How to Make Native American Hair Ties
Native American culture includes much adornment of the body, such as the traditional feathered headdresses and colorful hair ties. Native American hair ties are composed of beads strung on leather lacing, and often have feathers dangling from the ends. These interesting hair accessories are relatively simple to create, and the short material list can be purchased from a local or on-line specialty craft shop.
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Things You'll Need
- 1.5-inch metal conch
- 2.5 feet of suede or leather lacing
- 24 Pony beads (plastic or glass)
- Two 2-inch horn tubes or hairpipes
- Two feather charms
- Clear-drying glue
Instructions
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1
Lay out the beads, charms and hairpipe in the design you desire. Many Native American hair ties feature six beads, a piece of hairpipe, and another six beads, followed by a feather charm on each side.
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2
Cut a piece of suede lacing, 12 inches long. This forms the base of the hair tie, which will feature six inches of lacing, hanging from either side of the metal conch.
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3
Tie one of the feather charms to the end of the piece of lacing. A small amount of glue on the knot will help to prevent it from coming undone.
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4
String on six Pony beads, one of the pieces of hairpipe, and another six Pony beads.
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5
Leave a small gap---roughly .35 of an inch in the lacing---which is where the metal conch will go.
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6
String the second side of the lacing in the same manner, placing the second piece of hairpipe in between two groups of six beads. Attach the second feather charm at the end, in the same way as you attached the first.
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7
Trim the end of the lacing, so it is not visible.
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8
Lace the remaining suede lacing through the back of the metal conch. Go around the gap you left in the hair tie and back through the second hole of the conch. This attaches the beads, hairpipe and feathers on the lacing to the metal conch, so that either side hangs down.
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9
Tie a knot in the lacing at the back of the metal conch, to ensure that everything stays together. The remaining suede lacing can be used to attach the hair tie to the hair.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment with different types and colors of beads and feathers, to create interesting new looks.
Make two Native American hair ties and attach one to either side of your hair.
These homemade hair ties make a thoughtful, creative gift.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit native american powwow image by windzepher from Fotolia.com
