This past weekend I had the joy of visiting a "friend" that I met on another long hair board.  Although we had met before, this was even more special as we were spending the weekend together with our spouses.  Her single braid is almost to her knees, making my hair look very short in comparison.  We had a grand time, hiking along a creek that was in full fall colors, playing card games and dominos and just getting to know each other.  We couldn't talk them into joining us on our bike ride up the bluffs, but maybe next time they will join us on the downhill half of the trip.

It was really fun to share experiences, play with each other's hair toys, and show each other our hair styles.

We really didn't come up with any drastically new styles.  I showed her how to "chain" her hair to shorten it and be able to hold it up with a single hair stick.  This style is similar to the knot, only instead of wrapping the remaining hair around the base, you pull a loop through again (like crocheting a chain).  We were able to do this 3 times with her hair.

I will try to describe this as best as I can.

Start by grabbing all the hair as the nape with your left hand as if you were going to put the hair in a pony tail.

With your right hand, pick up the tail and lay it over your left wrist, towards your head.  Then with your right hand, reach under your left wrist and grab the loose hair (your left hand is still holding the hair in a ponytail).  Bring the tail up along the right side of the base of the ponytail.

Holding the base of the ponytail between your left thumb and index finger, put the loose end of the tail between your ring and middle finger.  Letting go of the base of the ponytail, pull the loose end partially through the loop that you have made.  Do not pull the ends of the tail all the way through.  You have made one chain.

Hold the loop open with your left hand, and again pull part of the loose end of the ponytail up through the loop from the back.  This would make the second chain. 

Continue to do this until the remaining tail is about 6 inches long.  Wrap the remaining tail around the base of the beginning of the chain at the nape.  Put a long hairstick through the last loop of the chain to hold it "open" and through the previous chain. 

This will give you a very open, loose looking braid up the back of the head, or looped at the neck, depending on how you secure the ends. 

If you can't get the hair to stay by just wrapping it, a small scrunchie or hair tie can be used to secure the last loop.

whew!  I hope that helps.  I wish I had taken pictures when we were doing it - it would make a lot more sense.

Let us know how it works for you.  It is a style that only works with LONG hair.  I can do one chain and almost the second (maybe by January I will be able to do the second chain).  It is a very unique style.

I can almost make 2 chains - but it won't stay in place yet.  I'm very close though!

I've not measured, but this morning my husband commented on how my hair was almost past my rear.  (Considering the size of my rear, that is quite an accomplishment!!)  I estimate, that if I do not trim, I will hit classic in about 6 months (3 inches).