For those of you, like me, who have disobedient course and STIFF hair, you can fix those nasty cow licks and spiky baby hair with no hair products or heat. I tried many ways including a cap to hold my hair down, it left a ring around my head that was not any flattering then my hair sticking straight up.  I was daydreaming a way to make my hair stay down naturally. I knew wet hair behaves well and if I could hold it down in place after it dries then everything would be perfect. I recalled, usually after I took my head band off of wet hair, my hair would become more stubborn and no amount of effort would make it flat again until the next shower. What if I used a big head band over wet flat hair? Would my hair stay in place then? I didn’t have a huge head band so I experimented with a t-shirt. It worked pretty good with exceptions to the long drying time. Hence I used a piece of large thin cloth, a bandana, I bought at Daiso for a few dollars. The bandana worked perfectly with quick drying time.
Materials:
Comb
Bandanna or large piece of square fabric
Hair clip
Hair dryer (Not heat option, you can just leave the bandana on until your hair dries)
Donut: A spongy ring that helps you make a bun, aka DIY sock donut made with socks.
I’d like to share something silly with you. Like most girls/women I fell in love with the “sock bun” the moment I saw it in a Japanese/Korean magazines. It looks so romantic and cute… Ok, why is it such a big deal for me? Other people can just grab a sock and make a bun, easy job! But for me, my mother gave me extra tough and bossy hair. Armed with all sorts of hair pins and gadgets I used all my force to tame the wild beast into place but my hair just slipped and slide effortlessly from my grasp like slippery stiff noodles. I made a DIY sock donut, bought a donut, ate a donut, and still it didn’t work. My sock bun became a big poofy mess, not to be mistaken with a messy bun, it fell apart with the slightest move of my head. Why…why me, why is it so complicated? Why can’t I do what others can do easily? I deserve a simple sock bun!!! Do I have to put massive products in my hair for this to work? I hate hair products. I am lazy. I just want an easy breezy hair bun, that’s all. I’m not asking for too much, am I!!?? I was pretty upset at the whole thing.
Before creating a Gutsy Sock Bun. Top: Other’s sock buns. VS Bottom: My sock buns.
After all the failures, I was tired and frustrated. I think my arms got a little slimmer from fighting with my hair, 😀 I wish. My hair is a monster! Then I said to myself, “I will not be defeated!!! Arhhhhh!!!”, “If only I had more hands, like…like an octopus with infinite tentacles, they could help me push my hair in place. Then making a bun would be as easy as pie.” I cranked the juice and thought of ways I could achieve this. With my eyebrows pinched together I concentrated, “Sock bun, sock bun, sock bun….tentacles…Buddha with infinite hands…maybe pipes…a hoe…tube…”, and then, “Sock….sock…sock tube!!!” Epiphany hit me, “Why not use a sock? Who says the sock has to be the donut? It’s a soft bendable tube (a circular hand), it’s the perfect infinite hand.” After trying my idea, it worked better then I expected. In fact it works for any type of bun, side bun, top bun, low bun, any bun you can name. It’s a sock bun turbo charged, you can make a bun blind folded in half the time you would on a sock bun and it would turn out perfect! I was so excited I made my first video hair tutorial to share it with everyone. Any type of soft tube would work for this Gutsy bun, for example, I made a fat side bun with a fingerless glove for fun. Try this tough and brave (Gutsy) bun against your disobedient hair, you won’t regret it.
June 2013: “Gutsy sock bun” master plan, me a genius ^_^. My modesty went out the window. As you can see, I am super happy with the results.
Remember: “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” So, don’t give up, keep at it, you will solve whatever that is troubling you, very soon. All this talking about buns is making me hungry…and thanks for enduring my rant if you’ve reached this far down the article ^_^.
I look so serious, it’s my first time doing a video tutorial.
Watch the 1min video below and be amazed at how fast and easy you can make this bun . Using the “Gutsy sock bun” technique, thick fingerless gloves worked like a charm for this fat side bun. The thicker your material the fatter your bun.
