3 Must-Have Tools for Easier Kid Hair Styling
Sat, Nov 15, 2008
Bathroom, Easy Hair Ideas, Family Fun, Kid-Friendly Solutions
If you’ve got daughters, chances are you’ve done your fair share of last-minute hairstyles. Both of my beautiful daughters were born with gobs of hair so I’ve been whipping out cute-but-quick hairstyles for almost 10 years. Along the way I’ve found a few tools that come in very handy when you’re trying to create a hairstyle in a hurry.
A Sewing Magnet: I have to thank my big sister, Amy, for passing this tip on a few years ago. Bobby pins and metal clips are staples in lots of little girl hairstyles. Instead of digging them out of the bottom of your bathroom drawer, try keeping one of these cheap little magnets on your counter. It will catch the stray pins and keep them close at hand when you’re trying to secure a bun or hair section. You can buy one for a few dollars at any craft store or in the craft section of Walmart.
A Pony Loop: Okay so I made up that name…I have no idea what this thin metal ring is called, but I find it indispensable. I use tons of these little, clear elastics in my girl’s hair and used to keep them in a basket in the bathroom. The problem was they never seemed to stay there. They end up on the floor, down the sink, and any number of other places. A few years back I found one of these little rings and decided to use it to help me win my battle with wandering ponies. As a side benefit, the ring travels incredibly well. Whether you’re trying to do a french braid on the way to church or packing for a trip to Grandma’s this little ring will save you tons of trouble. I haven’t been able to find them for ages then, at Walmart today, I noticed them attached to a package of Goody-brand pony tail holders. I snatched up two just in case they disappear from the market again.
A Seam Ripper: I have one of my brilliant blog commenters to thank for this one. When I published my post on pixie flips last year a reader named Toshia recommended using a seam ripper to remove the little clear elastics from hair. I loved the idea and made a run to Walmart that very day to pick one up. One year and countless pixie flips later I still use it as a painless alternative to yanking. Needless to say, Toshia, if my daughters could thank you they totally would.
Well, there you have it. Three very cheap ways to make your mornings a little easier. If you’ve got other easy hair tips to share or sites to recommend I hope you’ll add them to the comments area. Heaven knows my girls would be thrilled if I could pick up a few more pain-free solutions. Just thought I’d pass it on.
Tags: girl hair styles, Kid-Friendly Solutions, tools
November 15th, 2008 at 1:59 am
I love the ring idea too. My little ones loved to play with the pony tail holders. I use a shower curtain ring to keep them all together. Works like a charm!
November 15th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
One great item I keep with me when doing hair is a hair stick… that is what it’s called. You can find them at any Claire’s or Afterthoughts and they come in packs of 2. I’ve even found them at Walmart. They are used to hold a bun in place and they look like chopsticks. My use for them is for pixie flips. I use it as a guide to get the pony tail through rather than my fingers. Ever since I started using that my girls whine a lot less. And I’ve found that the plastic ones work better than the wood. They don’t catch hairs along the way. This also works great when you need a straight part and don’t have a comb around. And the best part is my youngest likes to play with it while I’m doing her hair to keep her busy.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I love the sewing magnet idea!
November 16th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Great ideas. Thanks for sharing them. BTW: do you have any great ideas for keeping track of pierced earring. My daughter got her ears pierced and now I have a million little earrings all over the place.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Fabulous Ideas! Thank you so much, I will be making a Wal Mart run tommorow! I made a bow holder for my daughters big bows. It is a wood plaque I got at Michaels but the now have wood one at the Dollar Tree too! I painted it white, then got wooden letters which I painted pink and a small cute wooden flower frame. I hot glued them all to the plaque then staple gunned Long ribbons on the back. The bows clip to the ribbons and it was Super easy to put together!
I also have a portable hair kit in a plastic tote where I keep her ribbons,pony tail holders, comb, brush, and detangling spray. We never seem to do hair in the same room??? I will be adding the magnet, seam ripper and Pony Loop tommorow. Thanks!
PS. I ADORE this blog… We did the Halloween Countdown with the gooogly eyes and DD Love it. I made them for my neighbors too. I did add with each poster a basket filled with sticky googly eyes and eyeball shaped candy so every day when you stick on the eye you get an eye candy, just like those Christmas advents..Thanks for sharing your FABULOUS ideas with us!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I’m amazed that you got a hair tip from Amy! Wow. Way to go Amy.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 am
About earrings, I kept a candy box that included a spot for individual pieces of the good stuff. I keep earrings in the little compartments, and I never have to search for that missing half of a pair. Isn’t meckmom wonderful?
May 5th, 2009 at 1:11 am
AHHH!! You are my HERO!! A seam ripper, who woulda thunk?! Brilliant! My girls will never again have a tearful moment before bedtime!
This makes me VERY happy –> see! 
FYI, I just joined your site tonight and I know for sure I’ll be coming back for more of your wisdom, so Thank you!!
May 6th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I keep toe nail clippers in the hair drawer. My kids beg for me to clip the little ponies out of their hair.
May 6th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I made the same ribbon thing for all of my girls clips. The ribbons are different colors. I place the clips on the ribbons by color. I love the letter Idea. I used a hanger and tied the ribbon along the bottom, I think the letters would be prettier.
May 6th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
The pony loop and the sewing magnet. Genius, I am going to buy them tonight.
August 1st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
We just bought a new package of hair elastics and they had one of those rings on them. Never could figure out what it was for. Thanks a lot!!!
September 14th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Great ideas, as if I expected anything less from one of your posts!
BTW, the link to the pixie flips isn’t working. It’s got an extra http:// at the beginning.
As always, I look forward to your next brilliant post where I say, “Now, why didn’t I think of that??”
January 25th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Oh my goodness that is so cool you would never think peopke would come up with all of this stuff i mean how do they. I need you guys to keep posting more about what you can do with my hair because i have kind of long hair but not as long as it was since i donated it but back to the point all i do with my hair is just throw it up every day and that is all i don’t straighten it or anything. Hey you guys i have a question um where can you buy the materials if you don’t know that is okay but if you i will be on here tomorrow so just write where you can get them at if you know and i will check it tomorrow okay well thanks you guys