Attaching a pageant crown securely is essential for a flawless look during the competition and after the win. A loose or crooked crown can be distracting and even embarrassing. This guide will walk you through the process of attaching a crown to your hair, ensuring it stays in place through all your waves, turns, and photos. Before you begin, make sure your hair is styled as it will be for the pageant, and that you have all your supplies ready.
What You’ll Need
- Your pageant crown
- Bobby pins (matching your hair color)
- Hair elastics (clear or matching your hair color)
- Rat-tail comb (for sectioning and teasing)
- Strong-hold hairspray
- Optional: small hair clips or alligator clips
- Optional: wig clips or snap clips (if your crown has loops or is heavy)
- Optional: hair gel or pomade for smoothing flyaways
Step-by-Step
- Prepare your hair: Style your hair as you plan to wear it for the pageant. Ensure it is completely dry and has enough texture or volume to hold pins. If your hair is very smooth or silky, add some texturizing spray or dry shampoo at the roots to give the pins something to grip.
- Identify the crown’s anchor points: Look at the inside of the crown. Most pageant crowns have small combs, loops, or a band. Identify where you can slide bobby pins or where the crown naturally rests on your head. The crown should sit about 1-2 inches back from your hairline, centered on your head.
- Create a secure base: If your crown has a band that sits on top of your head, you may want to create a small “nest” of teased hair where the crown will rest. Take a small section of hair at the top of your head, tease it gently with a rat-tail comb, and spray it with hairspray. This gives the crown a grippy surface to sit on.
- Position the crown: Place the crown on your head in the desired position. Look in a mirror to ensure it is straight and centered. Adjust until it feels balanced and looks even from the front and sides.
- Secure with bobby pins (if the crown has a band or loops): Open a bobby pin and slide it through the crown’s loops or over the band, then into your hair, catching a good amount of hair. Cross two bobby pins in an “X” shape for extra hold. Repeat on both sides and the back, if needed. Make sure the pins are inserted close to the crown so they are hidden.
- Secure with hair elastics (if the crown has a band): If your crown has a full band, you can use small clear hair elastics to tie the band to small sections of hair on either side. Section off a small piece of hair near your ear, wrap the elastic around the crown’s band and the hair, then secure it. This prevents the crown from sliding forward or backward.
- Use wig clips for extra security (optional): If your crown is heavy or you have very fine hair, sew or clip small wig clips (also called snap clips) onto the inside of the crown’s band. These clips open and snap shut onto your hair, providing a very strong hold. Place them at the front sides and back.
- Blend and conceal: After the crown is attached, take small strands of hair from around the crown and gently pull them over the pins or clips to hide them. Use a rat-tail comb to smooth the hair over the crown’s base. Spray everything with a generous amount of strong-hold hairspray.
- Test the security: Gently shake your head and move around to ensure the crown is stable. If it feels loose, add more pins or readjust. It’s better to fix it now than during the competition.
Common Mistakes
- Not teasing the hair: Smooth, sleek hair doesn’t hold pins well. Without texture, the crown will slide.
- Using too few pins: A crown is heavy and needs multiple anchor points. Using only one or two pins is a recipe for disaster.
- Placing the crown too far forward: This looks unnatural and increases the chance of it falling forward.
- Ignoring the crown’s weight: Heavy crowns need extra support, like wig clips or multiple elastics. Don’t rely on bobby pins alone.
- Waiting until the last minute: Attaching a crown takes time and precision. Rushing leads to mistakes and a less secure fit.
Tips
- Practice ahead of time: Try attaching the crown a few days before the event to get comfortable with the process and ensure you have all the supplies you need.
- Use a mirror with a back view: This helps you see the crown from all angles and ensure it’s straight.
- Match pin color to your hair: Brown pins for brown hair, black for black hair, and so on. This makes the pins less visible.
- Spray hairspray on the pins before inserting: This gives them extra grip and hold.
- Have a backup plan: Keep extra pins and elastics in your pageant bag in case something comes loose.
Troubleshooting
- The crown keeps slipping forward: This usually means the crown is too heavy for the pins or your hair is too smooth. Try adding more pins at the back, or use wig clips. Also, make sure the crown is sitting on a teased base of hair, not directly on your scalp.
- The crown is crooked: Check in a mirror from the front and back. Adjust the crown and re-pin. If it’s still crooked, the crown might be bent or the band might be uneven. Try padding one side with a small piece of felt or a cotton ball.
- Bobby pins are visible: Slide the pins in at an angle so they lie flat against your head, and then cover them with small strands of hair. You can also use a small amount of hair gel to smooth the hair over the pins.
- The crown feels loose even after pinning: Take it off and start over. This time, create a stronger teased base and use more pins. Consider adding wig clips for extra security.
- Your hair is too short or thin to hold pins: Use a combination of wig clips and strong-hold gel. You can also braid small sections of hair and pin the braids to create a more secure base.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I attach a crown to short hair? Yes, but it’s trickier. Use wig clips and strong-hold gel. You may also want to create a small updo or use hair extensions for more grip.
- How do I keep the crown from leaving a dent in my hair? Try to place the crown on a section of hair that you don’t mind flattening, or use a velvet or satin pad inside the crown to distribute the weight.
- Is it better to attach the crown before or after putting on my makeup? After your makeup is done, so you don’t accidentally smear foundation or powder when adjusting the crown.
- Can I use hair glue instead of pins? It’s not recommended, as it can damage your hair and be difficult to remove. Pins and clips are safer and easier to adjust.
- What if my crown has no loops or band? If it’s just a solid piece, you can use strong double-sided tape designed for skin or hair, but test it first. Alternatively, you can sew small wig clips onto the inside of the crown yourself.
- How do I remove the crown without ruining my hairstyle? Carefully remove the pins and clips, then gently lift the crown off. Use your fingers to fluff the hair back into place and re-spray if needed.
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