No, I am not going to talk about fat or a belly but a new technique for making a sock bun. For those of you, like me, who have tried every possible way to get the look of a sock bun without success. I have just the solution for you. My obsession with sock buns gave birth to what I call a “Gutsy Sock Bun”. It’s easier and faster then the regular sock bun. It gives me consistent perfect results. I designed it to handle my disobedient THICK, STIFF, LAYERED and SHORT hair. Yes pun is intended, the SOCK not the sock donut, is key to the success of this bun. The sock (tube or gut) acts like infinite pairs of hands that helps you hold all your stray hair in place so you can make a perfect bun with ease. No more fighting with flyaways. Your layers or unmanageable hair will conform smoothly to the shape of this tough gut (aka, the sock).
Materials:
(always use what you have first before you go and buy anything, that’s my motto)
Cut a 1″-2″ hole at the toe of the sock and your ready to start !
Tips to help you create your Gutsy Sock Bun:
Your hair tie should hold your hair firmly in place to ensure a tighter bun.
The sock should be firm but stretchy. It should hold your hair and donut snugly in place so no loose hair will fall out.
The donut’s hole should fit snugly onto your pony tail. This will help the sock stay centered and help the hair distribute evenly around to cover the sock.
Hair Ties: (I used 4 ties to make it stronger because I have a lot of stiff hair.)Regular elastics works fine for softer hair. It was not tight enough for me and took some hair out.Best choice are the shinny rubber elastic. The grip is good, no hair will fall out and it won’t make your scalp hurt at the end of the day.
Use more hair ties, if needed.
Sock: (my old cotton socks worked)Color: Ideally should match your hair so if any sock shows through it would be camouflaged. If you don’t have socks that match your hair, you can use a matching piece of stretchy fabric and sew a tube or gut. It will work the same.
Texture: Try a thicker socks for a fuller bun or a thinner sock for a smaller bun. Try stockings, cotton socks, fuzzy socks etc…One texture might work better then others on your hair.
Elasticity: You want the socks to have good elasticity and firm control so it will hold the bun and hair snuggly in place.
Length:
For short and medium length hair: If socks are a lot longer then your hair, cut the sock length leaving enough excess to cover your hair and the donut when folded over.
Long hair: If socks are shorter then your hair you don’t need a long sock, just pull the sock up to the top and fold over your hair and the donut.
Holes size: Cut a smaller hole at the beginning. It will stretch when you pull on it. If the hole is too big it’s ok, it just won’t hide as easily.
Mesh donuts come in light beige, brown, dark brown and black in different sizes
DIY sock donut VS store bought donut: (store bought for me)
DIY sock donut:
Are easy to make at home with old socks. If you have slick hair like mine it won’t work as well.
It does not have as much stretch as the store bought one. With an extra sock inside your pony tail you’ll need more give from the donut.
Store bought mesh donut :
Has more stretch, grip and texture for a better hold.
You can find the donuts in blond, brown, or black in different sizes at H&M for $3.95, Claire’s for $5.99-$6.99. I bought mine in Japan town for about $2.00.
When you flip your hair over the donut, make sure you spread your hair evenly over the donut. Make sure your sock is centered and slide the donut up SLOWLY. This will ensure even distribution of hair around the sock. Another way is to use a sock in the same color as your hair which will eliminate the flaws quickly.
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The personality profile of my hair is straight, thick, coarse and stiff. It is so stubborn that the baby hair sticks straight up at the top of my head even if blow dried. I could never have short bangs because they would stick out as well. The only solution was to grow it long enough to weigh it down. No side swept bangs for me :(. Haircuts are dangerous as well. If the wrong stylist touched it, my head would end up looking like a big broom. My mom, not a professional, has the most experience dealing with my hair. She has cut my hair since I was a baby. I only trust her with my hair.The broom look was not encouraging for me to go to a stylist. After moving out, I was itching to experiment with cutting my own hair. I thought to myself, “It would be great if I could cut my own hair just the way my mom did.” I played with cutting my bangs. Failed, my hair was not obedient like usual but I was hooked on how I could possibly control the outcome of my hair.
With lots of research on different ways and methods to cutting hair, I decided to order the Original CreaClip Set. It seemed diverse and easy to use. If the kid in the video could cut her own hair, I could too. While waiting for my CreaClip I watched all the related CreaClip instructional videos and saw a similar technique of cutting hair into layers using a rubber band. I’ve always wanted a layered cut, I was so gung-ho about it that I took a pair of scissors and a rubber band and started cutting. I was so inspired and eager try the technique. Sometimes I am very impulsive, when I want to do something really badly, I have to do it now. Are you thinking, “Oh my Ga…she just butchered her hair!!!!”? Don’t worry, I didn’t need to run to the barber shop. Originally I had a straight blunt cut with no layers. I was in a rush to cut my hair and totally forgot to take a picture.
