TUTORIAL: DIY ELASTIC HAIR TIES

Long time no see!

I've been super busy for the few months, plus with the added bonus of Hurricane Sandy destroying New Jersey... It's been rough. I lost my car to flooding and I work at a newspaper, so it's been really hectic. It's finally starting to slowly normalize, and for that I am grateful.

I've been getting the sweetest emails about this blog, and I have not forgotten it!


Materials needed: Elastics & a pair of scissors

Before I start, there are also a ton of great tutorials that can be found online.

loveumadly
ohsopretty
thatswhatwesaid
sarasmiles
jessicandesigns
reesekistel
breezypinkdaisies
couldihavethat
seulghi
chambanachik

These hair ties are ridiculously easy to make and pretty darn cheap, especially since they go for $12 for five at Anthro, and $9.50 for three at Aerie. Since I live close to NYC, I just popped on over to M&J, not knowing what I would find, just that I was looking for elastic trim.

I did not expect such a huge selection. In the garment district, I am a little kid in the candy store.

taken with my phone


My wardrobe mostly consists of dark colors so I was drawn to their black section. More than likely I will keep the tie on my wrist since I usually have my hair down, so I wanted something subtle.

I picked the different trims based on aesthetics and... stretchiness. I was sitting on the floor pulling on the ends, testing the different strengths. There's no point if there is no give, right?

I ended up purchasing seven different patterns. Most of the trims were $1.98 per yard, averaging about 4-5 hair ties a yard. The velvet one was the most expensive.

Wrap the elastic around your wrist, leaving about an inch, inch and a half on either side. I like to wear my ties a little snug, and with use they send to stretch a bit.

Snip the ends at a diagonal. It seems less likely to fray this way, don't know why.

Super easy, make a knot and pull, pull, pull~

A quick tip, this velvet one had to be cut longer than the others:

1. It is thicker material
2. It is wider material


A couple tests of stretchiness:

Finished!

A quick bracelet:

Together!

My attempt to photograph the tie in my hair. I recently dyed my hair burgundy.

I love that these don't leave marks on my wrists.


Thank you for reading!


- A