Top Sprout
Tiny, and out of her eyes.
Follow it step by step in the free app.
- Time
- About 2 minutes
- Steps
- 4
- Level
- Easy
- Hair type
- Every hair type
- Ages
- Toddlers and young children
- Hair length
- Very short hair, above her ears, upwards
You'll need wide-tooth comb, fine-mist water bottle, mini elastics. For curly and coily hair, also leave-in conditioner.
The front and top hair gathered into one small ponytail on top of her head, so it stands up like a sprout. Made for very short hair and hair that's growing out.
Her job
She holds the elastic ready on her finger.
The steps
Where the method changes for curly and coily hair, the step says so underneath. In the app, choose Curly or Coily under “her hair today” and you only see the steps for her hair.
Step 1 of 4
Mist the front and top
Mist the front and top of her hair until it's damp, not dripping.
Before you move on
The hair feels damp and lies flat.
Curly and coily hair
Detangle it damp
Mist her hair until it's damp, not dripping, and smooth a little leave-in through with your fingers. Work in sections, ends first, fingers then the wide-tooth comb.
Before you move on: Your fingers slide through each section, root to tip.
Technique: Detangling curly and coily hair
Step 2 of 4
Gather the top
Put your fingertips at her hairline and comb the front and top hair back and up to the top of her head, between her forehead and her crown. Hold it in one hand.
Before you move on
All the hair from her hairline to the top of her head is in your hand.
Curly and coily hair
Gather the top
Gather the front and top hair up to the top of her head with your fingertips, not the comb, without dragging at her hairline. Hold it in one hand.
Before you move on: All the hair from her hairline to the top of her head is in your hand, and her hairline is soft, not pulled.
Step 3 of 4
Wrap the elastic
Wrap a mini elastic round the gathered hair two or three times, close to her head.
Before you move on
The sprout stands up on its own when you let go.
Curly and coily hair
Wrap the elastic
Wrap a mini elastic round the gathered hair two or three times, close to her head.
Before you move on: The sprout sits up in a puff on its own when you let go.
Step 4 of 4
Check from the front
Stand in front of her and look.
Before you move on
Her forehead is clear and the sprout sits in the middle.
If it goes wrong
What usually happens: The short bits at the front slip out of the elastic.
The fix: Gather from a little further forward, so the shortest hair at her hairline is in your hand before the elastic goes on. Mist the front first so short hair holds together.
More in Fix It: It won't stay in: falls out within an hour · Her hair is too short for the style I picked · She's crying or says it hurts
Common questions
How long does Top Sprout take?
About 2 minutes once you know it, in 4 steps. The first few times take longer; the steps tell you what to check before you move on, so you are never guessing.
Does Top Sprout work on curly or coily hair?
Yes. Top Sprout suits every hair type. Where the method changes for curly and coily hair, the step above gives that version: detangle it damp, work in sections and keep the hairline soft. In the app, choosing Curly or Coily shows only the steps for her hair.
What do I need for Top Sprout?
Wide-tooth comb, fine-mist water bottle and mini elastics. For curly and coily hair, add leave-in conditioner. Each one is on the Kit page with what it is for and what to avoid.
What usually goes wrong with Top Sprout?
The short bits at the front slip out of the elastic. Gather from a little further forward, so the shortest hair at her hairline is in your hand before the elastic goes on. Mist the front first so short hair holds together.
What if Top Sprout won't stay in?
Fine or smooth hair doesn't grip a single elastic. Wrap it one more time than feels right. It should be firm. Then take a second elastic and wrap it 3cm below the first. Two anchor points hold far better than one through a school day, especially on fine hair. Fix It has the full set of checks for a style that falls out.
Do this in the app
The page tells you how. The app does four things a page cannot:
- Her hair, not hair in general. Choose Straight, Wavy, Thick, Curly or Coily under "her hair today" and the steps and pictures change to the method for her hair.
- A check before every step. Each step ends with what it should look and feel like, so you know it is right before you move on.
- Fix It, mid-style. When something is not right, "Something's not right" opens the fix for it without leaving the step.
- The diary. Add a photo and a note when you finish, and see what you have done and what to try next.
Free, with six everyday styles and all eight techniques. No account, no ads, no tracking.
