How to Make Africian Butterfly Hair Combs
An African butterfly hair comb is a hair accessory made of two facing 14-tooth hair combs. Between the hair combs, a stretchy cording is beaded into a large net. When the end result surrounds a bun, the cording stretches and tightens up, and the combs tuck neatly into each side. This hair treatment is similar to a caul yet decorated in a more rustic or ethnic style.
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Things You'll Need
- Hair combs
- Drill
- Stretch cording
- Scissors
- Wooden beads
- Gold, black and silver beads
- Incense
- Lighter
Instructions
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1
Place one hair comb horizontally so the teeth face away from you. Drill two horizontal small holes 1/8-inch apart and 1/4-inch from each side centered on the grip area. Drill two small holes 1/8-inch apart in the center of the grip area of the comb. You should have three sets of two holes on the grip area of each comb. Repeat for the other comb.
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2
Overlap the teeth of the two combs by 1/2 inch so the teeth of the right comb are pointed to the left and the teeth of the left comb are pointed to the right. The combs should curve down like an upside down cup.
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3
Cut 36 inches of clear stretch beading cord. Thread the cord up through the top hole of the comb on the right side. Pick up four small wood beads, a large tubular black bead, two large white beads, a large tubular black bead and four small wood beads. Your beads can vary as you like, though. No matter what you choose, the first and last row should be 3/8 inch shorter than the rows in the middle of the comb.
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4
Thread your cord though the front top hole of the comb on the left. Bring the cord through until you have equal lengths of cord on both combs and the beads between the comb are touching each other without stretching the cord. Bring the cord that is on your right comb up through the second hole on your right comb. Bring the cord on your left comb up through the second hole on your left comb.
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5
Thread each cord with four small wood beads, a large tubular black bead, one large white bead, one large gold bead, one large white bead, a large tubular black bead and four small wood beads. Note the one large bead in the middle. Cross the left cord to the top middle hole on the right comb and pull the cord through. Cross your right cord over your left to the top middle hole on the left comb and pull the cord through. Bring the right cord up through the second hole on the right comb. Bring the left cord up through the second hole on the left comb. You are weaving the combs together evenly with the cords and beads.
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6
Thread again each cord with four small wood beads, a large tubular black bead, one large white bead, one large gold bead, one large white bead, a large tubular black bead and four small wood beads.Cross the left cord to the top bottom hole on the right comb and pull the cord through. Cross your right cord over your left to the top bottom hole on the left comb and pull the cord through. Bring the right cord up through the last hole on the right comb. Bring the left cord up through the last hole on the left comb.
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7
Put four small wood beads, a large tubular black bead, one large white bead on one cord. Put one large white bead, a large tubular black bead and four small wood beads on the other cord. At this point you have half the beads on one cord and half the beads on the other cord. Light a stick of incense with a lighter.
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8
Overlap the cords in the middle of your last row of beads. Push the beads strung on each cord in Step 7 to the sides by stretching the individual cord. Cut the cords and remove the ends while keeping the ends stretched. Hold the beads to the sides so you have a clear space in the middle to close the cords together. Touch the hot end of the incense to one cord end until it softens and then press the hot end to the cord. Hold them in place until they cool and harden. Slide your beads over to hide where you joined the cords together.
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Tips & Warnings
To wear an African butterfly hair comb, simply slide one comb under your hair bun on the side. Stretch the beads over the bun and tuck the second comb under your hair bun on the other side.
Feel free to add charms, feathers, fringe, lace, ribbons, bows or any embellishment to the combs.
References
- Photo Credit beads image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
