Hair Bows Lingo
Makers of hair bows have to quickly learn that there are different widths of ribbons. The width is the length across the ribbon. The more common widths used are 1.5″, 7/8″, 5/8″, and 3/8″. Some the lesser used ones are the really wide ribbons in 2.25″, which make a really large and thick hair bow. Sometime ribbon factories make ribbon in 1″ widths. This width is very close to the 7/8″ and is sometimes hard to tell the difference. Ribbon manufacturing companies can come out with their own unique widths, but generally, these are your only options.
The 1.5″ width is a good ribbon width to start with because there is more to hold and work with. The 7/8″ or 5/8″ widths are good for making center knots for the bows. The 3/8″ is a nice width for very little bows or they make a nice center for a larger hair bow. I would not suggest knotting a 3/8″ width ribbon unless it was for a very tiny hair bow, or you are placing it on top of a 7/8″ or 5/8″ width ribbon and then knotting it for a fun look.
Some ribbon makers like to use wood burning tools for what they call “heat sealing” their ends. Most grosgrains will melt at very high temperatures, and that is simply all bow makers mean when the say their ends are heat sealed. There are now other tools being made just for sealing off ribbon ends to keep them from fraying, and several ribbon web sites are now offering them to their online customers for making hair bows.
Another popular way to keep your ribbon ends from fraying is by applying Fray Check™ or any other brand to the ends of your ribbon. It is a liquid that, when dry, will harden and not allow the ends to fray. These products can be found in any craft store. Be careful when trying out different brands because some will leave a mark on the ribbon and not dry clear. You do not want to apply so much though that it drips off the hair bows or leaves a runny mark down the ribbon.
Then there are the hair clip or hair fastener options for hair bows. The alligator clip looks like an alligator’s mouth when it opens and closes. It generally has no teeth on this style of clip. They do however come in double pronged and single pronged. Single pronged is nice when you are going for the least heavy and bulky, and double pronged is nice when you need that extra prong to hold it in the hair.
A French clip is the kind that you squeeze two prongs to release if from the closed position, and will spring open like a mouse trap because of the tension it is under by the semi-loose bracket on the inside. That bracket is in the shape of a crescent.
Probably less common, are the plastic clip or barrette and a snap, which some makers of hair bows use, and they are pretty simple in nature and are plastic or metal so to give you the lightest possible weight on finished hair bows.
About the Author
Jessica Furtney is the president of Bows For Best Friends, a company based in Simpsonville, SC that designs and manufactures high quality hair bows and hair accessories.
Hair Bow Giveaway (sponsored!)–OPEN!!
|
|
A tetradrachm commemorating the Battle of Cos, BC253 Photo Mugs Obverse Head of Neptune, hair with sea weed (right). Reverse Apollo, nude, holding a bow in his right hand, seated on the prow of a war-galley. Greek inscription. Mint mark and M (below). Celebrates the victory of Antigonus Gonatas, King of Macedon, over the Egyptian fleet….. |
|
|
Costume a Harpsichord Photo Mugs Low corsage with tiny vandyked tucker a cuffs, plain ankle length skirt a bouffante sleeves ornamented with a large bow. Hair dressed in coiled plaits with ribbons….. |
|
|
Costume May 1869 Photo Mugs Girl over-skirt with apron front, fringing a bows. Brown polonaise with train a sleeves with volans; white dress with pelerine cape, sash bow a over-skirt raised at the back…. |
|
|
Ema Jane – 14 Cute Assorted Ema Jane Boutique Quality Small Gerber Daisy Hair Clip Bows (Headbands Not Included) – Infant, Baby, Toddlers, Youth, Young Girls (Headbands Not Included) – Hair Clip Attaches to a Headband or Beanie $16.85 Brand New Assorted Lot of 14 Small Interchangeable ‘Ema Jane’ Boutique Quality Gerber Daisy Hair Flower Clip Headbands. Each flower is 2.25 inches wide and is intricately layered, dyed and adorned with a crystal center. You will always have something to match that perfect outfit! Great for interchangeable looks to headbands, beanies or alone as a hair clip. Each flower is securely attached to a ch… |
|
|
Mud Pie Baby Little Princess Hair Bows with Holder, Pink, Set of 5 $13.28 Mudpie Baby Little Princess Hair Bows with Holder, Set of 5, PinkEmbroidered princess bow holder has a wall mount and grosgrain ribbon to hold bows. Comes complete with 5 pinch clip hair bows in pinks and whites. Baby girls will be crowned the queen of fashion when dressed to the nines in Mud Pie’s Little Princess Collection. It’s head-to-toe perfection that moms and gift givers love. For more tha… |
|
|
Hair Bow Gift Pack. No Slip Baby, Toddler, or Teen Bow Set. Maddie. At Bitty Bows Boutique, we specialize in no-slip hair bows! These no-slip hair bows are certain to become a favorite among your baby, toddler, or girl’s hair accessory collection. Hand tied with the greatest attention to detail, and packaged in a pack of four fabulous colors. Perfect for daily wear, and made to last. All ribbon ends are professionally heat sealed, so these bows will continue to lo… |
|
|
Tone’s Mini’s Onion, Instant Minced, 0.70-Ounce $1.09 This Jack skull -accented bow will add a bit of spooky and cute to your hairdo…. |
|
|
Olive Flower Olive Flower… |
|
|
The Final Hairdown $1.99 … |
|
|
Ultimate Hair Bow Instruction Video $14.95 Learn how to make hair bows with this complete hair bow instructions DVD. This professionally produced video will help you explore the world of hair bow making. This DVD guides you through each step as you learn to make hair bows. The eight different styles you see below are explained in detail. These hair bow instructions are thorough and you have the luxury of stopping and starting the DVD as ne… |
