Can you believe it? Only the second post of the year and I already have this amazing Ladies Ballroom Updo tutorial! I want to start out by helping you learn the secrets to absolutely owning lady’s competitive ballroom hair! So in this Ladies Ballroom Updo Tutorial, I’m going to teach you some great secrets and tips to show you how Ladies Ballroom Hair is actually a lot easier than it looks!
The number one trick is patience. You don’t need mad hair-dressing skills to do competition hair for ballroom dancing. The steps are simple, but they take time and patience. If you can take your time with each step, practice often, and don’t give into the temptation to rush, you can also become a master at doing lady’s ballroom hair. And by the way, this Ladies Ballroom Updo Tutorial post goes perfectly with my video tutorial, which you can watch on my YouTube channel right here!
For a downloadable, step-by-step checklist of this Ladies Ballroom Updo Tutorial, plus an easy-to-read supplies list, all you need to do is fill out the subscription form when it pops up! For Quickstep Corner members, you can download that list on the Quickstep Corner page. Disclaimer: I have linked to products on this post from which I may profit should you choose to follow that link. But really, is that so bad??
Ladies Ballroom Updo Tutorial Supplies
For this Ladies Ballroom Updo Tutorial, you will need the following supplies, which I’ve linked to on Amazon so you can literally buy the exact products I used in this tutorial:
1. Fine-Toothed Comb
2. Hair Crimper
3. Hair Pins
4. Hair Nets
5. Fake Ponytail (not required if your hair is very thick and long)
6. Hair Bands
7. Blow Dryer -I even linked to a travel one that comes in a little bag so it’s easier for you to take to competitions!
8. Maximum Strength Hair Spray – Seriously, buy this exact spray! We’ve tried many different types of hairspray and this type works the best and doesn’t discolor the hair, if you happen to have blonde hair like me. 🙂
Lady’s Ballroom Updo: Step 1
I would argue that the first step is the most important. Start with hair that is slightly dirty. I’ve always found that slightly dirty hair is easier to work with and holds the hairspray better. If you have curly hair, you need to straighten it first in order to do this style. Part the hair with your fingers in various places and saturate the roots with hairspray. With the fine-toothed comb, pull the hair back into a ponytail on the crown of the skull. As you comb the hair back, keep spine of the comb nearly flat against the skull. This will help the hair stay close to the head and keep the hair as tight as possible.
I divide the hair into four quarters on the head and pull each quarter back, one at a time. Each time I finish combing back a quarter, I add that hair into the ponytail. When all of the hair is in the ponytail, I spray again and use the blow dryer to freeze the hair in place. Continue to comb the hair toward the base of the ponytail, spraying and blow drying, until the hair feels completely solid against the skull. Then, holding the base of the ponytail tightly, pull out the hair band and wrap it once again around the hair. The ponytail should now be in a high place on the skull, with the hair smooth and solid against the skull.
Lady’s Ballroom Updo: Step 2
Make sure your hair crimper is on and hot! Lightly spray all of the hair in the ponytail, just enough to make the hair sticky. You should still be able to separate the hair with your fingers or run a comb through it. Take a little section and crimp the hair from the base to the ends. Give it another light spray, flip it forward, and continue with the next. When all of the hair in the ponytail is crimped, comb it out so it becomes one huge, soft, voluminous cloud.
Lady’s Ballroom Updo: Step 3
Now, separate the ponytail into multiple sections. The number of the sections depends on the thickness and amount of your hair. If you have thin hair, do not separate the ponytail at all. If you have very thick hair and do not require the fake ponytail, separate the ponytail into three sections. But since the vast majority of women have somewhere in between very thick and very thin, separate the hair into two sections. Hook a hairpin around the seam of a hair net and insert the pin at the base of the ponytail. Wrap the hair net around the first section of hair, and move it off to the side. Repeat with a second hair net and the second section of hair. Now take the fake hair and wrap this into hair net, then attach with more hairpins on the front of the base of the ponytail.
Lady’s Ballroom Updo: Step 4
The first thing to do with the ponytails is wrap the fake ponytail around the back of the base, pinning it into place in the appropriate places so as to form the appropriate shape. If you don’t like the shape, carefully take out the pin and replace it until it sits where you would like it. If you’re trying to work the hair into a particular shape, use hair clips to hold the hair while you spray and blow dry the hair into place.
With all three ponytails, form them into a braid of sorts, pinning on the inside of each curve to keep the hair in place. All three ponytails should work towards a point on the forehead. When you are happy with how the hair is laying and wish shape the front, use the hairspray and the blow dryer to freeze the last piece into the shape that you wish. If the hair is being particularly difficult, as often happens with this last lock, you can also use a dab of Elmer’s School Glue with a blow dryer to really solidify it.
Lady’s Ballroom Updo: Step 5
Clean it up! Start at the very back of the hair, spray a small section not more than an inch wide until wet, then smooth with the back of the comb and the blow dryer simultaneously until any frizzies are nicely frozen down. Continue with the entirety of the bun, spraying, smoothing, and blow drying. Any stubborn frizzies can be tamed with a dab of Elmer’s School Glue, or even hidden beneath a precisely placed rhinestone.
Lady’s Ballroom Updo: Step 6
This last step is optional, but can really bring the look together. I always suggest buying extra stones at the time you purchase your gown. You can have small stones, or the very large ones. Keep in mind that the large stones are expensive and might fall off in competition from time to time. If you’re squeamish about losing $4 on every big stone that falls off, stick with the smaller ones. Place a dab of Elmer’s School Glue on the place where you want the stone. Dry for 30 seconds or so with the blow dryer, then press on the stone.
How did you like this Lady’s Ballroom Updo?
I hope you found this helpful! Remember, this tutorial is most helpful when used in conjunction with my video tutorial, which you can watch right here on my YouTube channel! Keep your eyes open for more tutorials like this and please leave any comments, questions, or suggestions in the comments section! And please remember to subscribe to our email list! You can do that quickly right here!
