5. Under the Sea Octopus
Bringing an aquatic adventure to life on short hair is surprisingly simple with the clever use of pipe cleaners. To create the under-the-sea octopus, start by gathering the top section of the hair into a neat central bun, which will serve as the head of the octopus. You can wrap this bun in a blue or purple mesh bun cover or use temporary hair spray to color it. To give the octopus its signature face, attach two large googly eyes and a small felt smile to the front of the bun using hair-safe adhesive or bobby pins.
For the eight dangling tentacles, slide four long, fuzzy pipe cleaners horizontally through the base of the bun so they hang down evenly on both sides. Twist the pipe cleaners slightly so they curl upward at the ends, mimicking the natural movement of an octopus swimming through the ocean. You can spray the rest of the loose short hair with blue hair chalk to look like ocean waves, creating a complete marine ecosystem right on her head.