Holiday Hair for Shorties: Teeny-Tiny Bouffant

I'm back with my second of three holiday hair tutorials for short hair! I mentioned yesterday that I have been receiving a lot of requests for hairstyle tutorials lately, and because I love to get fancied up for holiday parties, I used those requests as an excuse to try out a few different looks for fun. Now I'm sharing my favorites here with you! Lucky you. I'm super excited about this one in particular, though, because it is something I've been wanting to try on myself for quite awhile but just for some reason never got around to trying it. I'm really happy with how it turned out and how it looks on me.

For this next tutorial, I styled my hair into a tiny little bouffant. I finished off the look by pulling everything sleekly back behind my ears. I think this look is super sophisticated, but in a very understated way. I love that it's a bit of a faux pixie, and I really love that it feels a tad retro. See how I easily created this look below.



Teeny-Tiny Bouffant Hair Tutorial

1. Start by sectioning off the front portion of your hair, everything from your ears forward. 
2. This back section will be used to create the bouffant, so leave the front alone for now. You can pin it forward and down, if you like.
3. Use a styling putty or mouse on the back section of hair. Run a good amount of it through with your fingers
4. Backcomb the back section of your hair, starting from the bottom and working your way up to the top of your head. Spray sections with hair spray as you go along. Go for maximum volume here. Your hair will likely look a bit ridiculous when done with this stage.
5. Now that you've gotten a good amount of volume, begin smoothing the top layer of hair starting in the middle and moving to each side.
6. If you've pinned the front, unpin it now. Make sure that the entire top layer of hair is smooth and looks seamless. 
7. To create that perfect bouffant look, let the front hang forward and grab the back section of hair (that you backcombed), pushing it up and forward a bit. Smooth everything one last time using a comb. Pin the bouffant in place at the back of your head with bobby pins.
8. Using a straightener or a curling iron, create some simple waves to the hair that is left out of the bouffant. You can leave the hair like this, if you fancy.
9. For a sleeker look, and for a bit of a faux pixie, comb all of the hair back behind the ears.
10. Use a bit of styling putting, to insure all the hair will stay in place, and pin the hair at the base of your head in the back.

I'm excited to wear this look a few times this holiday season. I think it will look perfect finished with a thin gold headband. And maybe, perhaps, it will keep me from wanting to chop to a pixie for a little while longer (because I've been feeling rather inclined to do that lately).

Stop by again tomorrow for another retro inspired look.

xx Emorie

Holiday Hair for Shorties: Braided Band

I've been receiving a lot of requests for short hair tutorials lately and because I love to please, I'll be sharing three different styles for you to try out just in time for the holidays. Holiday parties are my favorite, and a big part of that is definitely because I love getting all fancied up. I was really excited to put together a few tutorials for short hair that are a bit on the fancy side. Just from a quick search, I could tell that the internet is really lacking in ideas for us shorties. I know short hair can be a bit intimidating, especially after the big chop, and it may seem like there are far fewer options style wise. Don't buy into that myth; short hair can be just as fun and interchangeable! It is all about learning what your short hair can do through embracing your hair's natural state, keeping things simple, and becoming best friends with accessories.

I hope that after seeing the tutorial I share today, and the ones to follow in the next few days, a few of you shorter haired gals will feel inspired and have the confidence to try out a new style! After all, hair should be fun, and short hair is definitely not an exception!

For this first tutorial, I styled my hair with a little french braided band across my head. Then I tucked and smoothed everything down for a simple but elegant look. See how I easily created it below.



Braided Band Hair Tutorial

1. Start with your hair in it's natural air-dried state. My hair is naturally wavy, so it has quite a bit of texture on its own. If you have fine hair and would like a bit more texture, comb in a bit of dry shampoo or styling putty.
2. On the side of your head where your part is, section off the front portion of hair. 
3. Pull the portioned hair forward and pin the rest of the hair back and out of the way.
4. You are going to braid this section across to the other side of your head. Pull it straight up and comb it in that direction so all hair is now laying flat.
5. Beginning by your ear, french braid the section up toward the top of your head.
6. Continue braiding and adding hair until you reach the other side of your head. Once the braid lays flat on top of your head, finish the braid (no longer grabbing more hair with each strand). Secure with an elastic. You can leave the braid loose like this, if you fancy.
7. Pull the braid back behind your ear and secure it flat against your head with bobby pins. 
8. Smooth the rest of your hair out using a hair straightener. Swoop your bangs (if you left them out of the braid) to the side, and tuck the hair (on the side where the braid started) behind your ear.  

That's it. Super sleek, simple, and sexy. Enjoy!
I'll be back with my other holiday hair ideas over the next few days.

Hope your week is being lovely,
xx Emorie

Oops, I Cut My Hair Again

I'm feeling a little sick today and as a result I am also feeling a lot unmotivated. Don't worry though, that just means that (because of all the stuff I haven't gotten to yet) I'll have even more for you next week. So instead, for now, here are some pictures of my face topped with my new hair.

I took these on Wednesday, after I had spent the day cutting it. I'm sure most of you know by now that I cut my hair myself. And that I also can be a little scissor happy and cut my hair on a whim. I should clarify, though, that I am still a very cautious cutter. I rarely am displeased with my own haircuts, which is great because the very reason I started cutting it myself was disappointment after salon cuts. I'd always end up fixing my hair the next day! So why not do it myself to begin with? This cut took me about 4 hours, as I cut slowly and very small sections at a time. And, you know, it's kind of difficult to see the back. I was a little upset with the bangs at first, they ended up shorter than I had planned (I was using this picture for inspiration/a rough guideline). But don't worry, I'm actually really liking them. And of course, they'll grow faster than I expect anyway.

Have a lovely weekend!
xx Emorie

Stylish Shorties

one / two / three / four / five / six

Since cutting my hair, I have been having to get used to the fact that I now have less styling options. It's been a couple years (I tried growing it out for so long) since I've been anywhere near this length and it is taking time to adjust. I won't lie though, even when I had long hair I rarely did it. Bed hair wasn't as rough when I had long hair, and if I did have a terribly bad hair day I could quickly pull it into a messy bun or control it with a braid. I love my simple short hair, but I do really miss crown braids sometimes. Now with short hair and feeling like I have less last-minute type options, I wish this encouraged me to spend more days doing my hair. But in reality, it means I am walking around most of the time with a matted bed head. Lumpy hair is totally fashionable, right?

These, shall we say, hair goals I have collected at least make wish I took the time to style my hair more often. I think that is a step in the right direction. It is also making me want to take even more length off. I'll probably keep this cut for awhile, but going through old pictures from the last time I had a pixie, I'm feeling scissor happy. Perhaps I'll have to cut it all off for my birthday. . . In the meantime, do any of you with short hair have tips for simple management? Should I just be a big girl and wash my hair more often?