How to Part Hair: a. Start by combing all the hair from the front straight back, including the bangs. b. Now, starting in the MIDDLE of your forehead, trace a line back with the comb, make sure it's straight. c. If it looks a bit croked, use the comb and carefully pick up the loose hairs. d. If all else fails, usually your natural hair part is a fairly straight one. shake out your haead without hair spray, and it should land in the middle. If it doesn't, get someone to do it for you.

Once your hair is parted in the middle, take a scrunchie, or a hair elastic, and secure the LEFT side of the part.

3. Gather your hair into a high ponytail.

Positioning:

With most Homo sapiens sapiens, the skull starts at a high point and then slopes foreward. There should be a curve in your skull and it should be above your ear. (If you can't find it, then you must get your head checked.. ^.~)

Now, In the example image at the top of this page, there is a picture specifically to tell where to put your odango. If you notice, they are above the ears and further back on her head than her ears. It should be where the back side the side's side meet and curve.

If you still don't get it, look at the picture and guess. In the end you should be able to lay down on your side comofrtably.

Oh! and watch out for the arches. (It's easier to get the arches out if your hair is wet and if you hang your head upside down.)

4. Now you have a choice to make (see told ya!) purist or non-purist. It's like to be and not to be question. If you go non-purist it stays longer (Until I find Usagi's secret, I do it this way) If you aren't going to do it purist or just want to appear purist you can put in a hair elastic. Make sure its tight as possible around the hair and next to your head. The tighter it is, the less chance your dango will flop (and lemme tell ya everyone laughs and its the funniest sensation) If you are a purist hang in there.

  5. This is the tricky part. It's best to look at the picture to see how this works. Think of a person behind you (doesn't matter who, as long as you don't imagine someone that will make your work fall apart) I know this sounds strange, but it will help out in the end. If you twist it wrong you have to go back to instruction 3, which is a pain, you cannot imagine... Now twist your hair towards your imaginary person. The more you twist your hair the better your dango-atama will be. It's best to start at the base of your head, especially for those purists out there (actually the purist must do this and it might be a good idea if you started it with the hand you aren't holding the hair with before twisting.)

   

6. Now keep twisting, as you make it into a bun. It should twist in such a way that the hair comes from the back of the dango in the end. (Hint: usu. this is counter clockwise for the left, and clockwise for the right.. in towards the center of your head) (Reminder: It's an unfinished bun, so there should be some left over.) Keep it tight against your head. The tighter you twist it around on itself the longer it will stay. (I've gotten mine to stay a day and a half (that includes sleeping in them) with no floppage, but this takes practice.) The hair should not buckle on itself any and be able to go around twice (see pic to see what I mean)

     

7. Hold the dango tight and either insert hairpins. You can also cheat again and put an elastic or scrunchie over the top of the dango. (see pics for exactly how). Make sure that one is secure before you do an impression of Usagi being an usagi.

 

8. Repeat directions 3-7 with other side. (note: the other side won't twist in the same direction, as the one you just did, so FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS)

     

9.You can then decorate them with beads like in the Princess Diamond/ Princess Di episode. or with ribbon. (I know Usagi uses light blue for bed time and sometimes pink ribbon, though good luck on getting the bow to stay and look that neat!) You can also have the option of looping the ends like Usagi does for baths and hot springs. But tha's only in the anime.

10. You probably won't get them perfect in the first try. Dango are a hard art to master. It takes practice, and no, I never promised it was easy, so don't cry to me about that. If you by chance don't understand some of the instruction itself, then tell me about it, and please, don't whine.