory rather than bringing the picture and told her to do braids. I think it looks pretty fantastic as it is, though!! There are a few more pictures on my Flickr account that you can get to if you click on the pictures above.

Thank you everyone for your help. :)

[HoneyJubilee]

Very pretty, isbmlamloi! Thanks for sharing pictures :)

[Angela_Rose]

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=735&pictureid=50655

This is the 11-strand I had done at Pennsic two years ago. It's amazing, but apparently there are few folks who have enough hair for it.

[squintinschool]

:shocked:Angela_Rose, that is one amazing braid! Was it done by only one person? How did they manage so many strands at one time?:thudpile:

[Angela_Rose]

:shocked:Angela_Rose, that is one amazing braid! Was it done by only one person? How did they manage so many strands at one time?:thudpile:
Isn't that amazing? It was done by one very talented lady. There's a whole thread about it here:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=33486:pumpkin:

[beez1717]

One thought I have would be for you to get the most perfect English braids you ever had. They would be ponytail style of course! That might look cool. A simple hairstyle for the win!

[orbiting]

isbmlamloi -- awesome. You got that done at Arisia in MA? A few of my friends went to that..

I think it's pretty awesome what some people can do with hair. I was pretty shocked what some people could do to my hair! (some how my maid of honor had my hair hold a curl all night. I was shocked lol)

:D

[LindainCO]

One more I found...a "Sisi wig" mixed with real hair:

http://de.dawanda.com/product/13359914-Sissi-Haarteil-Sisi-Hairpiece-Wig

WOw, that is so beautiful! That would call for a floor length gown and wide sleeves?
I forget what those sleeves are called?

[Rabya-Khadija]

isbmlamloi, is the 2009 with the three white flowers dutch braids? I might get that done tomorrow for a party hmmm :)

[stinamoo]

Wow, the 11-strand and the Madora-inspired one are both just beautiful. Very inspiring :)

[isbmlamloi]

This is the 11-strand I had done at Pennsic two years ago. It's amazing, but apparently there are few folks who have enough hair for it.

That is quite awesome, Angela_Rose! I don't have quite enough hair for that yet, but maybe I can get a 7- or 9- strand done next year. After all, those can be just as or even more stunning than a crazy updo!


You got that done at Arisia in MA? A few of my friends went to that...

Yep! Arisia is my con; I've been for almost a decade and I'm part of staff, making the con run and all. I hope your friends had fun!


isbmlamloi, is the 2009 with the three white flowers dutch braids? I might get that done tomorrow for a party hmmm :)

Dutch, yes! A double Dutch spiral is I think what she called it.

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone! :D

[CarpeDM]

Here's a link to one of the most gorgeous braided hairstyles I've ever seen:

http://frenchbraidsbytwistedsisters.com/melanie/melanie%2016.jpg

Several other magnificent braids are featured too.

All I can say is WOW!

[spidermom]

Gorgeous! This is such an inspiring thread. If only I could separate from my body and stand behind myself to braid.