Home Hair Salon

In the blur that is most mornings at our house, about all I can handle doing to my kids' hair is brushing it. But when we have extra time—like during the summer and on weekends—my three daughters and I break out our collection of gels, clips and other hair stuff and set up our own mini salon.

Our goal is fun, not high fashion. But my girls have tested out everything from glitter zigzags to funky blue hair antennae to the romantic butterfly halo. Since, as many kids know, the right accessory is often the key to hair flair, we've experimented with ways to customize snap clips, headbands and chopsticks. And when everyone's done accessorizing, primping and preening, we simply store all the hair paraphernalia in our easy-to-make stylist's stash bucket.

Whether your home hair salon is a family affair or a slumber party activity, my girls and I think the appeal is bigger than Marge Simpson's beehive. Don't wait for your child's next bad hair day. Check out this story and get ideas on how to tie it, streak it, snap it, stencil it and more. No appointment necessary.

Maryellen Ducket lives in Powell, Tennessee. She wears her hair long, straight and usually brushed.