When it comes to summer hairstyles for my kids…I’m all about simplicity. For my son, that means a buzz cut and a lot of baseball hats. For my girls, it means a summer full of pixie flips.

Although they look tricky, these simple little wonders are actually really easy to do. Now I know what you’re thinking…hey, Maria, how does this fancy-looking hairstyle fit into your simple-summer intro? I’ll admit, these flips do take a little longer to create than your average pony tail, but they last for days and that makes it all worth it. It’s kind of like doubling your lasagna recipe and sticking one in the freezer. The time it will save you down the line is well worth the extra effort.

Step 1: Wet hair with detangling spray. The store kind is too expensive, so I make my own by filling a spray bottle with warm water and then adding about a tablespoon of kid’s conditioner (we like Suave’s ‘Go Go Grape’ because it’s cheap and it smells like grape bubble-gum).

Step 2: Use a rat tail comb to divide hair into sections. Create simple pony tails towards the back of each section. I like to use Goody’s Mini-Ouchless rubber bands because they’re clear so they disappear into the hair and match with everything.

Step 3: Grab your comb again and use the long handle to divide a section of hair into two even sections. Use your finger or the handle of the comb to gently slide the rubber band up and create a small ‘tunnel’ in the hair.  The diameter of your tunnel should be roughly the diameter of a Crayola marker.

Step 4: Flip the pony tail forward and push it through the tunnel by pushing the rubber band through first with the tip of your finger. Next, slide the tip of your comb under the rubber band area to pull the remaining pony tail through. Divide the hair and pull to tighten the pony tail and cause the rubber band to slide down and hide under the flip.

I know it sounds complicated, but trust me, once you get the hang of this you’ll whip them out in no time. If you’re in a hurry, just do two at the top of the head or part hair on the side and do one large and one small. To take them out, just push the rubber band back through the tunnel and slide it out. If you’re daughter’s hair has more texture, you may want to give it a quick squirt of detangling spray first.

In addition to looking cute, they’re also a great way to keep growing bangs out of your daughter’s eyes. My girls have been growing their bangs out for over a year so we’ve done a lot of pixie flip variations. Generally they last around 3 days before they need a touch-up. They’re washable too. If I’m too lazy to pull them out when it’s time for the tub, I just wash their hair with the flips in and then touch them up after the bath.

They’re simple, durable, versatile and work on nearly every hair type. They’ve been a summer staple in our house for years. For more cute summer hair styles, check out the July 17, 2007 post on one of my favorite blogs: The Lazy Organizer. Just thought I’d pass it on.