Create your own custom hair sticks using chopsticks and a few ready-to-hand craft supplies. Hair sticks are an attractive way to put hair up into elaborate-looking hairstyles. While shop-bought hair sticks are available in many styles, creating your own hair sticks will give you exactly the look you want.
Pick beads and other embellishments to match your style and outfit. This is a quick craft project which is simply to make and is a great DIY gift idea.
How to Make Hair Sticks from Chopsticks
Hair sticks are simply pieces of wood that are tapered at one end. They are similar in shape to chopsticks, which is why wooden chopsticks make a good base for handmade hair sticks. A wide range of embellishments can be added to the chopstick base, such as beads, stick-on jewels and ribbons to create your own unique look. Chopsticks can also be painted to create colored hair sticks.
Ideas for Decorating Hair Sticks
To make the hair sticks, simply decorate the ends of the chopsticks using beads and other embellishments. Various looks can be achieved by decorating the ends in different ways. Ideas for decorating the chopsticks include:
- Attach beads to the top of the chopsticks to create an elegant look. Feature beads work particularly well, and this is a good way to show off handmade beads such as polymer clay or lampwork beads. To attach the beads, drill a small hole in the end of the chopsticks. Thread the beads onto a bead header pin and trim this as required. Use an epoxy resin glue to attach this to the end of the chopsticks.
- Wrap the ends of the chopsticks with wire and beads, ribbons or even yarn for eye-catching hair sticks. You can create stunning-looking hair sticks by wrapping the ends to create decorations. Thread beads onto the wire or ribbon as required and wrap this tightly around the end of the hair sticks. Dab glue on the end of the chopstick before wrapping to hold the decorations firmly in place.
- Stick on decorations, such as stick-on jewels, transfers and stickers, can all be used to create a decorative finish. Transfers and stickers will benefit from a coat of varnish to enable them to stand up to daily wear.
Tips for Making Hair Sticks from Chopsticks
Here are some tips to help you make great-looking hair sticks:
- If you have long chopsticks, trim them to size before decorating. A length of 6-8 inches works well for hair sticks.
- Use nail varnish to paint the chopsticks. Not only does this give you a vast arrange of colors to choose from, the shiny finish makes it easier to slide the hair sticks into your hair.
- While it is tempting to really go to town with decorations, remember not to make the hair sticks too heavy. If the hair sticks are too heavy, they will be uncomfortable to wear and may also pull loose.
- These also make attractive knitted wrap, shawl or cardigan closures. Thread a single hair stick in and out of the edges of a knitted garment to hold them together.
Hair sticks are fun to wear, and creating your own using chopsticks is a great way to make custom designs that are sure to be head turners.
Kate Pullen - Kate Pullen is a freelance writer specializing in arts and crafts , and is an accomplished craftsperson. As well as being a designer / ...
