How to Make Hair Fashion Accessories

Choose any color or patterned ribbon for your project.

Hair clips and accessories sold at stores can be expensive. Instead of spending your cash at a retailer, purchase the materials yourself and make attractive, personalized hair clips. Alligator hair clips, pom-pom hair bows and other hair accessories can be made at home. Coordinate your accessories with any outfit by purchasing different colored ribbons. Making hair accessories is quick, easy and budget friendly.

Things You'll Need

• Alligator hair clip
• 4 pieces of ribbon, 1/2 inch
• Fabric glue
• Toothpick
• 30 korker ribbons
• String
• Plain hair barrette
• Scissors
• Bobby pin
• 32-gauge craft wire
• Small beads
• Wire cutters

Instructions

Alligator Ribbon Clip

1. Open the hair clip. Apply fabric glue to inside of the top prong. Slide the ribbon to back of the prong pattern side down and push the ribbon to the fabric glue. Close the barrette.

2. Squeeze out a strip of glue and apply it lightly to the outside of the top prong. Pull the ribbon around the prong and press it to the glue. This will adhere the ribbon around the clip and onto the top prong.

3. Squeeze some of the fabric glue into a toothpick. Use the toothpick to apply two small drops of glue to the inside of the pinch clips. Bring the ribbon around from the top prong and fold it---slightly---into the inside of the pinch clips.

4. Apply a small drop of glue to the very end of the ribbon. Pull the ribbon down to the bottom side of the clip. Adhere the ribbon to the bottom to secure it.

5. Allow several hours for the glue to dry before placing the ribbon fashion accessory in your hair.

Pom-Pom Hair Bow

1. Purchase korker ribbons from an arts and crafts store. You will need about 30. Korker ribbons are ribbons that are formed into tight spiral curls.

2. Lay the string flat on a table. Line the ribbons onto the string.

3. Pull the string up and around all of the ribbons. Tie the string into a tight double-knot. When the string is tied around the ribbons, they will fan out like a pom-pom.

4. Open the clasp of the plain barrette. Push the top of the barrette---the larger part of the barrette---through the middle of the string. Tie the excess ends of the string into a double-knot around the barrette to make it secure. Cut any excess string off with a pair of scissors.

5. Use the barrette to attach the hair accessory to your hair.

Beaded Bobby Pins

1. Thread a bobby pin with 3 feet of 32-gauge craft wire. Crisscross the wires over the top of the pin and underneath it.

2. Hold the bead with its opening facing to the left and right. Insert the left wire end through the left opening and out the right. Insert the right wire end through the right opening and out the left. The wire ends will be crisscrossed in the bead. Pull the wire to tighten the bead to the pin.

3. Crisscross the wires again over the top of the pin and underneath it. This will be so the beads don't end up bunched on one another.

4. Repeat Step 2 with another bead. You can alternate colors to make a multi-colored barrette. Then, repeat Step 3. Do this until the entire pin is beaded and you've reached the bottom of the pin.

5. Wrap the wires around the bottom of the pin several times----like in Step 3---then slide the wire ends through a bead. This will prevent the wires from coming out the back and poking you. Cut the excess wire with a pair of wire cutters.

Tips & Warnings

• Supplies, such as fabric glue, ribbon and plain hair clips, can be found at any arts and crafts store. Plain hair clips can be purchased at beauty supply stores as well.

References

• The Ribbon Retreat: Clippie Instructions
• The Ribbon Retreat: How to Make Korker Ribbon and Korker Bows
• All Info About Jewelry Making: Beaded Bobby PIn or Barrettes