Making hair bows can be as simple as tying ribbon around a barrette or gluing flat-backed rhinestones across a metal clasp. You can also get creative with shells, pearls and crystals to create unique hair bows to suit any style or occasion.
Shells
Consider making a hair bow with strands of small paua or capiz shells dangling from a barrette. You can find ready-to-make barrettes at craft stores along with shell beads and clear beading cord. You'll find a greater variety of shell beads in different shapes and sizes from online bead suppliers. Paua and capiz shells have top-holes, so layering them on a strand is different from stringing center-hole beads. Begin with a 4- to 6-inch strand of clear beading cord, and tie a double knot in one end. String one of the shells, and then tie a knot above it. The space between the shells is up to you; have one barely cover the top of another, or have them further apart along the strand. Wherever you tie the knot is where the top of the next shell will be. Thread the strand to 1 1/2 inches from the end so you can tie it onto the barrette with a triple knot. Make enough strands to tie along the width of your barrette. If the beading cord is visible at the top, you can cover it by gluing a line of shells across with hot glue or craft glue.
Pearl Beads
You can string ribbons of pearl and crystal beads to hang from a barrette to make an elegant hair bow. You'll need at least six strands of 1/4-inch ribbon measuring at least 4 inches long. Your pearl and crystal beads can be any size you like, but look for beads with large openings so you can easily slide them over the ribbon. To string smaller beads onto ribbon, thread the ribbon through a loop of fishing line and string the beads on the line first, then over the ribbon. Make enough strands to fill your barrette, tie each one on with a double knot that lands behind the metal of the barrette. Glue a line of flat backed rhinestones to match the crystal beads across the width of your barrette clasp to cover the ribbon and complete your hair bow.
Ribbons
You can make a quick and easy ribbon hair bow with a barrette, 8-inch strands of 1/4- to 1/2-inch ribbons, flat-backed rhinestones and a glue gun. Simply tie one end of the ribbons onto the barrette, all the way across. Leave the tied ends standing up above the metal strip to create a fluffy look. Glue the rhinestones across the width of the barrette with a glue gun to give your hair bow a little sparkle. You could also glue a strand of pearls or beads horizontally across the hair bow for more subtle embellishments.
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