(Bzzzzz…)
Do you hear that? Um, I think it’s coming from my hair!
Marge came over today to help me brainstorm Halloween costumes and dish about the World Series (we both think the Giants will win in 6).
I’m still not sure what I’m going to do/wear to the Monster Bash tomorrow night, but if worse comes to worst, I could always wear some go-go boots with a mini-skirt and build a big Marge-inspired beehive.
What do ya think? This was my first one ever, and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.
Hair’s how to get this obnoxiously high hairdo (mine measured 8 inches from my crown to the tip of the hive, yikes!) in four easy steps.
What you’ll need:
- A lightweight volumizing mousse like Got2B Fat-Tastic Hair Thickening Plumping Mousse
- A hairdryer, the lighter the better, because you may be holding it for a while (I like the T3 Featherweight and Rusk W8LESS)
- A comb or brush
- A maximum hold hair spray like Big Sexy Hair Spritz & Stay
- A stocking, preferably one the same color as your hair
- Something to fill the stocking with, like fabric batting, packing peanuts or air-filled packing cushions
- HELLA bobby pins
Countdown to big hair in 3…2…1!
1. Mousse and Squirrel
I started by spritzing some water into my hair to dampen it, and then worked Got2B Fat-Tastic Mousse thoroughly through from mid-shaft to the ends, scrunching with my hands to start building up the volume. At this stage since my hair was only a little damp, I allowed it to air dry while I did my makeup, but you could also use a dryer to accelerate the process.
2. I Root for Volume!
For hair to stand on end, it needs MAJAH volume. Starting at the base of my neck and working my way up toward the top of my head, I sprayed, dried, and teased my hair section by section. I’d take a small section and spritz the roots with hair spray, then pull the section up toward the ceiling while drying the roots with the hair dryer. After that I’d tease the section downward with a brush from mid-shaft to the roots for a lifted, ratty effect. By the end of this stage your hair should look like a cross between C.C. DeVille’s hair from Poison and Robert Smith’s from The Cure. 🙂
3. How to Build a Better Beehive
Constructing the actual hive is easy if you build it around a frame (like a papier mache egg). I used a dark brown stocking stuffed with several small air-filled packaging cushions.
I stuffed the stocking until it looked about the right size for the length of my hair and tied a knot at the end. Then, I stood the stocking/egg on top of my head, securing the knotted end to the hair with about a million bobby pins (okay, more like 15).
NOTE: I went with packing pillows because they were lightweight, flexible and I had some around the house, but in retrospect packing peanuts might have been easier to use because I came very close to popping them with the bobby pins a few times.
4. Time to Wrap It Up
Starting at the sides with small, 1-inch sections of hair, I used pins to hold them in place while I sprayed each section with hair spray and blow dried (blew dried?). After the sides, I moved on to the back, finished with the front. When I got to the pieces that would make up the outer surface of the hive, I carefully smoothed the hair down with my fingers while I spritzed it with hair spray for a smooth, sleek shape.
At the end of construction…
The little barrette’s like my flair. How T.G.I. Fridays, ha!
NOTE: Even if you use a ton of hair spray (I must have used at least a quarter of my bottle), big beehives may not be sturdy, so you might want to refrain from base jumping, headbanging or rolling in your 5.0 with your ragtop down (so your hair can blow). 🙂
The next time you build a beehive, please send a pic!
Products mentioned in this post
- Big Sexy Hair Spritz & Stay Handles Snooki Poofs with Ease
- Bespoke Labs T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer
- H8 the Box, Like the Rusk: The Rusk W8LESS Hair Dryer/Iron Combo Kit
Looking back at bygone Halloweens…
- Addicted to Love and Makeup: A Halloween Look
- Face of the Day (FOTD) and Just for Fun: My Halloween Costume — Amy Winehouse
- BOO! My MAC Smokey Eyes for Halloween
- MAC Smokey Eye Tutorial: Halloween Flashback
- Urban Decay Halloween Eyes, Rated PG (Purple and Gold)
- YOU MUST CHOOSE: The Halloween Edition
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict (reporting live from Springfield),
Karen
Kate & Zena says
O. M. G. That is high. I don’t have enough hair for that!!!!!
Oh yea, Zena pranced around for a good thirty minutes when she saw her photo on MBB. She said in a very singsong voice, “I’m on the Interneeeeeet, I’m on the Interneeeeeeeet, I’m on the Interneeeeet, I’m on the Interneeeeeet.” She appreciates that you took out the green eye!
