There seems to be a lingering stereotype that single fathers are hopeless when it comes to styling their daughters’ hair for school, and special occasions. However, the truth is that mother’s aren’t the only ones with an artistic flair for beauty. Take Greg Wickherst, for example — a single father in Pueblo, Colorado who turned to a cosmetology department at a college for help when he realized he didn’t have a clue how to manage his daughter’s quickly-growing hair.
His position as an admissions representative at the college made it easier for him to reach out for help mastering the simple and smile-inducing styles that little girls love to wear. Now, he’s a Facebook success — known as “the hair dad” for his creativity in coming up with new styles for his daughter, Izzy. If you want to avoid becoming the clueless dad when it comes to hairstyles for your daughter, the following simple styles and tips could help to make you a hair hero.
1. The Twisted Flip Tail
A wonderfully simple hairstyle for young girls with medium to long hair, the twisted flip tail offers a great look regardless of whether your daughter has straight, curly, or wavy locks. All you’ll need as a paddle brush or comb, and a little patience – as it may take you a couple of tries to get everything right. This elegant look is a twist on the casual flip tail that involves hooking the length of your daughter’s ponytail through a hole in the hair above her scrunchie or hair band.
Gather your daughter’s hair into a low ponytail (near the nape of her neck) and push the hairband down the ponytail. Make a hole in the hair above the hairband and flip the bottom of the ponytail through – you’re done!
2. The Traditional French Braid
When it comes to pretty and simple hairstyles for little girls, it’s tough to go wrong with the classics. In the nineties, the French braid was the peak of fashion for girls, and it continues to be a popular choice today — particularly for young girls who want a secure and attractive way of keeping their hair out of the way. To start, you’ll need clean, dry, and tangle-free hair, then gather a small chunk of hair at the center top of your child’s head. Separate this chunk into three even strands, and start a traditional braid, taking the right strand and placing it between the two others, then the left, and so on. As you go, you should add more hair from the right side of the hair into the right strand, and the left hand of the hair into the left strand.
This braid is great for anyone with long enough hair to make it work, however if your daughter has layering then the style may not look as smooth. Keep in mind that this is a great style for young athletes, as your daughter won’t have to worry about clips, headbands, or bobby pins to keep her hair in place!
3. Triple Plait
If the French braid seems a little too complex for you when you’re first starting out as a single-dad stylist, there is a sneaky work around available. The triple braid is a simpler and often easier to accomplish than the French braid. All you need to do is make a braid out of the hairs on the upper part of the head, then fasten it with a tie at the bottom. Then, gather the hair in the middle of the back of the head, place the initial plait in the middle, and weave it together to form another plait. Repeat the process until all of the hair is braided, then unfasten the individual braids and tie them together at the bottom of the larger style.
4. Ballerina Twisted Buns
This style is a little more complicated than some others, and it may take a couple of tries to get it right. Buns are a great way to bring your little girl a quality of sophistication, while keeping their hair out of their face and eyes. However, for a high bun to work well, your daughter will need longer hair. A good tip to follow if you choose to secure the bun with bobby pins, is that the pins should be pushed towards the hair tie, rather than the head. This way, you’ll have a secure style, without hurting your daughter’s scalp.
For a softer look, start by parting the hair into two sections in the middle of the head, front to back, then gather the hair up so that you have two high pony tails. Twist the ponytails together tightly, and spiral the twists down around the hair tie and secure them with pins.
5. Bow-Shaped Bun
Finally, here’s an especially cute and simple hairstyle for any daughter; the bow-shaped bun involves gathering the hair into a ponytail at the top of the head, and wrapping a hair tie around it once. Twist the hair tie around the ponytail again, and don’t pull the hair all the way through the tie, instead leaving a loop. Separate the resulting bun into half and smooth everything out into a bow shape.
This is one of the simplest ways to create a “special occasion” look for your child, and it’s especially good for little girls with medium to long hair.
Don’t Forget the Rules
Remember, regardless of which styles you choose to try, there are a few simple tips and tricks that can make styling your daughter’s hair simpler. For instance, getting rid of knotted bed hair is the first step, so take a comb or brush and gently remove every tangle before you try to create a braid or bun.
Another good idea is to have a spray-bottle in hand, as many fathers find it easier to place hair into buns and ponytails when the hair is slightly damp. Just mist the hair lightly though, as you don’t want your daughter trudging to school with a drenched hairdo.
Finally, don’t be afraid to slip in clips and bobby pins where necessary. Just be very gentle when you do so, as your daughter is sure to let you know if you catch her scalp or pull too tight. This will be a learning experience for both of you, so be prepared to grow and improve over time.
Do you have any simple hairstyling tips? Let us know in the comments below!
