Here are my styles and step-by-steps!

Love,
~*Leia*~



2bNiii
18/31.1/35?
First goal: 30" in March <-- goal reached
Second goal: Tailbone (33"?) by September
Final goal: 35" in February 2005
Growing since January 2003, found TLHL end of June 2003 and was at 25"

Leia's Hair Journal

Last Updated: May 16, 2004

Here is my bun - The Swirly Bun (thank you for everyone who helped come up with the name! ) I've never done step-by-step instructions before, so I'm not sure if this will be clear or not. It's quite a tricky style, but hopefully the pictures and the instructions will help aid you. I wear this almost every day - it can be secured with hairsticks, ficcares, mini claws, hairpins, etc. It can be unsecured, too!

Much thanks to my Mum and brother who took the pics for me. Here we go!



Gather hair in a ponytail in your right hand.



Place left hand (wrist) above ponytail.



Using the right hand, pull the ponytail over the wrist of your left hand and then pull it downwards.



Here comes the tricky part. Your left hand wrist should twirl up and then left, creating a loop with the hair. First twirl the wrist up...



...then move it towards the left...



...and bring it down again.



Your right hand will still be holding the tail (now shortened). Reach your index finger and thumb out (you can't see my thumb in the picture, but it's there!)...



...and grab the tail in those two fingers. Your tail will be longer or shorter, depending on hair length.



Use your right hand to grab the loop of hair you previously created. Grab that loop and push it down towards your scalp (still holding the tail in your left hand).



Your tail will end up on the left side of your head. When my hair was a couple of inches shorter, it was just the perfect length for this style in that the tail did not show. What you decide to do with the tail is up to you - since mine is quite short, I just leave it. If yours is a bit longer than mine, you can tuck it under and pin to secure. Or if it is much longer, you can leave it hanging down like a ponytail. Be creative!



Here is the finished style, not secured with anything but my own hair. I love that this style can do that and hold well by itself! I will try to get some pictures up later of the bun secured with hair toys, but I hope this will do for now.

Love,
~*Leia*~



2bNiii
18/31.1/35?
First goal: 30" in March <-- goal reached
Second goal: Tailbone (33"?) by September
Final goal: 35" in February 2005
Growing since January 2003, found TLHL end of June 2003 and was at 25"

Leia's Hair Journal

Last Updated: May 16, 2004

Single hairstick:



Two hairsticks:



Ficcare:



Love,
~*Leia*~



2bNiii
18/31.9/35?
First goal: 30" in March <-- goal reached
Second goal: Tailbone (33"?) by September
Final goal: 35" in February 2005
Growing since January 2003, found TLHL end of June 2003 and was at 25"

Leia's Hair Journal

Last Updated: June 3, 2004

Here is how to make your ponytail a shorter length without having to resort to scissors! I hope the pictures are clear enough. My brother was sitting while he took them and I was standing, so the angle isn't quite right. If someone needs further clarification I can try to take some more!



Hold your hair in a ponytail in your left hand (I have no idea why I have a big purple splodge in my hair! Must be leftover dye from a few years ago)



Hold a hairstick, tip facing the ground, next to the ponytail on the left. Then move the ponytail over the hairstick.



At this point you will have to loosen your ponytail some by pushing it towards the hairstick. This allows you to move the hairstick upwards.



Then bring the hairstick down, and voila! Your shortened ponytail is done. You can add another stick to keep it more secure if you want. You will have to experiment with what tension works for you!

Here is a shortened ponytail I did last month:



It is slightly longer because I made it looser than this one. Enjoy!

Love,
~*Leia*~



2bNiii
18/32.7/35?
First goal: 30" in March <-- goal reached
Second goal: Tailbone (33"?) by September
Final goal: 35" in February 2005
Growing since January 2003, found TLHL end of June 2003 and was at 25"

Leia's Hair Journal

Last Updated: August 14, 2004

This is my nighttime folded braid . I discovered it a few nights ago while slathering shea butter on my ends and then wanting to protect them. Usually, the shea butter on the unprotected braid ends gets rubbed off onto the bedsheets. It was also really hot that night, so this was a great way to put my braid up and out of the way.

Here are the steps!



Start off with a basic braid. You might want to mist it down first a little, oil it, or put shea butter on the ends, if they are feeling dry .



Bring the braid to the front.



Make a hole with two fingers in one of the pleats of the braid.



Pull the end of the braid through the hole.



Make another hole above the first one.



Pull the rest of the braid through this hole. You can repeat this make hole/pull hair through step as many times as you like. I usually do 2-3. I find that works the best with my hair length.

For me, the style stays very securely, all through the night. When I mist it down, I get really funny waves in the morning! But when I comb it out, I am left with hair that appears thicker and waves in its normal way.

Also, when I braid my hair at night, I move it to the side before sleeping. Having this braid is just like having a shorter version of my normal braid, with protected ends, so I don't find it hurts me while I sleep . I have been using this braid every night for a week and loving it! My ends feel better, too .

Love,
~*Leia*~



2bMiii
Current length: 36.8"
Goal: classic? Around 41"

Growing since January 2003, found TLHL end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'5".

Captain Leia of the Forehead Liberation Army

Leia's Hair Journal

Last Updated: April 26, 2005

This style was created by Emily B. Here are her instructions:

"Okay, so, you'll need a scarf, or a piece of fabric at least 60 in. long for this to work. First I part my hair (center or side; doesn't matter) and then put my hair up in a bun in the middle of the back of my head; it'll stay longer if the bun sticks out a bit. Then I take my scarf and lay it across my head like a headband, making sure that the center of the scarf is in the center of my head. Then I wrap it around my head crossing it UNDER the bun. Next, bring the ends up around the bun and tie in a half-knot (like starting to tie your shoes) at the top of the bun. Then I just tuck the ends in amongst all the overlapping stuff at the bottom, and voila! It's kind of cool. It looks vaguely Grecian or Regency in style, and it's a lot more stylish-looking for greasy-hair days than a hat or a bandana!"

I did this without a parting in my hair, and I used a wirey piece of fabric rather than a scarf. Here are my pics:









At the bottom of this page, there is a pic of a similar style.





Love,
~*Leia*~


Pic from July 9, 2006

2bMiii
Current length: 42" on August 27, 2006

Growing since January 2003; found TLHL at the end of June 2003 and was at 25". I am 5'4.5".

Leia's Journal

Last Updated: August 31, 2006