Shelley Gifford liked to braid—but two years ago, through social media, she stumbled on a whole new world of creativity.
In 2014, she found accounts where moms had posted pictures of hairstyles created for their daughters. Having a little girl herself, she decided to follow suit.
“Growing up I always loved braiding, I would take any opportunity to braid family and friends hair,” she told Epoch Times over email.
However, this was basically her only experience in hair styling.
“Back then, I only ever knew how to French and Dutch braid, I wasn’t aware that so many other braids existed,” she said.
And so she learned—a lot.
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12809644_997009757002393_685229952182608671_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
“I started following other hair and braiding accounts: asking questions and continuously watching video tutorials. I also attended braiding and up-do workshops, anything to advance my skills,” she said.
Soon enough the results began to show.
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F13006570_1029999267036775_7932863568134513230_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Her daughter, Grace, 6, has been modeling her creations, sporting a new hairstyle almost every day.
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F13000369_1025517800818255_6970662071627115672_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
“I like trying to be creative with my braiding,” Gifford said. “Sometimes it seems more like art than an everyday hairstyle which I find fun and unique and then sometimes I may just recreate a great style that I have found on the Internet from fellow braiders.”
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12933157_1024931327543569_5556125058414763037_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Gifford says braiding is the easy part. After two years she has almost 800 hair styles under her belt. But that’s actually where the difficulty lies.
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12592271_1023613107675391_4246348398870284209_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
“I always try to think of a new style for the following day,” she said. “It is becoming more of a challenge to think of the next days’ hair style.”
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12963355_1023265561043479_8826586866719245787_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Also, during the week she only has about 15-20 minutes in the morning to make her idea reality.
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12512759_1022478237788878_4950647740118541623_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Still, she doesn’t seem to lack in enthusiasm.
“I love that I am doing something that I am so passionate about,” she said. “I don’t see it as work.”
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12938185_1021816607855041_1566845693360490565_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Gifford already holds braiding clinics for other moms, and this year she plans to launch online tutorials.
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12931301_1021256681244367_775563553409249493_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12932624_1019865514716817_6597421330689998562_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Gifford said it’s “exciting that Grace gets to be a very special part of Pretty Little Braids and we can share this time together.”
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12931276_1017907764912592_2881310284094576070_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Not to mention Grace’s hair gets some attention at school and the “feedback is fantastic,” Gifford said.
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12717975_1017033694999999_6760691672430683271_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12592535_1016058675097501_3667877838861678351_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12670897_1013850271985008_6877740214738340446_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12143231_1011867705516598_4257625626235770346_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F1536588_1008973505806018_8318489694052905949_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F1919274_1006546412715394_1537560479234585187_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F1910385_1005841222785913_403033450959506667_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F11885209_1005230462846989_3670313147886633403_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F10363330_1004106252959410_3203195147414140822_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12800343_1003706842999351_4282162776811043632_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12806251_1001668906536478_5589670933825924292_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12791006_999788013391234_8786505401823592794_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F11694960_999321960104506_5179162362260501535_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12814480_997535233616512_2706633395861928800_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12809644_997009757002393_685229952182608671_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12803142_995071427196226_6952610351251331745_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12512480_992322700804432_7186149720005757546_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12744329_990288181007884_377216385247201726_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12744111_989718334398202_9085773677747073766_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12662488_985706771466025_389066425731636186_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12647417_979049895465046_3396671703479051620_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F11183360_972638496106186_870725319463487462_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12510357_970284366341599_6036365689873651570_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F21617_969795999723769_4380578574082560206_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F11041095_942293869140649_9024233693788802845_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F11988778_941932985843404_6039229038986140921_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F12190008_935331263170243_2748856188237395926_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F17019_934613549908681_5084580272289676772_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![(Courtesy of Shelley Gifford/Pretty Little Braids)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2F18%2F11988392_934171049952931_6667894351595909929_n-674x674.jpg&w=1200&q=75)