Introduction: Hairstyles for Hair Sticks

Here are several hairstyles, gathered from my own experience as well as various places on the web, that demonstrate different ways hair sticks can be used.

Hair sticks are fun, and actually pretty easy to use. The best way to insert a hair stick is to push it gently into your hair and sort of weave it up and down as you draw it through your style (bun, braid, ponytail, etc.) so as to anchor it. Don't be afraid to push the stick all the way down to your scalp; it makes the hold even more secure.

Hopefully I haven't missed any steps, and everything is clear enough to follow. The pictures were all taken in my kitchen by my friend, and they all feature my hair. But don't get too excited--it has since been cut.

Step 1: My Favorite Bun (Cinnamon Bun Variation)

I start putting my hair in this bun as soon as it's long enough; adding hair sticks makes it look much more elegant and keeps it very stable. Just a note--my hair is quite long in these photos (just past my butt), so my finished product may look kind of different from what you do with your hair. But you DON'T need hair as long as this to successfully use hair sticks--if you can put your hair up, chances are you can use them.

On to the bun!

1. Gather hair together at crown; twist entire length.

2. Coil entire length of hair, putting each successive layer beneath the previous one, so that you end with a column of hair (the height of which varies depending on the length of your hair).

3. Take top coil of column and pull out, pulling it down so that it surrounds the column, flattening the entire bun. Tuck ends. Insert one or two hair sticks to secure bun.

Step 2: Cinnamon Bun

1. Gather hair together at crown; twist entire length.

2. Coil entire length of hair, starting with a small coil and surrounding it with each successive coil, keeping the bun flat to the head.

3. Tuck ends, secure with hair tie. Secure the rest of the bun with one or two hair sticks.

Step 3: Chinese Bun

1. Gather hair into ponytail at crown. Secure with hair tie of choice.

2. Insert hair stick through gathered hair, behind hair tie.

3. Separate hair into two equal parts.

4. Wind each piece around hair tie, behind hair stick. Tuck ends in, or secure with hair clips/pins.

Step 4: Chinese Braided Bun

1. Gather hair into ponytail at crown. Secure with hair tie of choice. (This can also be done without securing with a hair tie; just make two braids at the back of your head, spaced as closely together as possible.)

2. Divide hair into two equal parts; braid each part so that you end up with two braids.

3. Insert hair stick through gathered hair, behind hair tie.

4. Wind each braid around hair tie, behind hair stick. Tuck in ends, or secure with hair clips/pins.

Step 5: Sock Bun

1. Clip a small hole in a sock (the size of the sock bun will be determined by the size of the sock) and roll from the toes up.

2. Gather hair high up on head, around the crown, and secure with ponytail holder.

3. Twist hair into a rope and slide sock up the length, pushing it against the hair tie. Let hair untwist.

4. Lean over; spread hair back over the sock, covering it entirely. Use another ponytail holder to secure spread-out hair over the sock.

5. Stand up straight; gently push hair down so that the remainder (if you have a remainder) spreads out under the newly-created sock bun. Do whatever you wish with this; braid and twist around bun, simply twist around bun, let hang. At any point, a hair stick can be used to increase the stability of the bun or for decoration.

Step 6: Figure-8 Bun

1. Gather hair at crown. If you desire, secure with a ponytail holder.

2. Coil entire length of hair, putting each successive layer beneath the previous one, so that you end with a column of hair (the height of which varies depending on the length of your hair).

3. Grasp top-most coil. Pull out and up, laying flat on top of the rest of your head. The resulting look should resemble a figure 8.

4. Secure bun with hair stick(s).

Step 7: Hair Knot

(This is a small bun with a ponytail coming out.)

1. Gather hair at crown. Twist entire length and bring over and around, actually tying your hair in a knot.

2. Let the part of the knot coming out hang out loosely. Secure knot with one or two hair sticks.

3. Let ends hang loosely, or braid.

Step 8: Dutch Braid Bun

1. Plait your hair Dutch style (very similar to French style; instead of bringing pieces over, bring them under.)

2. Gather braid and coil it into a bun.

3. Secure with one or two hair sticks.

Step 9: Half-Bun

In this style, a small bun is created by gathering the top part of your hair and letting the rest hang down. The final look of this style, and of course the size of the bun, is greatly determined by the length and thickness of your hair.

1. Gather top half of hair into bun style of choice.

2. Secure with hair stick.