Make a Cheerleading Hair Bow
Do you want to look fabulous during cheerleading? Or just have a cute bow in your hair? Then you should make a cheerleading hair bow! With these simple steps, you can make one in only 15 minutes.
Contents
Steps
Creating the Ribbon
- Grab a few different colors of ribbon. If you are using 2 different colors, cut them both to 1 1/2 feet (.45 m) long, but cut two sections of one. If you are using 3 different ribbons, cut them all to be {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long. Also cut a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} piece of any of the ribbons for the middle of your finished hair bow.
- Don't worry about cutting your ends yet; we'll do that near the end.
- Using the glue gun, draw a line on the edge of the first ribbon piece. Do it as fast as possible so it doesn't dry. If you can, have someone else helping you -- four hands work faster than two.
- You probably don't want to get the glue on your carpet or nice counter top. Set down some newspapers or use a surface you're not worried messing up.
- Carefully place the second ribbon piece onto the wet glue. Press down cautiously and wait to dry. Try to get it as straight as possible -- you want each color to be displayed equally.
- If you have only two colors, be sure to have the odd color out in the middle.
- Draw another line of glue on the second ribbon piece. Do it fast! Pin down the ends of the first ribbon if you're worried about it moving.
- Carefully place the third ribbon piece onto the wet glue. Be careful while you press down as to not burn yourself. You should now have a tri-toned piece of ribbon, in all your school's colors (or whatever colors you want).
- Now the ribbon is complete and you can move onto forming the bow!
Creating the Bow
- Fold/form the ribbon into the cancer awareness symbol. Make sure there are no unnecessary twists in the ribbon.
- Smush the top loop back and down to form the two ears of the bow. Pinch the middle with your thumb and forefinger and squish it all together. You're not creating an actual tie and bow, it just looks like it.
- Now use the twist tie to keep it in place. Don't worry about the extra length of the twist tie; it'll be done away with later.
- Squirt a giant glob of glue on the back of the twist tie. This will be used to secure the hair tie to the ribbon piece. Try not to use too much -- you don't want to get yourself gloopy. The technical term!
- Put the hair tie into the glue. Hold it there for about 15 seconds. The longer, the better. Hot glue is generally permanent, so don't worry about your ribbon coming off.
- Secure the twist tie around the hair tie. Make sure the hair tie is under the ribbon to secure it in place. If the twist tie is still too long, cut off the excess.
- Cut a triangle out of the bottom of the tails to keep edges from fraying.
- Optional: You can remove the twist tie once the glue has dried or keep it there for extra strength. And, if you so choose, you can take that {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of ribbon you cut out earlier and glue gun it over the twist tie to obscure it from view.
- Finished.
Tips
- Try making bigger bows, they usually turn out cutest!
- Use a 3" ribbon and then add a smaller (1.5") ribbon to the middle. It doesn't look thrown together like this one.
- For a smaller bow, use {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} wide ribbon.
- You don't even have to use ribbons! Cut up an old t-shirt or other item of clothing into strips which are about one or two inches in diameter. Hem the edges or use pinking shears to prevent it fraying.
- If something does not feel secure, glue it more before moving onto the next step.
- Use a glue gun so it doesn't get messy.
Warnings
- Have a parent help while using scissors and hot glue gun for your safety. It can get messy!
Things You'll Need
- 2-3 different colored and patterned ribbons
- Hot glue gun or super glue
- Hair tie
- Twist tie
Related Articles
- Make Cheerleading Hair Ribbons
- Look Amazing in Your Cheer Uniform
- Make Girl Hair Bows
- Do Hair Ribbons for Girls
