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.

Comments

[Judith756]

I have been using "hairsticks" for 30 years now. Of course mine are all chopsticks that came decorated and I added charms on the ends or are plain...lol. Love that you did the pictures, but consider a video. I have tried to show my younger friends how to twist their hair, unfortunately I am left handed and they are right. I seem to confuse them. You did a great job with the pics, but a bit more would be wonderful.
Thanks for posting your ible.

[black_lily]

I have natural curly hair, so most of these are useless for me, but i recommended to a friend who was looking for good instruction on hairstyles with hairsticks and she loved it. Great instructions :D

[ariadani]

Very pretty. I have long hair, too, so it's nice to see different variations than my usual "stick it up in a bun with a stick" style :)

[josieisacoolcat]

You have beautiful hair!

[gswhite1959]

What do you use to keep your hair shiny and what do you shampoo it with?
Thanks, I want long hair like yours. Thanks

[alexandraw99]

heyy i was wondering if u could do a vidoe about treating your hair and im not a freak but your hair looks amazing and im trying to grow my hair out so i was just wondering thanks great job by the way

[panvirgo]

BEAUTIFUL HAIR, BEST FOR OCCASION CINNABON BUN HAIRSTYLE.

[Screamo]

Chop stickeys :D

[SpinninJenny]

I use hair stick for special occasions but use 3 inch long hair pins or claw clips the rest of the time. I usually just wind it around like the cinnamon bun. It's really exciting to find something new to do with my long hair!

I'm also excited to see your hair sticks! I don't know how to get in tough with your aunt and find out if she could make some for me. Can you have her get in touch with me?

Thanks!

[Trollgunn]

This is gorgeous. Too bad I just had my hair bobbed!

[tonic4]

Love it! I'm starting to grow my hair out again but was worried about what different styles I would be limited to. Now there is hope.

[MeowKitty49]

I'm am SO GLAD I stumbled across this.  I have uber long hair too (around ankle length now) and have only been able to find a tutorial for that Chinese bun (after much much searching of the internets).  I love hair sticks and really wanted to find more ways to use them.  I'd pretty much been alternating between one big Chinese bun and two smaller Chinese buns.  But thanks to this instructable, I can do various types of buns now!  Not to mention I'd been wanting to know how to do that variation on the cinnamon bun that you put up.

Thanks so much!!  ^_^

[medellia_4]

You're very welcome! I'm glad I was able to help you out. ^_^

[starshipminivan]

Thank you for the instructions on the sock bun! I looked everywhere for a "bun doughnut" for my daughter's highland dance hair style and never did find one.. A sock is perfect substitute!! I like all of the great pictures on all of the steps. You gave really good instructions. Thank you so much for posting!

[medellia_4]

I'm ridiculously late in replying, but you're welcome! I'm glad you were able to find what you needed.

[wheedee]

Even thought it's not a figure 8, it's a very nice treble clef XD

[medellia_4]

You posted this a while ago, but still, thanks, lol.

[EarlyMusicDiva]

I was wondering what you do with the ends. It sort of looks as if you tuck them under the outermost coil before putting in the sticks? Is there a trick to making them stay underneath?

[medellia_4]

You posted this a while ago--sorry I haven't replied! I would leave a length of about a few inches and then yes, tuck them underneath the coils. I think leaving it a bit long helps the ends stay tucked.

[blackchibi]

I tried it on my medium lenght hair and it turned out great. thanks for the inst. :)

[medellia_4]

You're welcome! I'm glad you were able to use it with your length.

[Nettiemac]

I used a pair of clean chopsticks in my hair yesterday, and got lots of compliments from people about how it looked.  Especially from my youngest son.  He thought I looked beautiful and Japanese.  grin.

Thanks for showing how to wear these - it gives me a more adult option than just a ponytail. 

[medellia_4]

You're welcome--it's amazing what a difference a pair of sticks can make, isn't it?

[planethalia]

Ditto to Mama29... I'm so sick of ponytails and buns I was pretty close to make the great hack.... this gives me more options for awhile!

[medellia_4]

I'm glad you liked it!

[hopenui]

I'm not personally interested in this, but seeing my gf trying to do this and usually fail is funny

[lindsy]

the "sock hair bun" is how we had to do our hair in the Marines... Except NONE could be hanging down.. It my favorite "clean looking" bun :)

[tannpopo]

It's great to learn this. by the way,your hair is so long.

[veeisme]

I love this one, it's the first bun I've ever tried that I was able to wear until it went droopy of its own volition without it giving me a headache!

[XkytsuneX]

Lovely styles! I want to try the sock bun style! One thing is bugging me, though... the crown is much closer to the hairline than where you indicate in your photographs. It is defined as the top-most part of the head, and I think of it as the highest point of the forehead, right at the hairline.

[Maureclaire]

Love them ! You have beautiful, thick hair ! My hair is so damn thin, you'd see that freakin' sock clear as can be ! Ugh !

[Cayt]

Wonderful guide! =D Even with my relatively shorter hair (just a few inches past my shoulders) I can still use a few of the styles you've listed. Braided stuff tends to use up too much hair, but the simpler buns work just fine! And I may just be endlessly jealous of your beautiful long hair. XD<br/>

[LadyLonghair]

Thank you so much for these cool instructions! My hair is nearing knee length and these updo's will be a joy to play with.

[lovelypinkfairy]

Wow !!!! great instructable... You have lovely long hair and I'm surely gonna try these hair styles.. I hope you come up with few more like this... -Pink

[thricecursed]

Fantastic Instructable! My daughter and I are going to have a blast trying these out! Thanks for sharing. :)

[staralee]

This is an awesome instructable, Thank you very much for putting it on here. I am excited to try these styles, My favorite is the chinese bun so far, very neat!

[mama29]

Well done. I am so happy to have something else I can do with my long hair for work. I need to have it pulled back but get sick of the same bun and plain braid. Thanks for postign this!

[TheChemist]

awesome! -Gracie

[mistwolf]

Very easy to follow, good pictures. Nice variety of styles, as well.

[fritsie123]

Great step-by-step instructable, it is real easy to follow. Also, you have very beautiful hair and it is quite long, so you can do these styles easily. Do you also have tips for somewhat shorter hair?