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How to Make a Jewelry Hair Spiral
Wire with Rhinestones, Pearls, or Flowers
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These delicate-looking hair accessories are easy to make! Sprinkle them in upswept hair for weddings, prom, or other special events, or twist in a few above a ponytail for a more casual look. All you need is a bit of wire and a rhinestone, pearl, or flower.
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Skill Level
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Beginner
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Time Required
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Just A Few Minutes
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| Materials | Comments |
| Wire | You want wire sufficiently stiff and sturdy that it will retain its coil (memory). I like 21 or 20 gauge full hard wire for this. You can find the nearest millimeter equivalent here. |
| Ornament | A rhinestone, pearl, special bead, silk flower, perhaps a preserved real flower - use you imagination. I like small and sparkly decorations, like a 6-mm rhinestone. |
| Glue or Solder | If you use a bead with a large hole or a half-drilled bead, you can run the wire through the bead. Otherwise, glue or solder your ornament onto the center of the coil. Also, a dab of nail polish or glue or a melted bead of metal will make the end of the coil smooth and polished. |
| Pliers | I use a roundnose to start my coil and flatnose or my fingers once it is started. You could use a commercial spiral maker, if available. |
| Wire Cutters | Preferably flush cutters. |
| File | To smooth the cut edges of the wire. |
If you are using a bead, simply string it onto your spool of wire, bending the wire sharply around and around the bead. Continue for 1-1/2 or 2 loose turns around the bead. Cut the wire and smooth its end. For a half-drilled bead, such as a pearl, sharply bend the tip of the wire to form a right angle (90 degree), and make a loose coil perpendicular to the tip. Set or glue the half-drilled bead onto the 'spike'. If you are securing a rhinestone, flower, or pearl, do this:
 You can leave the wire on the spool or cut about 6 inches (~15 cm) and smooth the ends with a file. Grasp the edge of the wire using roundnose pliers and bend the pliers (or wire) around to form a tiny loop.
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 Hold the loop in the jaws of your flatnose pliers and wrap the wire around the small loop with your fingers. Continue until you have 1-1/2 or 2 complete turns around the small loop. Keep in mind, you could make other shapes, such as triangles, squares, or abstract-looking ovals.
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 Cut the wire. You can adjust the tightness of the spiral using your fingers. Solder or glue your setting onto the small loop in the center of the spiral.
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 You may wish to add a bead of glue or heat the end of the spiral to form a small ball. Otherwise, make sure that the end is filed smooth. Hair spirals are very easy to use! Simply set them where you want them and gently twist them into the hair. They look especially charming in groups of three.
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More Jewelry Making Projects
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