Nutcracker Bun-Making Guide

Products You’ll Need •Hair gel •Aerosol hairspray with strong hold •Ponytail holders to match dancer’s hair color •Bobby pins to match dancer’s hair color—bring lots of extras! •Hair net to match dancer’s hair color—have extras as they are not durable •Optional clean toothbrush to smooth flyaways •Optional ponytail extension or bun-building “donut.” (Only if hair is very short or baby-fine, but not for Party Girls; ponytail extensions can give thin/short hair a natural looking bun, but donuts sometimes give too much of a “doorknob” look.)

How to Make a Ballet Bun •Brush hair away from the face and gather into a high ponytail; don’t part the hair. Secure with a strong elastic. (Note: if you use a ponytail extension to lengthen the hair, follow the previous steps and then add the extension.) •Rub a bit of hair gel in your palms and smooth along the crown and sides of head. If hair is very fine and straight, run some gel or hairspray over the ponytail as well for texture and grip, as slippery hair is hard to work with. •Begin wrapping the ponytail length around the ponytail base to form a tight bun. Secure the bun to the scalp with bobby pins all around the bun. (Note: Party Girls need their buns to be very flat to fit under their hairpieces.) •Wrap a hairnet around the bun a couple of times, tuck in the ends, and secure with more bobby pins. The net helps keep the bun intact. •If your child has bangs, sweep them off the forehead with gel and pin them. (Bangs cast a shadow on the face and can look messy.) Follow with hairspray. •To finish, spray the whole head with hairspray, smoothing the crown and sides again; a clean toothbrush can help smooth along the hairline. Keep gel and hairspray handy for touching up throughout the day. •Please do not use barrettes, scrunchies, headbands, glitter, or colorful hairpins.

Party Girls, Sleigh Fairies, Angels, and Bon Bons •Party Girls will each receive two sets of curls, sewn together, to pin to their hair; Julie will provide you with guidance as to the placement of these curls. Ballet buns should be on the flat side to best accommodate the hairpieces. •Please be sure you check with Julie for any additional special hair directions regarding Party Girl curl care, placement of Angel halos, and other hats/headpieces/accessories.