How to Create Beaded Chopsticks for Hair

Some people find it difficult to use chopsticks for eating sushi and other Asian cuisine. Well, using chopsticks take some getting used to, but once one masters the technique of chopstick usage, it becomes second nature. However, chopsticks are not just an eating utensil, for they can be highly fashionable. Chopsticks are becoming a hot fashion commodity and teenagers are using them to fix their hair for proms, college women for holding their hair up during final exams, and women going to fancy parties use them to dress up their little black dresses. Chopsticks are fun, flirty, and unique, and through this tutorial, anyone can make an unique set of chopsticks that shout personality and sass.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sandpaper
• Chopsticks
• Plaid Brand Mod Podge
• Seed beads
• High gloss varnish
• Paint in any color
• Paintbrushes
• Clear thread
• Beading needles

Making Beaded Chopsticks

1. 

   Sand the chopsticks so they are smooth all around. Make sure the skinny end is slightly pointed and that the top is round. The rounded end will make it easier to wrap beads around and the pointed end will make the chopsticks easier to slide into hair.

2. 

   Paint your chopsticks in the color you desire. If you still have the original chopstick color showing, add a second coat. Let paint dry.

3. 

   Next, add seed beads to clear thread. Once you reached your desired bead string length, you can move on to the next step.

4. 

   After you have strung your beads, heavily coat the top portion of the chopstick(s) with the Plaid Mod Podge. The Mod Podge acts as like a glue and will hold your beads in place.

5. 

   After the Mod Podge is applied, you may now start wrapping your bead string as shown around the top portion of the chopstick(s). As you are wrapping the beads, make sure you wrap as tightly as possible and as close to the previous row as you can. When you reach the very top of the chopstick, take the remaining thread and run it through a beading needle. Take your beading needle and thread and run the thread through the beads located second row from the top. This will insure stability.

6. Add Mod Podge to the very top (the portion not covered by beads) and dip the top of the chopstick(s) into a mini dish of seed beads. This will cover the bare portion of your chopsticks.

7. 

   Add Mod Podge lightly over the beads you just added. In addition to being a glue-like substance, Mod Podge also acts as a sealant. After your Mod Podge dries, use the high gloss varnish and coat the chopsticks (including the beads) with it. The high gloss varnish gives your chopsticks a plastic feel, which aids in sliding ease when adding and removing your chopsticks from your hair. After you add the varnish, let it dry for 24 hours before using your chopsticks.

Tips & Warnings

• If your thread is on a spool, do not cut any thread from that spool
• As you add beads, you can push beads down the thread and rewrap the thread around the spool, making it harder to lose the tiny seed beads