How to Fix a Little Girl's Hair for a Dance Recital

Spice up a little girl's hairstyle with curls.

Skip the standard ballet bun for a little girl's dance recital and add some bounce. Curls, regardless if her hair is short or long, add a contemporary flair to a hairstyle. Whether you want to pull the hair into a low chignon or you want it to cascade down her back, curls add the stylish detail. Creating curls is easy and requires a few moments of additional hair time to complete. Remember to spray the hair well before she performs so the hair maintains its buoyancy throughout the entire recital.

Things You'll Need

• Comb
• 1-inch-round curling iron
• Heat-protectant spray
• Hair clip
• Hairspray
• Ponytail holder
• Bobby pins
• Headband

Instructions

1. Wash her hair the day before the recital. Hair shampoos and conditioners for kids often create silky hair, which makes curls hard to hold. Comb through her hair to remove any tangles or knots.

2. Heat a 1-inch-round curling iron to medium-heat. Spray her hair with a heat-protectant spray. The spray will combat against any heated styling tools in addition to fighting ultraviolet rays. The spray will not weigh her hair down from the curls.

3. Part her hair into two separate sections - left and right. Clip the left side of the hair up and leave the right side of the hair down. Separate a section of hair to curl from the right side, comb outward and lightly spray the hair with hairspray. The section of hair should be no wider than the length of the barrel. Open the clamp on the curling iron and wrap the tips of the hair around the barrel. Close the clamp and roll the curling iron up the scalp by holding the iron vertical to the head. This will create a spiral curls.

4. Count to five and open the clamp of the curling iron. Slide the hair out and let it fall naturally. Repeat the process of combing out a section, spraying it with hairspray and creating a spiral curl. Once the right side is complete, release the left side and do the same.

5. Gather the hair into a low ponytail. Use your fingers to tousle the curls, twist the hair and wrap it around the base of the ponytail. Secure the hair with another ponytail holder or bobby pins and fluff the curls in the back of the head. This is called a chignon.

6. Pull shorter hair back with a headband if the chignon does not work. Slide a headband, made of sturdy and strong fabric, over the area between the peak of the head and the front hairline. Adjust the hair in the back by letting it cascade down her back or pull the upper half layer of the hair into a half-ponytail.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check with the recital guidelines to find out if there is a specific hairstyle the child must wear.

References

• Beauty and the Bath: Hair Ringlets for Girls
• Hair Boutique: How to Create Stunning Spiral Curls
• Become Gorgeous: How to Style Lovely Curls