I just got an invitation to go to my school's homecoming dance with a group of friends, and am quite excited. I'm a senior, and this'll be the first high school dance I've been to (I'm lame, I know...). I would be excited about getting to do something cool with my hair, except that I'm going on my annual camping trip with my dad the night before (arranged before I was expecting to go to the dance) and will be getting home the day of the dance, so I probably won't have time to do much more than shower and fix a quick updo. My friends and I are also real cheap and don't care to spend the money on a hairdresser, and I'd like something I can fix myself so I don't have to worry about ending up in a desperate situation with well-meaning friends armed with bottles of gel & hairspray.  ::)

I'd like to leave my hair partially down, so I'm thinking I might try a "Juliet," which I know I can do safely. I would, however, like to be more adventurous and try something more original. Does anyone have any ideas? The key thing I'm looking for here is easy...

Also, does anyone know how to incorporate ribbons into braids? It seems like a nifty and relatively simple way to spruce up a 'do, but I have no idea how to do it.  

Lucky you, Cairn, I didn't even go to prom!! (I still don't know why I didn't go) About the ribbons thing... It's hard to get them to stay while you're braiding. Here's what I do:

(1) Braid a few folds first.
(2) Insert the ribbon through one of the slots and tie it off.
(3) Insert the ribbon accordingly down the next couple of folds, then join the ribbon with one of your 3+ braiding strands.
(4) Continue braiding and when you get to the end, wrap the excess ribbon around the end of your braid. Need I mention you'll need twice your hair length of ribbon? (Unless you double up, then you'll need 4x) The excess can be hidden as an end wrap. Tie a bow and voila!

HTH and lots of hugs,
Anais

Homecoming can be so much fun!

Using ribbons in your braids are a great way to dress up the hairstyle.  One method I have used is to have 1 ribbon that is 3 - 4 times the length of your braid (depending on the thickness of your hair).  Section your hair into the 3 parts.  Tie the ribbon around the middle section (at the middle of the ribbon).  Then add the ribbon to the two outer sections of hair and start braiding.  You may need to adjust the ribbon a few times to keep it visable.  When you get the end of the braiding, use the ribbon ends to wrap around and tie off the braid.

Hope you have lots of fun!

This isn't a suggestion (lol forgive me please  :P) but I've always wondered, why do they call it a "homecoming" dance? Are you coming home from something?  ???

Homecoming was originally a home football game where the alumni of the school were encouraged to return for the game and usually a dance.

Ah, so that's why it's called homecoming...I never really understood that either.

Thanks for the ribbon instructions, Anais & Bikerbraid. I'll definitely try that.

Now I just have to figure out which of my sisters' old dresses I want to wear...

wrote on Sep 29^th, 2004 at 2:20pm:

Homecoming was originally a home football game where the alumni of the school were encouraged to return for the game and usually a dance.

Ooh thanks, BB, I never understood that before!  ;D