In the Semi-mini Braid Experiment we spoke about styling methods that give moms (and dads) a break from daily styling. The experiment (though touch and go for a moment) ended up being a glowing success. But are there other ways to keep your child looking neat and stylish? When shampoo day is still two days away, but her hair is on its last leg, how can you maintain your child’s optimum cute quota? Add accessories of course! BUT not just any old random accessories. Too many bobbles or thinga-ma-jigs can cause her to end up looking like a Christmas tree. And if not applied with care and thought, she could just end up looking unkept or like an afterthought or (heaven forbid) like she was the stylist instead of you (visions of dress up in mommy’s accessory closet come to mind).
To avoid all the wrong outcomes, let’s take a look at a few tips that may get you to shampoo day looking like a winner. Keep in mind these tips are not just for “not so good hair” days, but can be incorporated any day to up your girl’s cute quota!
Hats: Hats are a no brainer to add to any ensemble, whenever it’s raining outside, but hats should not be reserved for the rain. Hats should not be reserved for just big girls either. My little girls love hats. I don’t mean a plain old baseball cap. I’m talking rhinestones, leopard prints and bright colors on berets, page boys, fedoras or beanies (knit caps). Pin a flower on the side and we’re talking cuteness through the stratosphere.
A beanie with a bow
Photo courtesy of www.littlelids.com
To pull this look off and make it look intentional, try to pull at least one color out of the outfit your child is wearing to match at least one color in the hat. In the case of a multi-color hat, like a leopard print, for example, tone down the outfit just a little (no plaids or clashing prints). An even better combination would be to dress her up in a bright solid color like pink (maybe a pink top and denim bottom) then add a pink flower to the leopard print hat. Sounds a little quirky, but try it, you’ll be surprised at all the compliments your little one will receive.
A traditional child's beret
Photo courtesy of www.littlelids.com
Head bands: Head bands are another obvious choice when the hair is not quite perfect. Unfortunately, I have seen some good head band wearing and some not so good head band wearing. Let’s explore wearing a head band the right way (this tip applies to big girls as well).
Doubling or even tripling thin stretchy head bands can be used to add style and hold back unruly hair. Mix up three colors that may be found in your child’s outfit and pump up the sound on a casual look.
Wearing a super wide band can cover the part of the hair we don’t want to be seen, but can accent your daughter's beautiful face. Again, use your judgment on adding color. But a wide fabric head band looks super cute and similar to the hats mentioned above, you can really make it look stylish by adding a pin or flower.
Wide orange headband
Photo courtesy of www.trimweaver.com
Embellished head bands literally come in hundreds of styles and looks. There are lace ones, leather ones, ones with huge rhinestones and ones with every flower you can think of. There are ones with bows, glitter and ones made of patent leather. There are even those that are made of feathers (got to love feathers). There are also head bands with a combination of the fore mentioned additions, like rhinestoned flowers, leather and lace with rhinestones and rhinestones on feathers. The combinations are endless. Can’t find one you really love? Bring a one-of-a-kind uniqueness to a look by making one yourself (more on that in another post).
Patent leather and rhinestone headband
Gap
Black feather headband
Gap
When wearing one of these fancy embellished head bands, the accessory becomes the star and not the hair style. This is a good thing if you are trying to draw attention away from a not so great hair day. In this case create a simple hair style, like one pony tail pulled up on top. Really any simple look will do that will allow the head band to be placed in a non-obstructive manner.
Finally, since we are talking about children, with any style you choose to create with the above suggestions, make sure you child is comfortable. Ensure that the band on the hat is not squeezing her head. Adjust the head band so that it is not too tight behind the ears, otherwise her cute little look will not last very long because she will not keep the item on her head if it hurts.
Below is my four year old wearing her super oversize Rosette Head band (Gap). Here the big, satin embellishment camouflages all the flyaways and covers up the fact that she is in need of a reset (shampoo and style). She looks super cute and very in vogue. Try this look and no one will know you are concealing a thing…I won’t tell ;-).
Examiner
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