Monday, February 9, 2015

Pigtails... and French Braids

Braids.... pigtails, french braids.... both are great.  You don't see them as often as you used to, but my daughter still likes them and I am so glad. It is more work to braid or french braid than it is to just pull the hair back into a ponytail, but it is worth it.



It makes a neat  and attractive hairstyle and there are many ways to use it. It is really nice for girls with long hair that can get in the way when they work or play as braids keep it contained and yet still allows the beauty of the hair to show... and the length.




It works well to start with freshly washed hair.... then while it is still damp - not dripping wet, but very damp - comb it out well.
 For this time, I divided the hair with a middle part... first, I am showing regular braids... pigtails. They are easy to do.... just pull all of the hair to one side and hold it together.... divide it into 3 equal parts and braid, securing the end with a ponytail holder.

 It is easy ... and quite quick to do and it looks nice.

Here is where the braid starts on regular pigtails... although you can make them higher or lower... 

This is the french braid... as you can see, it starts closer to the front of the head/hair line. You start with just a small section of hair and divide it into 3 equal parts, then pull a little more hair in each time you cross the hair in braiding.


From the back, the double french braid looks similar to the regular pigtails.

From the side it looks different...

The braids can be started high or low... you can add in a little hair each time... or a lot. You can braid way back before moving down.... they are so many options.

The finished briads can be left down... or they can be hooked together in the back, tucked up to form a finished low "bun" type of style... and more.

 It pulls the hair into a neat style and doing the braiding with wet hair really helps to hold it in place and it will last longer. 

Another nice thing about french braiding is that it can be done with shorter hair also and it will help to hold shorter lengths in place.  We have used it when the girls had really long hair... and shoulder length hair... and in between as this one shows. I have also been able to french braid my hair when it was shoulder length and layered.

It is a bit unusual to see braids in the form of pigtails or double french braids, but it is very attractive and we get so many positive comments when we are out in public. Including the suggestion that it is like Laura on Little House on the Prairie. :)   Anyway, it is a fun style... and once done, it holds up well for the day... and longer.

I will be doing a post to show how this hairstyle can last a few days... and change into another one. I hope you will return. Thank you for visiting. :)


Shared on:


Tuesday Talk
Modest Mom Mondays
Art of Homemaking

26 comments:

  1. The braids look lovely. I have always loved braids.

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    1. Thank you.... I have too, although I don't do the pigtails with my hair :) .... braids are wonderful as there are so many ways to wear them. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  2. This brings back so many wonderful memories of when I would put pigtails in both my girl's hair.

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    1. I love seeing young girls in pigtails... so cute. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  3. Love the braids! I cannot wait until my 3 year old is old enough for braids like that. I do little french braids now, but they look nothing like that! ~Emily

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    1. A 3 year old's hair could certainly be challenging for braids... she'll get more hair and it'll get easier. :) I remember when this daughter's hair was so straight and short and any braids I tried looked pretty funny. :) Glad you stopped by.

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  4. Long, long ago I used to French-braid my hair just like this. Makes me wish for long hair again!

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    1. It is nice to be able to braid and do things with our hair... :) Thank you for visiting.

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  5. I love doing French braids for my daughters. Lately I've mostly been doing Dutch braids which is similar but the braid is more three dimensional on the head instead of being flatter. Does that make sense? Anyway, I like the way the braid "pops". :)

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    1. I wonder if that is what my sister calls a backwards braid? When she braids her hair... it stands out and looks almost like a rope... very interesting... but I cannot do it. I figured she can do it because she is left handed and I am not. I will have to check into Dutch bairds. Thank you. :)

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  6. Simply beautiful :) Thanks for sharing at Roses of Inspiration.

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  7. This is just beautiful. I love seeing "old-fashioned" hairstyles. Yes, it does remind me of Laura and those wonderful, simple days of long ago. I think it would have been so nice to live then. I know life was much harder in so many ways, but families were close and people were so much more God-fearing and modest. Thank you so much for sharing these pictures and instructions. You are such a dear blessing to me. :)

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    1. Thank you... yes, I know we have "romanticized" the little house on the prairie days... and yet, there really were some good things about that time also..... and I really do like the braids. :) Thank you for visiting... I am praying for you, my sister in Christ.

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  8. I love doing my girls' hair, French Braids are a favorite at our house too!

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    1. Oh, good! I see them sometimes, but not too often... glad your girls like them also. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  9. I have always loved the french braid, and was often jealous of my cousins because they had hair long enough to do it. Mom always kept my hair short.

    Thank you for tossing your hat into the ring at the Party Under The Big Top! We hope to see you again next week! #BigTopBlogParty

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    1. It's not too late to try it now! I enjoy the different styles...for my daughters and for my own hair. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  10. Simply gorgeous! I will be completely honest though, I can barely braid, let alone french braid! Thank you for sharing this at the #SHINEBlogHop!

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    1. Thank you... braiding can be difficult at first.... I have taught my kids to do it by using yarn or even rope... and years ago, we made those funny little octapus guys w/ the braided legs.. that helped them to learn. Glad you stopped by. :)

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  11. I love the look of these braids, my daughter has lovely long hair and I would like to be able to do them with her. I struggle with long hair as I only had short hair when I grew up, but I will keep trying. Thank you for the encouragement and photos. Thanks for linking up at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings

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    1. Braiding is really worth learning... and I would start with regular braids. At first the braids will most likely be loose and uneven, but as you get more used to doing them, they will get tighter and neater. As I said above, you can also practice braiding with yarn... or rope... to get the technique down. Thank you for visiting... I hope you are able to do your daughter's hair soon. :)

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  12. This is beautiful! My 2 1/2 year old twin girls have curly hair that is still growing, but I hope to be able to braid it so prettily like you do some day soon :) Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend? I hope you will join us again this Monday morning :)

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    1. Oh, 2 1/2 years old is such a cute age... and twins... such a blessing. :) It won't be long and their hair will grow long enough to be braided. :) Thank you for visiting... and for the great link up party.

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