Make your own Funky or Fancy Hair Sticks

Step 5 Finishing Method two: Stain and polish

If your hairsticks-to-be are plain unfinished wood, you can stain them before glazing. This looks really cool in odd colors, like green or purple.

• Put a few drops of food color or watercolor on a plate. Pick up the color with a cotton swab. I have found that cotton swabs or small sponges apply the color more satisfactorily than paintbrushes.


• Hold the stick in your hand and paint evenly with color. You can paint the whole thing if you wear gloves or aren't afraid of getting dye on your fingers.
• Hang to dry as shown in previous step or rest on a plate. It will take about 3-4 hours for them to dry completely.

You can also use markers if you don't want to wait for them to dry, but you won't get as even a result.

Note: This can also be done with vegetable-based funky hairdye, but you have to rinse them off after you apply the color. They they take a bit longer to dry completely, you have to leave them overnight. It is a bit more work, but it looks neato to have hairsticks that match your hair exactly.

For an antiqued or distressed effect, and lightly to reveal the bare uncolored wood in spots before sealing.

• When they are dry, follow the directions above for coating them with clear nailpolish, or spray with clear sealant. Either method will work. Don't forget the extra coat of polish over the point!