Pony post #2: Fan fic and pony hairstylin's
First: Shameless self-pimpage. What can I say? I try to keep it down to a dull roar. I'm scoots2 on FimFiction and EQD, in case you ever run into me there. I've got a new one set in what I'm calling the Babs-iverse: Babs and the Hearth's Warming Gift. I got it in under the wire, on the Twelfth Day of Christmas, and it takes place on Alicorn Night, the Pony equivalent of Twelfth Night. Go ahead and read if you like, and give it some love: Babs and the Hearth's Warming Gift.
Next, and probably what you came for: Pony hairstylin's!
Like a lot of other people--well, a lot of other Pony fans--I've been waiting for a white version of Princess Celestia to become available. There's the big talking one, but she dwarfs my current herd of G4 brushables, so I wanted the size I've begun to think of as the "regular" size. Recently I had to go to Target for some other stuff, including a tea kettle, and I decided to check out the Pony aisle. Because, y'know, I might as well.
Paydirt!
This gives me an extra Pinkie Pie and an extra Rarity. Actually, three Pinkie Pies, if you include the ones in the Fan Favorite collection. It's awfully easy to acquire extra Pinkie Pies, since they put her in with everything.
Twilight Sparkle thinks her beloved mentor looks great the way she is, but I must tinker with everything, of course.
I've now gone beyond Count Schlicks' tutorials and have had to step out into the unknown. For the next ones, I used Scaramouche's Bad Mane Days and Kawaiimo's Pony Hair Styling Guides Part 1 and Part 2. Both have some good advice. They're less perfectly meticulously accurate than Count Schlick's. I'm beginning to learn that there is more than one way of Stylin' A Pony and you have to tweak them and go with what works for you. For example, I tried using surgical tape as a styling tool, and my reaction was "meh." Tape is tape is tape. I prefer Count Schlick's technique of using rubber bands, and I find that regular elastic bands work better than hair elastics.
I made Trixie a little hat and a cloak (which I'm still fixing up) but I never styled her hair. It's time to fix that.
Celestia may not look as though she's being processed, but she is.
I've braided her tail to make it wavy, and I've wrapped a strand around her horn to create a lock to hang down. I learned right away why most people hate Mylar! Sure, it sparkles and looks purty, but it will not style, and it will stick straight out and look weird.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie will be back! Trixie has not cast her last spell! Trixie --MWHUMP."
See? It was worth it! The Great and Powerful One has finally got that short little curl she's supposed to have.
I thought adding her hat might destroy the effect, but no!
She's now back on my IPod dock, where she keeps it powered up and is too far away to cause havoc.
ooOOOOooo I really like her tail!
The hair, not so much. After I took this picture, I tried braiding it to make it more wavy, but I think I just straightened it more. Anyway, she's presiding, although I think eventually the alicorns are going to get their own spot, where they won't throw a pall of dignity over everything.
Extra Pinkie Pie! So, let's see how perm rods work instead of drinking straws. If you don't know what perm rods are, you can pick them up at the beauty supply store in the curler aisle. They tend to be small gauge than curlers. They have rubber bands attached that hold them on: there's a sort of plug on one side. Unplug the end, roll up the hair, re-plug, and you're done!
I used bobby pins to hold everything together, but I didn't really need to.
Results?
Darned near show perfect, I think.
Ignore the nose spray and the toothbrushes and the way my thumb got in this next shot. This is ART, man.
So I feel very accomplished! Next up are the CMCs, and I really worry about those, but so far, so good!
Next, and probably what you came for: Pony hairstylin's!
Like a lot of other people--well, a lot of other Pony fans--I've been waiting for a white version of Princess Celestia to become available. There's the big talking one, but she dwarfs my current herd of G4 brushables, so I wanted the size I've begun to think of as the "regular" size. Recently I had to go to Target for some other stuff, including a tea kettle, and I decided to check out the Pony aisle. Because, y'know, I might as well.
Paydirt!
This gives me an extra Pinkie Pie and an extra Rarity. Actually, three Pinkie Pies, if you include the ones in the Fan Favorite collection. It's awfully easy to acquire extra Pinkie Pies, since they put her in with everything.
Twilight Sparkle thinks her beloved mentor looks great the way she is, but I must tinker with everything, of course.
I've now gone beyond Count Schlicks' tutorials and have had to step out into the unknown. For the next ones, I used Scaramouche's Bad Mane Days and Kawaiimo's Pony Hair Styling Guides Part 1 and Part 2. Both have some good advice. They're less perfectly meticulously accurate than Count Schlick's. I'm beginning to learn that there is more than one way of Stylin' A Pony and you have to tweak them and go with what works for you. For example, I tried using surgical tape as a styling tool, and my reaction was "meh." Tape is tape is tape. I prefer Count Schlick's technique of using rubber bands, and I find that regular elastic bands work better than hair elastics.
I made Trixie a little hat and a cloak (which I'm still fixing up) but I never styled her hair. It's time to fix that.
Celestia may not look as though she's being processed, but she is.
I've braided her tail to make it wavy, and I've wrapped a strand around her horn to create a lock to hang down. I learned right away why most people hate Mylar! Sure, it sparkles and looks purty, but it will not style, and it will stick straight out and look weird.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie will be back! Trixie has not cast her last spell! Trixie --MWHUMP."
See? It was worth it! The Great and Powerful One has finally got that short little curl she's supposed to have.
I thought adding her hat might destroy the effect, but no!
She's now back on my IPod dock, where she keeps it powered up and is too far away to cause havoc.
ooOOOOooo I really like her tail!
The hair, not so much. After I took this picture, I tried braiding it to make it more wavy, but I think I just straightened it more. Anyway, she's presiding, although I think eventually the alicorns are going to get their own spot, where they won't throw a pall of dignity over everything.
Extra Pinkie Pie! So, let's see how perm rods work instead of drinking straws. If you don't know what perm rods are, you can pick them up at the beauty supply store in the curler aisle. They tend to be small gauge than curlers. They have rubber bands attached that hold them on: there's a sort of plug on one side. Unplug the end, roll up the hair, re-plug, and you're done!
I used bobby pins to hold everything together, but I didn't really need to.
Results?
Darned near show perfect, I think.
Ignore the nose spray and the toothbrushes and the way my thumb got in this next shot. This is ART, man.
So I feel very accomplished! Next up are the CMCs, and I really worry about those, but so far, so good!