Friday's Film: French Braid

We've gotten many requests for a video tutorial on how to create a French Braid.  I figured I better post this one as soon as possible because it's a standard that we use in a lot of our hairstyles here at Princess Piggies.  Hopefully the video will help and give you some tips to make it easier for you!

Pulling it back from ear to ear is a good tip for you beginner braiders.  This will help give you a good chunk of hair to work with.
Also, if you're a fan of the HUNGER GAMES movie, here are some French Braid hairstyles that we've done in the past that appear on the movie:

These are our Low Frenchies as worn by Prim.  The only difference is that hers are not combined at the bottom.   

This is our Slanted style that seems to be getting more and more popular thanks to the movie. 

Enter To Win a Pair of Rockport Ashika Flats!

Hello friends! Jackie here, one of your 100 Inspirations regular contributors.   I'm taking a break from re-creating a Rachel Bilson look today (just can't quit with that girl!) to let you know about a fun giveaway opportunity!  I recently participated in a promotion with onlineshoes.com in a "Style Central" contest.  They sent four bloggers the same pair of shoes to style, and now you can go vote for your favorite look!  Here is how I styled the Rockport Ashika flat:

You can enter to win your very own pair of these fun shoes over on my personal blog, Sweetie Pie Style.  All you need to do is go to the onlineshoes.com "Style Central" challenge, cast your vote, then come back and leave me a comment on my post on Sweetie Pie Style telling me you did. Easy!  As an added bonus, if you care to purchase the flat right away, you will receive $20 off after voting!  I appreciate your support!! Have a wonderful weekend!

Nicole Richie Look For Less < $90

This outfit makes me want to run out and spend a carefree day in the sunshine! Just an all around perfect spring/summer look.

Source: google.com via Jackie on Pinterest

Get the look:

tank, jeans, sandals, sunglasses, purse

Easter Hair & Contest

We have a contest going on over on our Facebook Page "Princess Piggies" and we're looking for creative Easter hairstyles.  My princess will choose the winner on Saturday, April 7th. 

The winner will be receiving these beautiful hair pins which are the exact kind that we use in several of our hairstyles. 

Here are some of our Easter Hairstyles in the past:
(Click on the links to go to the original posts.)

Basket Case

Easter Basket Bun

A Little Something EGGstra

Easter Wraps

Basket Braids
Hopefully this will give you some fun ideas and hop on over to our Facebook Page to add your own and be entered to win these fun hairpins!

Katie Holmes Look for Less < $90

Here Katie Holmes paired a fun floral wedge with a polka dot top for a 'job well done' in pattern mixing!

get the look:
pants
top
sunglasses
clutch
wedge

Jennifer Lawrence Look for Less <$95

Jennifer Lawrence is quickly becoming one of my favorite style stars. Since the Hunger Games has exploded she has been putting together outfits that are super chic. I love this semi-nautical look with the classic white blouse with blue skirt and red belt. Perfect for a spring evening.

Get the Look!
Skirt
Blouse
Heels
Belt

Perfect Picture Hair

*FACEBOOK FRIENDS - Don't forget about the Easter Hairstyle contest we have going on.  A winner will be picked on April 7th!  If you have not yet, go "like" our Facebook page to participate in the contest!*

My princess had her class pictures at school the other day and she and I had to come up with a style that would look nice for the photo.  Typically you want to try to have the hair down in a picture because it tends to photograph better than if it is pulled back.  This is what we came up with:

It shows the pretty length of the hair without being too over-bearing.

First of all we took a Waver Iron and put the waves throughout her hair.  I use my original Boss waver from the late 80's but the new ones with the 3 rolls work great too.  We added the waves because it give a soft look to the hair and seems to photograph well. 

Next, we placed the faux hair headband that we purchased at Sally Beauty Supply in her hair.  (These come in several different hair colors.)  I love this thing because it looks like I've put in a lot of work but it's just a headband that slides on and off.  I did make sure to secure the headband so that it wouldn't slip and you can see how I did that in a previous post found here.

And finally we added some hair pins that matched her outfit to complete the look.  Pretty simple but beautiful!

Kate Moss Look For Less < $100

I love everything about this look and may have to recreate it really soon!  I love the way she toughens up a classic blazer and pumps with a studded leather bracelet, a loose tank and dark shades!

Source: theyallhateus.com via Jackie on Pinterest

Get the look:

tank, glasses, blazer, pants, shoes, bracelets

Friday's Film: Rosette Headband

Here is a beautiful hairstyle that only takes a few minutes to complete.  It is perfect for Picture Day at school or any other occasion. 

This is also a great style for adults as well. 

We call this our Rosette Headband.  If you have ever made a fabric Rosette Headband, it is exactly the same except we use bobby pins instead of glue.  . 

You can really use any color of stretchy band because it will mostly be concealed.

