HairSkewer^© Instructions

My exclusive HairSkewer^s© can be used in collar-bone length or longer hair . If hair is shorter, the ends will come loose, but this is sometimes a desirable look. It will hold fine or thin hair as well as normal to thick hair; however, though miracles may occur, waist-length, heavy, thick hair may be asking too much.

The basic technique: Twist hair into a French twist, and then insert the HairSkewer straight in about center of head, with ends up and with the face of skewer facing down, towards neck (I call this the “upside-down and backwards” technique). Gently push upward, grabbing about an inch or so of bottom (scalp) hair with skewer, and come out slightly at top of twist. Then, with your fingers on the skewer “tips,” pivot the HairSkewer upward, rotating skewer toward head (do not twist skewer) push down through your hair. It really is that easy!
Adjust the entry point and the amount of hair you catch in at the top to make it tighter or looser.

Now the details: When you make your French twist, do not twist tight like a snake coil. You need to start out tight, then tuck and fold hair into a smooth “folded” twist (particularly for shorter hair). You may tuck ends in, or leave ends out at top for a sassy casual look. If your hair is on the shorter side, the HairSkewer will tuck the ends in for you. Let the HairSkewer do the work.

If you are having trouble, the usual reason is that you’re trying too hard to get too tight a twist, or you are twisting the HairSkewer as you go up and over with it. You may have to practice finding the best entry and exit points for the most comfortable hold. Sometimes, you may have to bend the forks a little more so it “snugs” down into your hair at the top.
If it is always too tight, you are probably trying to catch too much hair at the top, particularly if you have very long or very thick hair; try starting a bit higher.
If it is usually too loose, the twist probably has to start lower and you may be twisting hair into a “tootsie-roll” rather than a flatter “jelly roll.”
If you get a funny “bunch” on top, try aiming the hairskewer slightly to the opposite side
as you go up and over. Otherwise, you may just have to experiment with the way you tuck in the top.

For Longer hair: (I will use my right-handedness to explain; reverse these instructions for left-handers—or if the other direction is easier for you.)The easiest technique I have found for very long hair is to twist hair all the way down the length, (clockwise with your right hand). Using your right hand, bring hair up to top of your head, continuing in the same direction. Using your left hand at the top, bring hair around and down, to the right, (creating an upside down U-shape). Grasp top of U with the left hand and flip it towards the right creating a figure 8. The HairSkewer now enters at the cross of the figure 8. You may or may not have to go all the way over the top of the hair twist for the HairSkewer to hold; this depends mostly on the thickness of your hair. You do, however, have to catch in some bottom hair, close to the scalp. You may also use the “regular” method, above, and leave ends out for a ponytail look (keep twist to the left of center if you want the tail to be centered). If you want a more traditional, albeit softer twist; after mastering the basic technique, try starting with the twist and tuck, then while holding the twist in place, flip loose ends back to the left and “fold” them under the tucked hair. This really takes practice to get a nice elegant look, but it’s worth it!

If your hair is really long, it can be twisted into a bun, then loosen the bun slightly and use the HairSkewer at an angle with the same “upside-down and backwards” technique. If you have had success with hair sticks or pencils, you can use the same technique with the HairSkewer as you do with your sticks.

Have fun and experiment. The HairSkewer^© will hold where other hair “ornaments” have failed. In almost every person’s hair, it will work.