How to Make Curly Hair Bows Like Gymboree

Any girl can look pretty as a picture with a curly bow

Children's clothing boutiques, like Gymboree, cater to little girls' taste for pretty accessories. Stores features luxurious curled ribbons in coordinating colors cascading from hair bows, with luxury price tags to go with them. But you can make your own for much less money with just a little time and effort.

Things You'll Need

• Ribbon
• Dowel
• Scissors
• Saw
• Clothespins
• Spray starch
• Cookie sheet
• Hair barrette or ponytail elastic
• Hot glue

Instructions

1. Buy 3/8-inch grosgrain ribbons in desired colors or patterns. Buy a 3/16 inch diameter dowel from home improvement store. Cut the dowel 18 inches long. Cut ribbons into 36-inch pieces. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

2. Soak the ribbon in water. Attach one end of the wet ribbon to the end of the dowel. Hold in place with a clothespin. Wrap the ribbon around the length of the dowel in spirals. When finished attach the other end of the ribbon to the dowel with another clothespin. Spray the wrapped ribbon with starch.

3. Place your ribbon-wrapped dowel on a clean cookie sheet. Put in preheated oven for 20 minutes, Take out. Let cool for one minute. Feel the ribbon. If it is still damp, put back in the oven for 10 more minutes. Take out and test again. If the ribbon is dry. Unfasten the clothespin. Push down on the ribbon so it slides off the dowel. Do not unfurl the ribbon.

4. Repeat this process at least four more times. The finished hair bows will look most like Gymboree bows when there are three or four different solid color ribbons and at least one patterned ribbon.

5. Gather the curled ribbons and knot them at the center. Use hot glue to attach the curled-ribbon bunch to a barrette. Alternately, you could knot the bunch around a ponytail elastic. Use your fingers to position the curled ribbons so that cascade in all directions. Cut off any ends of the curled ribbons that are frayed or singed.

References

• Ribbon For Crafts: How to Make a Korker Ribbon for Hairbows

Resources

• Fashion Ribbon Wear: Hair Bow on No Slip Alligator Clip