Don't forget to be twisting your Rosettes so that they lie flat instead up perked up like a regular bun.

You can leave the hair down straight or curly.  We've used a waver and it turned out really nicely.

You can choose to do as many Rosettes as you like across the head.  This would also be pretty going around the back of the head!   

We detailed our Rosettes a bit by adding some crystal hair embellishments that we found at Sally Beauty Supply.  They just twist right down into the center of the Rosette.

Here's a style that we've done previously using the same concept and we called this one the Rose Headband and you can find instructions for that here.

Jessica Alba Look for Less <$100

Every week when I sit down to write my posts, there is always a Jessica Alba look that I want to recreate! She just puts together practical looks that I love. This week we have a tweed blazer paired with jeans, a sheer tie top, and some great studded heels. Its a little bit dressed up but still casual for a lunch with friends or running errands. Can I just raid Jess's closet now please?

Get the Look
Top
Blazer
Jeans
Sandals

Emma Stone Look for Less > $100

Emma Stone looks relaxed and stylish (my favorite combo!) in this outfit... the blue tones play beautifully off of her gorgeous red hair. I love this look!

get the look:
jeans
grey top
blazer
pumps

Dance Do

I've done several dance hair styles before but this one has a bit of a different twist on it so I thought I would post just in case any of you have little dancers out there and are stumped on hairstyle ideas.  Make sure you begin this style with wet hair for better hold. 

I started by sectioning out the bang area on the front of head and creating a Dutch Braid.  (A Dutch Braid is basically a French Braid but you have your plates go underneath instead of over the top.)

I did not have the Dutch Braid go all the way down to the ear but rather just to the end of the bang line and then I just finished plating the hair I had gathered into a Regular 3-Strand Braid. 

I secured that braid at the end with an elastic and then set it aside for a minute. 

Pull the remaining hair tightly back into a ponytail.  You can make the ponytail high or low depending on the look you are going for.  We've place this one right over the crown of the head.

Now go ahead and create a Barrel Roll from the hair used in your ponytail.  You can find a video tutorial for the Barrel Roll here.

Once your Barrel Roll is completed you can bring your original braid down around the back of the bun and tuck the ends underneath.  Use bobby pins to secure it into place and then give it a good spray with hairspray to ensure hold throughout the dance performance.  At this point you can spray the hairstyle with craft spray glitter as well if you want that sparkly look.  We usually do this but did not have any glitter on hand at this time.  Add some fun hair accessories if you like as well. 

This hairstyle holds very tightly and is perfect for keeping that hair out of the face while your princess is dancing! 

Miranda Kerr Look for Less <$98

Lately everyone has been rocking pastel colored skinnies but I still love my red ones and this look from Miranda Kerr is perfect to incorporate your red skinnies but still look like spring. Dressed down with a striped tee and blue jean jacket its perfect for running errands on a spring day!

Get the look!
skinnies
tee
jacket
bag
flats

2-Minute Updo

I saw this hairstyle on Pinterest and wanted to try it on my princess.  It looked so simple and it definitely was!  I thought I would post it for any of you that may not be on Pinterest but are still looking for a fast and beautiful hairstyle.

Start by pulling all of the hair back into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck.  We've also create a small off-centered part at the front of the hair but that is totally optional. 

Now create a regular Pull-Through with the ponytail by using your Topsy Tail or by just poking your fingers up through the hair behind the elastic, grabbing your ponytail and pulling it all back through that space. 

The hair should now look twisted on each side above the elastic and have a ponytail hanging below the elastic.  Now, starting at the bottom of your ponytail, grab all the hair and start rolling it up into the head.  (I always refer to this as a Barrel Roll.) 

It will roll up right over your previous twists and into the head where you are going to bobby pin it into place.  Add a fun hair clip to it if you'd like and you're finished.  It takes less than two minutes and it will look beautiful all day long!

Ashley Olsen Look For Less < $150

Ashley is smoking hot in this outfit! The loose, unbuttoned chambray top is sexy, without being trashy.  Finish with a white mini, oxford pumps and a few delicate stackable rings and you are ready to go!

Source: i1075.photobucket.com via Jackie on Pinterest

Get the look:

top, rings, pumps, skirt

Friday's Film: Clover

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!  We wanted to post a video on our Clover hairstyle before the big day and this is our last opportunity to do it.

I apologize for the small slip up on the left side of the clover but I fixed it after filming and you can see the outcome in the pictures below.

Here's a picture of how we did the top of her hair since it was hard to see in the video.

Once you've creates the three sides of your clover you will join them together with an elastic. 

Then go ahead and pull the rest of the hair down to the nape of the neck - including the new ponytail from your clover - and secure it all into an elastic.   

We finished it off with a Quad Braid and some cute hair clips.

She was all festive for her day at school and now her hair was ready to go too!