blooming flower

My little girl has been asking me to do a flower in her hair for the last week. I had to get creative & use some pipe cleaners to help out but it turned out darling. We went to Wal-Mart & I had several moms come check out & ask how we did it. These pictures don't do it justice. Super easy to do though!!

I started by pulling all the hair straight back in a higher pony tail. To keep the hair in a perfect bent shape to make a petal, I braided pipe cleaner into each braid. I stuck the pipe cleaner under the elastic, just enough to keep it still, section my 3 strand braid & add the pipe cleaner to the middle strand & begin braiding.

This is what it looked like when I was finished. Cut the pipe cleaner to the end of the braid so it's not sticking out. Also, try to match one closest to your girlie's hair so it blends better. We probably could have gone with an even lighter color.

I did 5 braids on the outside of the pony tail so you have a section of unbraided hair in the middle section that will be your center of the flower.

Bend the braid, starting with the top middle, into a petal shape. It's okay if hair is sticking out in the middle, you are going to curl it anyway. I really only ended up using about one bobby pin per petal to hold the flower down at the base, but this one kept sticking up right in the front, so we put a pin in to keep it from doing that.

Make your head around the pony tail & you can see the shape of the flower.

That hair that is left in the middle, curl all of it.

I added an elastic to bunch up her curls so that it wasn't so long - if your girlie's hair isn't as long, you wouldn't need to do it. I did this just for the purpose that you can actually see the flower.

I pinned the curls so it looked like a curly little ball in the middle to make the center of the flower. I had a mom email me & ask to explain how I pin up her curls - if you already know - skip this - I put the bobby pin in about 2/3 of the way down on the curl & then I just stick it into the bun. As simple as that!!

I thought I had the whole picture flipped thing figured out - but I guess not. Sorry!! Here's the finished product. We actually ended up putting a small bow in on the side.

Here's the best shot I could get with the entire flower.

**I failed to mention for the post below: I know you are all looking at it & thinking I do not want to take those elastics out. If you haven't figured this out - try it next time: a SEAM RIPPER. Works awesome!! & it's quick - just be careful not to "rip" or cut any of her hair out. It's soft on her head & fast. If you are nervous you are going to cut her hair then use the tail of a comb to lift it up & then rip through the elastic.