Use Necklaces as Unique Hair Accessories

Years ago, I was reading one of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles; she wrote how one of the female vampires always wore strands of pearls in her hair. I loved that. Many Renaissance and medieval-era portraits depict women with all kinds of strings of pearls and fine ribbon wrapped in intricate, lovely ways.

I've always had a thing about interesting, unusual (and in the 1980s, even outrageous) hair accessories: clips, scarves, pins, clip-on extensions, wraps, you name it. I especially love anything old-fashioned. Unfortunately, the mainstream and thrift stores I visit are not filled with such exotic head gear. So, I've found some ways to use conventional objects in unusual ways.

Regular necklaces of faux pearls or beads make fabulous hair accessories. You probably already have such items in your jewelry box. If not, they are easily found in thrift stores and dollar stores. You actually don't even need an actual necklace-a simple strand of beads or pearls will suffice.

I'm not sure of their original purpose, but I often come across plain strands of beads and pearls in thrift stores. Many times, they are very small beads, and they look particularly nice as hair accessories.

I've worn such beads and pearls in my hair many times over the last several years, and I never fail to get lots of compliments. Everyone--from 12 year old boys wearing Metallica T-shirts, to old women with walkers--seems to think it's a cool thing.

Below are the items you'll need, and instructions and ideas for making hair accessories.

Items needed

A strand (or strands) of pearls, or beads.
Bobby pins
Ponytail holder, small scrunchie, claw clip, etc. for making a bun or ponytail.

Basic Instructions

To wrap the pearls around a bun or ponytail, simply secure one end of the pearls (through the clasp somehow, if possible) to your hair, with a bobby pin. Secure it at a "starting point", a place where the pin won't likely show.

Next, begin wrapping the strand of beads either neatly or haphazardly (for your own preference) around the bun, overlapping and pinning strategically, if necessary. Lastly, when the strand is wrapped, tuck and secure the remaining end with a bobby pin. Use bobby pins, or accessory pins or clips to further secure the beads.

More ideas

Once you experiment a bit with wrapping and pinning, you'll quickly get the hang of it, and it'll be easy to come up with your own ideas of how the beads can be used. For example, they can be secured, and then braided along with hair, woven in and out of an up-do, or even left hanging along with a long ponytail.

One of my recent favorite things is making pigtail style buns using velvet scrunchies that blend in with my hair, and wrapping and weaving the pearl strands around my hair and the scrunchies as described in the basic instructions above. This is a particularly good way to bulk out shorter hair-the scrunchies create an illusion of fuller, pinned and wrapped hair.

There are lots of ways to use necklaces and strands of beads in your hair. Just make sure the strand doesn't have any parts that move or that will otherwise catch, pull, or tangle your hair, such as small pendants, or a metal chain.

On a final note, remember too, that it doesn't have to be a work of perfection; just the presence of beads in the hair is lovely enough. Beads also don't have to be reserved for a formal occasion anymore than wearing other types of hair accessories do. Although it looks special, it fits in well with casual clothing.