BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Use Hair Sticks

By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

Rate: (34 Ratings)

Tired of using pens and pencils to secure an updo? Or, looking for a hip way to hold a bun or French twist in place? Hair sticks are the answer.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Hair Sticks
Towels
Anti-frizz Hair Serums
Hair Styling Aids
Hairbrush

Step1

Use hair sticks in place of combs, pins and clips. They work best on styles in which hair is twisted, gathered or rolled. Make your style as tight as possible before inserting a stick - it will loosen up gradually.

Step2

Envision the ideal placement of the sticks. Think of where to position decorative tips, for example. A second stick may be added to further secure the style, or simply for decoration.

Step3

Grip the stick at its widest portion. Avoid using the decorative top section as a lever; it might break off.

Step4

Insert the stick so that the tip and end are at the opposite angle of their final position. Instead of spearing a bun or twist, graze the roll or coil so that it collects about a 1-inch section of hair. Push the stick until the tip protrudes at least a fingertip in length.

Step5

Lift the stick like a lever and rotate it 180 degrees from the insertion point. Hook a small amount of the hair that's pulled flat against the head while pushing the stick through the style. When securing a bun, make sure to push the tip through the coil at the opposite end.

Step6

Practice and be patient. Hair sticks can be a difficult accessory to get used to. Rely on your sense of touch to guide their position and firmness of hold.

Tips & Warnings

If dry hair doesn't cooperate, work with towel dry hair instead for easier control.
Experiment with additional positions. It may be necessary to collect more hair on the initial insertion for a tighter hold.
Hair sticks come in a wide variety of colors and decorations. Select adornments that complement your wardrobe and jewelry.
Take care not to poke or gouge yourself with hair sticks.
Avoid forcing a stick through, as you may break it or pull hair unnecessarily.

Comments

Morbidbliss said

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on 2/15/2007 2 things:
1. if you have long hair try twisting the entire length until it tries to twist back on to itself and loosen up. Let your hair twist itself for a second until its a kind of rope. pull the loop end up (the end without the tips of hair)and insert the sticks where ever you like to hold it in place. its can look very sophisticated, and can be played down for a more laid back look.

2. If your into decorating your own sticks, you might try getting some scrap material, and gluing that on the end, and putting some ribbon around the raw edge of the material. (black and red, red and gold, and gold and black or purple are good color combinations)

Anonymous said

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on 8/21/2006 If your hair won't hold itself when using the hair sticks, try using an elastic, and then putting hair sticks in. Your hair will stay picture perfect, and you can hair spray it before adding the sticks!

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 Put your hair in a secure bun. Take the first hair stick and, upside down, weave it twice (shallow weaves) through the surface of the right side of the bun. Don't do anything with that, but hold the bun in place and grab the next one and once again, upside down, weave it shallow into the left side. Use the thick ends of the sticks to flip the whole thing upside down and cross them when you get them into their final position. It works really well and is more reliable than most other methods.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Twist your hair until it curls up into a bun-like look. Then, take one chopstick and weave it in and out of your hair. Take another and do it on the opposite side to secure it. It works perfectly!