Braid bars to feather extensions: Hair trends for young girls

Mar 27, 2012

Lisa Steinke, with Liz Fenton, is the co-author of the debut chick lit novel l'll Have Who She's Having and the popular Chick Lit blog chicklitisnotdead.com.

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young girls' hairstyles getting trendier

Get ready moms, young girls' hair is getting interesting this year. From braid bars in malls to feather extensions, your daughter may be asking to make some changes to her locks.

Feather extensions

Feather extensions are a hot trend for young girls this year --especially for girls under the age of 7. With young celebrities like Disney Channel favorite Bella Thorne rocking feathers, the demand is increasing, and more salons across the country are adding this service to their kids' menu. Many celebrity kids have also taken to the trend including Tori Spelling's 5-year-old daughter Stella. To save money, some moms are literally taking the trend into their own hands and doing it DIY style by clipping the feathers into their daughter's hair -- also a more temporary way to let their young girls experiment with the trend.

Photo gallery of kids hairstyles >>

Tinsel extensions

If you think feathers sound like a wild idea, try tinsel. Tinsel extensions that are braided in or clipped into the hair are also growing in popularity for little girls. A new birthday party must-have, some companies like Heather's Feathers in Charlotte, North Carolina, will even make a house call to give all the partygoers' hair some sparkle.

Braid bars

Braids have made a comeback in a big way. From the traditional French braid to the headband braid, young girls (and adults alike) can get the braided style they want at salons like Cozy Cuts for Kids in New York City. A braided hair bonus? Moms can get some much-needed at-home hairdressing time off. It's obviously a case-by-case basis, but some braid styles can last several days.

Another twist on the trend: Girls are also experimenting with adding feathers and/or tinsels to their braided locks.

Painted strands

Feathers, tinsel, braids and... paint. Some daring divas are sporting peek-a-boo streaks of bright (even neon!) colors painted into the under layers of their hair. Don't worry, moms, the hair color most commonly used is not permanent and does wash out.

Mohawks and fauxhawks

While mohawks and fauxhawks are more common for boys, edgier celebrity girls like Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's daughter, Willow, and Spice Girls' Melanie Brown's daughter have been spotted sporting this 'do.

Rock n' Cuts in Beverly Hills, where Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker's son gets his mohawk styled, also offers "hair bling" and promises on its website: "Whether you live in a crib or a condo, we'll rock your hairstyle."