Sadly, they aren't longlocks hairsticks, but they'll have to do for the time being. I've never used any before and I'm a bit unsure of how to start. I saw the hairstyles gallery link, but one of what seemed to be a more basic style said to put the hair into a basic bun. I have to admit I don't know how to do this.:-/ I've never had anyone to show me and my own attempts to make do have failed in the past.  I would be thankful for any easy tips or walk throughs for how to do this, or something else that would be simple and basic for day to day wear.

When first starting out making a bun (and your hair is a bit shorter), put your hair into a ponytail at about ehe middle of the back of your head.  Use a hair-friendly elastic to secure it.  Start twisting the hair (gently) until it starts to twist onto itself, then twist the bun around and tuck the ends under the twisted hair.  Use pins to secure the bun if your hair is not long enough to make 1 1/2 turns around.  

To use a hairstick to secure the bun - start by pointing the stick towards the top of your head (at a 1 or 2 o'clock position).  Push the stick through the bun hair and to the scalp.  Gently change the direction of the hairstick to the opposite direction (7 or 8 o'clock), catching some of the scalp hair at the same time.  Make sure to weave the stick through the bun hair and the scalp hair.  When you have an elastic holding the ponytail - try to make sure the stick weaves through the elastic which will help secure the bun better.

Hope this helps a bit!  Keep trying and you will get it eventually.

Thanks for the tips. I've been playing around with it some. I've gone from not being able to do it, to doing a knot, to doing it terribly. Right now I'm up to bad but I hope to get to acceptable soon.^_^" I'll keep at it.

I really must buy myself a proper pair of hairsticks. I've yet to do this. I'm always drooling at the ones on this site.  ::)

The only thing that makes me hesitant is that I'm really bad at using normal chopsticks in my hair. If I can't get it right with chopsticks, will I ever with proper hairsticks?

Maybe I'll buy my mum a pair. She would love that and has always been good with hair ornaments anyway.

...*ideas ideas*...*plotting plotting*...

Well, as per Bikerbraid's instructions, I'm sure you'll learn how to make a bun Bardic Love.

http://www.dressytresses.com/hair-styles/hair-bun/default.asp

That's a link to a site that shows the steps Bikerbraid told you about, along with some pics to help you get started.  I hope this helps you out, hon!

and don't just tuck under the ends but wrap them around the base of your bun. this is especially handy with thin ends.

i recently discovered that a towered bun stays better on me than a flat one.

Rua, I had my collection of cheap hairsticks long before I found LL, and they cannot be used to create any hairstyle, just to decorate it.

LL sticks are rather heavy, which seems to help a lot, and ...somehow they just manage to do the job that other hairsticks can't. So if you can't make regular chopsticks work, that doesn't really tell anything of your ability with better sticks. For me, SpiralStix are easiest to use, but others hold hair as well. :)

i manage to secure a bun with cheap plastic stuff (it even worked for me on my very first try) but you can't sew with them cuze that demands too much pressure and the thing will break. but then again i never really sew cuze i keep catching a hair with it which starts pulling like mad.

I have several sets of plastic ones by Goody.  I really want some LL stix.  Some day...   ::)  (Looking off into the sky dreaming...)

I am pretty good with my sticks.  I can usually get my hair to stay up while working with just one stick.  My hair is fine and slides around on itself pretty easy, so I have to get it just right, but usually I can do it.

Lynn  ;)

my first three pairs of LL sticks arrived today with a nice fushia colored silk roll!!! i am absolutely amazed  :o

and now i have of course to do an efford to make my buns look a bit better of course cuze i've gotten seriously sloppy on that   :-[

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

sure sure. if i don't post any now, then i will for sure after xmas ... you wouldn't believe me but we lost the battery loader of or digicam  ::)

Ooooh, yes!
Please post pictures as soon as you can!

strawberryfine

I got my first beautiful pair of hair sticks. Longlocks, but I still have to pin my hair up and use the hair sticks decoratively or my hair will fall down along with the hairsticks.

I have coarse hair but maybe it needs to get longer.

LongLocks hairsticks are the best for ornamental use!  I usually use one stick to hold my hair in its bun then add another stick for "show".

Congrats on getting your sticks!! ;D

wrote on Jun 26^th, 2006 at 12:35am:

I got my first beautiful pair of hair sticks. Longlocks, but I still have to pin my hair up and use the hair sticks decoratively or my hair will fall down along with the hairsticks. I have coarse hair but maybe it needs to get longer.

I think hair has a mind of its own.  Mine sure does.  I'm at about 21 inches in length and have to use at least 4 or 5 bobby pins and maybe a few hairpins to wrangle my hair into a style in order to use my hairsticks snuggly.  Only recently I've been able to make a bun with a hairstick, it has to be a Rapunzel length stick.  I'm not sure if that's 'cause my hair is thick or because of the length.  I feel more secure with pinning it, sometimes I'll add hairsticks with a beak clip or other hair accessories.
If you look in my old journal or on the Show Us Your Locks thread you'll find some ways to wear the sticks.  Most of the time I tell how I made the style.

Have patience and keep practicing!!

Sakina

I often use the mini-clips to supplement the hairsticks.  Holds my hair all day that way.