Bring Back the 90s: How to Make a Summer Hair Wrap With Your Kids
Because nothing says summer like popsicles, bare feet, and a hair wrap that flaps in the wind while you ride your bike down the driveway.
There’s something so magical about a 90s summer. Before screens ruled the day, we had cheap bars from the ice cream truck, roll-on body glitter, and afternoons stretched out like they’d never end. And somewhere in there—maybe at summer camp, maybe on your cousin’s porch—you got a hair wrap.
This summer, I’m leaning all the way in. Less hustle, more hammocks. Less curated, more real. And bringing back simple joys like this colorful little throwback feels like the perfect place to start. It’s an easy, creative way to slow down with your kids and make something together. It only takes a little thread, a little time, and a whole lot of sunshine.
So here’s how to bring a little 90s magic into your summer days:
🌈 What You’ll Need:
Embroidery thread (3–5 colors)
Small rubber band
Hair comb or brush
Scissors
A patient child (or a nostalgic mom 😉)
beads or charms (optional)
✂️ Step-by-Step Hair Wrap Tutorial:
Step 1: Section the Hair
Choose a small section of hair—about the width of a pencil—from the underside or side of the head. This makes it easy to tuck away or show off. Make a small braid and tie it off with a small rubber band
Step 2: Tie Your Threads
Pick 3–5 colors of embroidery thread and cut them all to about 2–3 feet long (they should be about the length and a half of the child’s hair). Align the threads with the sectioned hair and tie them at the top using a small rubber band or a simple knot. One of the threads will become your “wrapping” thread—the one you use to wrap around everything else.
Step 3: Start Wrapping
Take your wrapping thread and begin looping it tightly around the hair and the other threads. Keep the loops close together so no hair peeks through. Wrap downward until you want to switch colors.
Step 4: Switch Colors (Optional)
When you want to change colors, simply drop the thread you’re using and pick up a new one. Tuck the old thread alongside the hair and continue wrapping with the new color. You can alternate every inch or two for a striped look. You can also grab two or three colors at a time for a fun mix.
Step 5: Add Beads (Optional)
Thread a bead through the wrapping thread and slide it into place. Wrap a few more loops to secure it. You can add multiple beads as you go or just at the end. We added charms to ours. Wait till it is finished and loop the charms to the wrap securing them so they don’t fall off.
Step 6: Tie It Off
Once you’ve wrapped down to your desired length, tie a small knot at the bottom. You can cut the ends or add a bead before trimming any excess thread.
☀️ That’s it!
You’ve officially brought back one of the most charming pieces of our childhood. Whether you’re doing this for your kids or letting them wrap yours (messy but adorable), it’s a sweet way to slow the day down and make something by hand.
So here’s to more sidewalk chalk and less schedule. More popsicles and less perfection. More heart and fewer filters.
Because 2025 deserves a little 90s joy.
