Make-it-Monday: Creating a Flower Crown

Remember the charming, crafty Caleigh? She and some girlfriends have been sporting lovely DIY flower crowns when they go out on the town.

She wore this one when she came to see Hair

Naturally, I invited her over so she could teach me her ways.

This craft really couldn't be simpler or cheaper. All you need are...

• A hot-glue gun

• An elastic headband (or length of elastic fitted to your head size)

• Fabric flowers

Congratulations - you can make a flower crown! Just arrange the flowers in your desired pattern and glue them to the band. Easy-peasy.

Since Atlanta has practically skipped summer (our fair city thinks it's October already), I decided I'd give my crown an autumnal feel. I picked some orange and red leaves, and based my color scheme around them.

Caleigh made hers a little more uniformly. She alternated large white flowers with smaller blue ones, and likes to wear hers high, well above her hairline.

Nearly-Former Roomie (we're moving) used smaller flowers for a softer, more romantic feel.

Photo credit: Caleigh Allen

If you're looking for a really simple, intensely girly craft to do this week, I recommend the flower crown. You can make one for yourself, and then go crazy creating them for friends. Just make sure you wear them the next time you go to dinner!

They're a guaranteed conversation starter
Photo credit: Caleigh Allen

Fashionable Friday: I Cut My Own Bangs

Last week, I decided I needed a change, so I cut my own bangs.

That's right, I'm a rebel! I cut my own hair! 

You've probably noticed that I'm a huge cheapskate. As much as I'd like to pay for fancy haircuts, I have to keep a pretty tight leash on my cash. Instead of dropping $60 every six weeks on haircuts, I paid $9 for a pair of shears three years ago, and I trim when the spirit moves me. 

I've been getting a lot of great response to my new 'do - and even better, I love what I see in the mirror. 

Whatever Wednesday: Galen Plays a Pin-Up Girl

Clearly, I have a flair for dramatic ensembles.

But this pin-up thing really happened by accident. I knew I wanted to do a fun hairstyle to complement my new sunglasses. I was doing a little YouTube research when I stumbled upon this tutorial:

I was instantly intrigued. I'm a little obsessed with my grandma Hannah's wedding pictures, where she sports some serious victory rolls. 

To quote Cher Horowitz, she was a total Betty.

I don't played with my hair much - it's so curly and stubborn that I stopped believing I could do fun hairstyles. I also don't like to heat my hair (very damaging). But lately I've been going a while between washes (three to four days) and by day four the curl is pretty loose. And (this will sound disgusting) the grease protects the hair during heating (I told you so). So I asked roomie if I could borrow her curling iron, and I went to town.

Fashionable Friday: The Belle

Over the years, I've tried a lot of Bad Hairday Styles, but inevitably, they don't work. Hats indoors are weird, greasy hair in a ponytail still looks greasy, scarves seem obvious, and my hair is too short to do braids.

Obviously dirty hair.

Recently, though I stumbled across a new hairstyle that's perfect for second-, third-, and even FOURTH-day hair. I'd say I "invented" this style, but I'm sure someone somewhere figured it out first. I call it "The Belle," because, well, see for yourself:

"Little town, it's a quiet village..."

It's super easy to do, looks polished, and is perfect for slightly dirty hair. It's also perfect for showcasing a pretty bow or fancy hairtie.