Cutting my own hair using the Rubber Band Method VS CreaClip: Back
Cutting my own hair using the Rubber Band Method VS CreaClip: Left
Cutting my own hair using the Rubber Band Method VS CreaClip: Right
Rubber Band Method:
(Updated 12/28/2013: The original Rubber Band Method video I saw is missing on Youtube, the pictures below are recreations of what I did.)
Cutting my own hair using the Rubber Band Method: Front view, Steps 1 & 2
Comb and flip hair to the front.
KEEP CHIN TUCKED, Tie hair with a rubber band. Pull rubber band straight down until you reach a desired length.
Cutting my own hair using the Rubber Band Method: Side view, Steps 3 & 4, Pictures are showing more then you should cut. Cut horizontally about 1/16″- 1/4″ at a time. Repeat until you reach your desired length.
Using sharp hair cutting scissors, cut horizontally, 1/16″- 1/4″ off at a time to remove split ends or shorten the length. This creates a blunt edge. This step can be repeated until you reach the desired length.
To feather the ends, point scissors vertically and cut OR use feathering scissors if you have one.
Cutting my own hair using the Rubber Band Method: Back view, Step 5 is optional
Optional: If you prefer a U shape, tie hair at the back and pull downwards, trim a little at a time. Release and check often before you cut more. (This step, if done alone, creates a straight edge.) Repeat Step 4 for the feathering effect.
Release rubber band and brush.
I basically followed the exact steps in the CreaClip video below but instead of using the CreaClip I used a rubber band to hold all my hair together. The rubber band was still tied to my hair after the cut. I used layering scissors at the tip to refine the cut for a feathered look
Pros
Easy to tie hair and cut.
Good for long hair.
Require only scissors and a rubber band.
Saves money.
Cons
No defined guide to see if hair is even. I used my nose, lips, chin as a markers for keeping my hair leveled.
Tough to cut through with one clean-cut. To ensure evenness it took lots of patients with slow tiny cuts. If you have thin hair it might be easier.
Edges of my hair turned out jagged. I had to do lot of correcting with thinning scissors afterwards. Maybe because my hair is super straight and thick even small flaws can be seen. If you have curly hair you may not have my issues.
Can’t be used on short hair or guy’s hair.
CreaClip Method:
Cutting my hair with CreaClip step by step, TL) Clipped all my hair together in the front. BL) Made sure the bubble is balanced BR) Scissors pointed up, cut my hair a bit at a time. TR) Package from CreaClip.
🙂 I kept it simple with a basic long layers cut for my first haircut with the CreaClip.
Pros
Fast and easy to use.
Spread my hair evenly which made cutting faster and easier.
Evenly defined results. You can clearly see the V shape in the back. I didn’t have to do any correcting.
Can cut many endless possible stylish cuts, bang trimming, short or long styles, layered or blunt.
Can be used on short or long hair.
Effective and easy tool that will save money for the whole family.
Cons
The white clips is a bit too flimsy for my hair thickness. It may be better for finer hair. It’d be perfect if they could make it the same firmness as the blue one for the bangs.
Conclusion
Both method gave similar results for this layered look. The Rubber Band Method cost practically nothing but took a lot longer with unpredictable results while the Creaclip is a small investment with a guarantee of ease of use and diversity in the styles you can produce. Overall I loved playing with cutting my own hair. For a hair cutting newbie like me, the CreaClip was a super simple tool that gave me courage and confidence to start creating experimenting with cutting my own hair. I felt safe and sure that I wouldn’t mess up my hair. Tip: Go slow and cut a little at a time. Hair can’t reattach itself. I can’t wait to try the “A line” cut or trim my bangs in the future with the CreaClip. It’s been lots of fun, I love it.
Want the CreaClip?
You can find the Original CreaClip Set and Scissors Package on Amazon. It sells for $39.99 plus shipping and handling. Customer service was friendly and fast. You can shop similar products for a lesser price. I did not try the other products similar to creaclip so I don’t have any thoughts on these items.
* This product was sent to me for consideration. This is NOT a sponsored post and contains affiliate links to help keep this website up and running. All views and opinions are my own.
or a DIY sock donut
