Tame Your Mane with Braille Beads

OMH! (Oh My Hair!)

Does social distancing have you longing for, desperately missing your hairstylist? APH has two fun and creative ways to help you tame that Medusa-like hair. Make a braille bead ponytail elastic or a braille signature hair barrette!

Braille Bead Ponytail Elastic

Materials

• Elastic cord
• 1 APH Braille Bead
• 1 Large Craft Bead
• Scissors
• Glue

Steps

1. Cut approximately 8 inches of elastic cord available at many craft stores. The length will depend on the thickness of your hair. Sparkling elastic cord adds some extra glam!
2. Pick an APH braille bead and a large craft bead (1/2 to 5/8 inch). We have chosen a green braille bead and a striped craft bead of pink, blue, green, and yellow.
3. String both beads on the cord and tie the two ends of the cord together.
4. Apply a small drop of glue to the knot and let dry.
5. Snip the ends of the knot to about 1/8 to 3/16 inch.
6. Slide the large craft bead over the knot.
7. Pull the elastic circle so the braille bead is opposite the craft bead.
8. Your braille bead hair elastic is ready to wear. If it is a little too large for your hair tie a knot in the middle, which also provides a little reinforcement.

Here’s a video tutorial on how to style this kind of beaded ponytail elastic!

Braille Signature Hair Barrette

Materials

• Blank Spring French Barrette Hair Clip
• APH Braille Beads of your choice
• Ribbon (length depending on the size of barrette)
• Tape (optional)

Steps

1. Begin by folding the ribbon in half and inserting the two ends through the round hole on the open end of the barrette pulling it halfway through. Then insert the ends through the loop of ribbon left on the other side of the hole and pull tight. This demonstration photo uses 1/8 inch ribbon.

1. Taking the two ends of your ribbon, string them through the two holes on each bead, spelling out your chosen word. If the ribbon is not stiff enough to pull easily through the bead holes, tightly wrap tape around each end of the ribbon to form makeshift needles, as shown in the photo below.

1. Once all your beads are strung, tie off the ribbon through the round hole on the hinge side of the barrette. You can make the knot as large or decorative as you wish, as shown in the photo below. If you find your ribbon is not taunt enough once it is tied off, you can whip stitch along the ribbon to attach it to the barrette. Our sample in the photo is not sewn to the barrette clip. Our finished barrette shown below uses eight pink braille beads spelling the name Mary Ann with a flower bead between the two words. It is strung together using burgundy 1/8 inch (6 mm) ribbon.

Want to get your own Braille Beads?

Braille Beads Starter Kit

Braille Beads: Pack of Beads

For more resources please check out our #AtHomeWithAPH resource list for free and accessible activities, tips, webinars, and more from APH, our partners, and the field at large. Have a free and accessible resource you would like us to include? Email us at communications@aph.org to tell us about it!