Hairbow Restoration

This may seem like a silly post to some, but if you have girls and they wear hairbows, I hope this will be helpful for you!  My girls seem to be hard on just about everything they lay hands on...clothes, tights, shoes, socks, and yes, hairbows.  It doesn't matter how good the bow looks before they wear it, it always seems to come back home smooshed beyond recognition.  If you try to adjust the loops, they don't always cooperate and stay where you rearrange them.  So, here is my solution!

Here are a few of those obliterated bows I was telling you about.....very sad!

This is my answer!  I LOVE this stuff...it doesn't discolor and you control how it works.  I personally like my bows stiff.  I don't like them soft and flexible, they just don't hold their shape that way.  Another thing I love about Sta-Flo is how stinkin CHEAP it is!  The average ratio is 1/2 water and 1/2 Sta-Flo, but I like to use 1/3 water and 2/3 Sta-Flo.  Obviously, the more starch/less water you add, the stiffer your bow will turn out.  I think I bought this bottle for under $2 at the grocery store in the laundry aisle, but I know I've also seen it at Walmart as well.

Totally saturate your bow with the starch.  I use a small spray bottle with a misting spray.  I don't think it really matters, just spray your heart out until it's totally wet.  I also use a cookie sheet for my spraying surface.  It was a HUGE cookie sheet I got at a yard sale for about 15 cents thinking it would fit in my oven...yeah right.  So it's perfect for this!

Once your bow is saturated, start adjusting the loops.  Depending on how out of shape your bow is, it may take a couple of minutes of working it.  If you bow is well-made, it can handle the manipulation without falling apart.

The final step is to just let it air-dry, overnight is best.  Below is the aqua one from the pic above...amazing what a little Sta-Flo will do for your bows!!

Thanks for letting me share :o)