Individual braid accessory with bead stopper

Abstract

A hair accessory includes a hair fastener portion, an elongated portion and a bead retaining portion. The hair fastener portion fastens the hair accessory to a hair braid; the elongated portion is able to be braided into the hair braid; and the bead retaining portion holds beads in place in the hair braid. The hair accessory negates a need for rubber bands for holding the beads, is easily removable without causing hair damage/tangling, reusable and easy to use with any hair length and any standard bead size.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid, the hair accessory comprising:
 a hair fastener portion configured to fasten to the hair, toward a top of the hair braid;   an elongated portion attached to the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion of a sufficient flexibility to enable the elongated portion to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid; and   a bead retaining portion attached to the elongated portion, the bead retaining portion configured to fasten underneath a final bead located toward a bottom of the hair braid such that the beads are held on the hair braid.   
     
     
         2 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the hair fastener portion includes a first flexible material, wherein the elongated portion includes a second flexible material and wherein the bead retaining portion includes a third flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The hair accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the first flexible material and the third flexible material is a low gauge wire. 
     
     
         4 . The hair accessory of  claim 3 , wherein the second flexible material is a plastic thread. 
     
     
         5 . The hair accessory of  claim 4 , wherein the hair fastener portion is coiled. 
     
     
         6 . The hair accessory of  claim 5 , wherein the bead retaining portion includes a loop configured to be bent underneath the final bead. 
     
     
         7 . The hair accessory of  claim 6 , wherein the hair fastener portion includes a rounded tip. 
     
     
         8 . The hair accessory of  claim 7 , wherein the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion and the bead retaining portion are fixed together. 
     
     
         9 . A hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid, the hair accessory comprising:
 a hair fastener portion including a first flexible material formed into a coil and configured to fasten into the hair, toward a top of the hair braid;   an elongated portion attached to the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion including a second flexible material elongated able to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid; and   a bead retaining portion attached to the elongated portion, the bead retaining portion including a third flexible material formed into a loop and configured to be bent underneath a final bead located toward a bottom of the hair braid such that the beads are held in the hair braid.   
     
     
         10 . The hair accessory of  claim 9 , wherein the first flexible material and the third flexible material is a low gauge wire. 
     
     
         11 . The hair accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the second flexible material is a plastic thread. 
     
     
         12 . The hair accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the hair fastener portion includes a rounded tip. 
     
     
         13 . The hair accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion and the bead retaining portion are fixed together. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a hair accessory for retaining beads on a hair braid, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the hair accessory including:
 a hair fastener portion; 
 an elongated portion attached to the hair fastener portion, the elongated portion of a sufficient flexibility to enable the elongated portion to be seamlessly braided into the hair braid; and 
 a bead retaining portion attached to the elongated portion; 
   fastening the hair fastener portion to the hair, toward a top of the hair braid;   braiding the elongated portion into the hair braid whilst braiding the hair;   attaching the beads to the hair braid; and   manipulating the bead retaining portion underneath a final bead located toward a bottom of the hair braid, thereby holding the beads on the hair braid.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of manipulating the bead retaining portion underneath the final bead includes the step of:
 bending the bead retaining portion underneath the final bead.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of removing the hair accessory from the hair braid:
 unfolding the bead retaining portion from underneath the final bead;   removing the beads from the hair braid;   undoing the hair braid;   unfastening the hair fastener portion from the hair; and   pulling the hair accessory from the hair.