Mermaid Crazy Hair Day Idea

Does anyone else get a kick out of those nostalgic Facebook memories that pop up? It’s like a mini time capsule, transporting you back to a specific day and reminding you of what you were up to. Recently, I stumbled upon a photo from last year’s Crazy Hair/Hat Day at my kids’ school, and it hit me – I completely forgot to share my daughter’s mermaid-inspired creation on Inspiration Made Simple! Today I’m going to rectify that and share how I created Mermaid Crazy Hair using a braid and my Cricut Explore.

This was a huge hit among the first-grade female crowd! It’s incredibly cute, surprisingly easy to achieve, and is sure to turn heads at your child’s next Crazy Hair Day.

The beauty of this hairstyle lies in its simplicity. Here’s what you’ll need:

Hair tie
Green hairspray (temporary or washable) or green chalk
Cardstock (various colors for the mermaid)
Scissors or Cricut machine (optional)
Glue stick or hot glue gun
Fishtail braid know-how (don’t worry, I’ll share an easy video tutorial!)

How to Make a Paper Mermaid

If you have a Cricut machine, you can create a mermaid silhouette from cardstock in seconds using my Mermaid Braid File in Cricut Design Space. I used one of the paper doll from one of the Cricut Cartridges and simply sheared off her legs! Alternatively, you can use scissors and construction paper to design your own mermaid. No artistic skills required – a simple mermaid shape will do the trick!

How to Do a Fishtail Braid

Now that the mermaid is put together, it’s time to braid! If you’re a braiding pro, you can skip the video. But for those who need a refresher (or are new to the braiding world!), watch this easy to follow tutorial:

Here comes the transformation! You have two options to create a dazzling green braid that resembles a mermaid’s tail. You can either spray the braid with temporary green hairspray or color it with green chalk (dampening the chalk beforehand will make the color pop). We went the chalk route because it’s what I had on hand. It didn’t really show up in the photos, but it was quite obvious in person.

Adding the Mermaid

Now comes the fun part – incorporating your adorable mermaid creation! Slide the paper mermaid into the top section of the braid. If you’re concerned about it staying put throughout the day, you can secure it with a barrette hot glued to the back of the mermaid. Simply pin the barrette above the braid for a touch of extra security.

This mermaid hair idea, when prepared ahead, is easy to accomplish, even on busy mornings. It’s quick, cute, and guaranteed to spark conversation and compliments. So, the next time your child has Crazy Hair Day, ditch the stress and dive into the world of mermaids with this adorable hairstyle!

And before you go, check out the Wild Duct Tape hat my son and I made for him:

We winged the process and never took photos of the process, but it was easy to make. My son LOVED it and also received tons of comments. I just did a Google search for tutorials and found this one for you – it’s a bit different than the process I used, but it still makes a great hat: