Cheerleader in Isolation - What can I do with my long hair? Part 1

Since lockdown began and the hair salons closed, there are so many of us wondering what to do with our do's as they grow longer and longer. And thanks to not knowing when the salons will be able to re-open, I've seen people on social media doing all sorts of drastic things with their hair.

Now, you could simply emerge from lockdown looking like Gandalf the Grey. Or you can try and cut it yourself (or have a member of the same household do it) if its something you have done before and are fairly confident with. If not though, best not to risk a hair disaster.

Instead, why not try out some styles and see what you can do with your new locks?

I've always loved having long hair, but over the years as I have become busier and busier, I have gotten a bit lazy with styling my hair, often sticking to the old faithfuls like bunging it back in a boring pony tail. And if you've ever had hair my length or longer, you know it can be a little difficult to do anything with.

So, I decided to put some styles to the test, to see how they fare in terms of

A - Ease

B - Comfort

C - Time

D - Look

E - Sturdiness (How they hold up throughout daily activities)

I've also included videos so you can see how I did them and can give them a go yourself, and why not? If it doesn't work, no one has to know you did it! And its not permanent!

1. Three Pony Tails

A - Ease

So easy, its basically just a standard pony tail, with a little bit more style

B - Comfort

Incredibly comfortable too, you can lie down on it with no bother and it holds the weight of my hair well so it doesn't start to give me a headache the longer its in

C - Time

About 30 seconds, no faffing

D - Look

Nothing spectacular, but cute enough. Just looks like an average pony from the front. Maybe add some accessories for extra pretty

E - Sturdiness

Really good for this, again just like a standard pony. Lasts all day, you can even workout in it and it won't budge.

2. Half up with Braid

A - Ease

Pretty simple. The hardest part for me was adding volume to the pony in the back. My hair is so heavy it doesn't get much height without a lot of back combing.

B - Comfort

Reasonably comfortable, hair is nicely off the face so its not irritating

C - Time

Fairly quick. Back combing can take a bit longer depending on your hair

D - Look

I like this one. Ideal for showing off the length of your hair yet still keeping it out of your way. Looks really cute with a bow

E - Sturdiness

Make sure you pin that braid well. Height also tends to drop out during the day. Not ideal for things like exercise, or cooking as too much hair is out. This is more of a relaxing day kind of style.

3. High Pony with Braid

Ahhh, the classic cheer pony, with a little braid detail

A - Ease

Easy as pie. Once you get the hang of wrapping the pony tail, this can be done in a flash

B - Comfort

A lot more comfortable than it looks. The braid wrap really takes the weight off so its not too heavy. You can even lie down with it in.

C - Time

Another fairly quick one. The braid takes the most time as my hair is so long so it can be a bit fiddly

D - Look

It's not to everyone's taste I know, but I'm a cheerleader through and through so this for me is a winner. You can add a cheer bow for extra prettiness, and why not try backcombing the back to add some volume?

E - Sturdiness

It does last, and is great for workouts/training. Yes I had fun making sure it passed the helicopter test, and it did. The braid does start to drop out with jumping a lot though, so make sure you really secure it with pins for more strenuous activities.

4. Raised Pigtails

A - Ease

Not actually as easy as it looks. It can be a bit fiddly as the wrap around can fall out while you're trying to do it, and I struggled to get them even as you can see. It's ok with a bit of practise though.

B - Comfort

Not bad. Again, the wrap around takes the weight off . Not recommended for lying down though

C - Time

This would only take a few minutes once you have the hang of it. It does take a while at first while you faff with getting it right.

D - Look

This is actually one of my favorites looks wise. It has a sailor moon style to it and oozes cuteness

E - Sturdiness

Definitely stays in well, although again I would add extra bobby pins if you are going to be doing much exercise and if you are jumping, be prepared for hair hitting you in face

5. Side French Twist

A - Ease

It took a couple of tries to get the twist technique but you get the hang of it pretty quick. Just keep twisting the hair upwards, adding more hair as you go. Once you get it, its really simple

B - Comfort

This one is probably the most comfortable of the lot. Its soft and has no pins so you can lay on it no problem

C - Time

Didn't take long at all once I got the technique down. Its entirely possible to do this in under a minute without a mirror

D - Look

I think this is a good cute and casual hairstyle. It looks like you've made an effort, but not tried to hard.

E - Sturdiness

It stays pretty well because its held with a hair tie. I exercised with it in and it held up fine, it might flick you on one side of your face a few times, but it wont fall out.

6. Top Knot Bun

A - Ease

Really easy! I found this easier than almost every other bun I've done, actually

B - Comfort

Really nice and comfortable and gets all the hair out of the way, although too many grips can get a bit annoying after a while. But you don't need many grips at all to hold it in place, so ease off for a comfier bun. You can choose how high up you put it on the head, but if its comfort you're after - place it nice and high on the top.

C - Time

It took a few minutes. I suppose it depends how fussy you are about the shape of it, you can keep working with it until you get the shape you want.

D - Look

I actually really like this for an around the house or nipping out to the shop casual look. Its sort of a messy bun style, but looks a bit more stylish holds a little better with hair my length. You could even add some sparkle with a bow or accessories. This is surely one of my favorite buns to wear at the moment.

E - Sturdiness

I wasn't expecting it to be as sturdy as it is. I have worked out in it, slept on it and worn it for several days without touching it, and it hasn't budged! Its even good for cooking as the hair is all out the way. So I would say this ones great for any activity.

That's all for now, if you try any of these after reading this I'd love to know how they went, leave a comment and let me know! Also get in touch if you have any ideas for other styles I can try as I would like to do a few more of these. Stay tuned for part 2, and stay cheery!

Jen x

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