Tammy says
That’s pretty amazing. I love the look, but it must have been a pain to take out, right?
Karen says
It actually wasn’t too bad!
I just took it out, and here’s what it looked like:
http://twitpic.com/323f5b
Arianne says
Daaang that hairdo is so much fun. 🙂 Did Tabs think you brought home another animal? LOL! I think it would scare the living hell out of Scherbie.
Rae says
Oh my gahd, your hair is SO BIG! <3 That is *fabulous*, Karen.
Marian says
OMG! This is genius! Love it!
Jessica Allison says
Love it! Especially the Tokidoki pin 🙂 as far as filling for the stocking (which used to be called a “rat”) as gross as it may sound, what they usually used back in the days was their own hair. Like, pull it out if the hairbrush & put it in the stocking. At least then you know it’s gonna match, right? It also makes it really easy to pin through to anchor your style. A similar method is actually used to make Victory curls!
gio says
The hair is so big and high, love it!
mandy says
I don’t know why but “oh, beehive” makes me think of Austin Powers when he says “oh behave” LOL
I like the do a lot, but was there any damage to your hair? My hair has been breaking a lot lately, I’m not sure if I should try this 🙁
Love the cat eye too … For the life of me, I still cannot do that look, my eyelashes always get in the way because they curl right unto my eyelid 🙁 … Any tips, would help so much!
Tiffany says
Good job girlie! I can’t wait to hear about your Halloween party – hope you have fun.
Hedy says
Moose and squirrel-LOL/
Karen says
Hehe! A fellow Rocky & Bullwinkle fan, I see. 🙂
Blovetbeauty says
What a cute post!
Appu says
That is awesome!! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you wore for your party!
lexi says
That is so rad – I loved the Rocky and Bullwinkle theme song the best…I’m humminig the melody now as I type!
PS. I was telling everyone at work my prediction – Giants in Game 6, too! I would love to win at home…so much sweeter! I’m keeping my fingers crossed and praying that I just didn’t jinx them…
Glosslizard says
That is awesome!! I was feeling all proud of myself because I wanted straight hair for my vampire and I actually gave myself a home blowout for the first time (I’m such a hairstyling noob), but your beehive rocks hard!
LOL at a potentially deflated ‘hive!! 😀
Have a great time on the Hornet tonight, that’s the ship that brought my Granddaddy home from WW2!
Kimberly says
WOW! That looks great! But when are you going to make it blue to *really* match Marge Simpson? 🙂
Dao says
Woa, that’s so awesome!
Lisa S. says
Oooooooo Bride of Frankenstein! Just get a flowing nightey and some bandages for your arms.
green makeup for your face. Spray a little white hair color (temp of course) in squiggles from your temples. Bam! Your “The Bride”
Lisa S. says
oooo and I forgot some stitches around your neck…..
lo says
WOAH! You weren’t kidding about huge hair! I love this… if only I had enough hair.
Danielle says
Love the ‘hive! Does it fit in your car though?
Nina says
mad skillz, marge errrrr karen! 😛
Ivy says
Hi Karen,
That’s some CRAZY hair there!! Thank you the tutorial. 🙂
could you please tell me what were you wearing on the lips? It looks sooooo pretty on you.
Thank you!
Jenn says
Just add a stripe of white on the side and you’ll be the Bride of Frankenstein! 😀
marisol says
That is just AMAZING! Did you go to Tuttimelon like that? hahahaha
Rachel says
Your hive is fantastic!
Erin says
Just sayin, I had a pretty good one for halloween!
Instant Karma (formerly L) says
LOL I caught that Vanilla Ice reference. You really DO know all the lyrics!
Karen says
I’m starting to think that song’s following me. At the Halloween party last night the band did a live rendition of it… it was pretty funny. And yes, I rapped along to the song. 🙂
Kim says
That is really amazing. I can’t believe how tall you got that sucka! And the CC/Robert Smith comment? Still giggling. 🙂
Tracy@Beauty Reflections says
When I was little-about 2 years old so that’s ahem…1969…yikes, my sister got a beehive and I SCREAMED and wouldn’t go near here. It was TERRIFYING to me HAHAHA. Still is….:P
Karen says
I bet from a 2-year-old’s perspective the beehive must’ve looked scary big, yikes!