Faire Hair!

[Rowan MacD]

   Not all of us have a maidservant to do our sometimes elaborate tresses ^_^,  so what do you do? 
   I wanted to check out some sites for hairpieces to vamp up the garb this season, and get ideas and inspirations for hairstyles from the ladies out there.

  Do you have a favorite source for braids, fasteners or falls if you don't/can't use your own hair?
Bits and pieces.  Colors and cuts.


  Just saw this one on the Sephora site:
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P254650&categoryId=C12673&shouldPaginate=true

[isabelladangelo]

I run down to the hairstick ladies at MDRF and see if they'll do my hair.  :-)  If they aren't there, I spend the $25 it takes to braid my hair over at the hair braiding booth.   If neither of those options are available, I cry.  ...And then I attempt to twist my own hair up with my hairsticks.

[Magpie Flynn]

I have troubles braiding my own hair so I twist my hair starting at the bangs and working back. Gives a "Belle" look to the front and I usually pin the twists into place and let the rest fall free.

I'm really liking the braided headband though, might have to look into securing one for myself!

[Merlin the Elder]

Nim uses products by Paula Young, and has for some time.  It took some doing to convince her to let her natural colour out, which is quite gray now. I happen to like it—the gray hair—a lot, but then I'm quite biased when it comes to her...  She uses Paula Young clip-ons.

My hair is mostly on the chin. For faire, I'll usually put small braids on either side, then sometimes a spiral wrap on the center. I've actually begun to wear the small braids to work as well. I get a lot of smiles on campus. I don't know if it's because they like it, or they're laughing at me, but I don't really care anymore! 

[gem]

A couple threads from last season you might find helpful:
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=16004.0  (This topic has lots of discussion on false hair)

http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=11677.0
(FIVE pages of hairstyle suggestions!)

[Rowan MacD]

  Thanks gem,
   I remember those threads   I got a few ideas for hats and snoods that I used in 2010..
 
  What I would love to see is a hair piece worked with pearls, pins, chains or elaborate ribbon work that would look good with anything from noble garb to merchant class so I can borrow some ideas. for something different this year.
  I like that braid headband, and might just get one to wear with a french hood to hold back the wispies without a billion hairpins and gel.


 

[Captain Teague]

When I wear my elven garb (rarely ) I have some instructions on how to have the Faire braiders do it. I print them off and then let them get a little inventive.

http://www.dreamweaverbraiding.com/braids/legolas.htm

However I now keep a stern eye on both them and Milady...as last time they conspired and wove a few flowers into it.......

[Rowan MacD]

  Just like these! Thanks!

[operafantomet]

I have very long hair. So the trick is to get the start right, the hair close to the head...

My favourite method is to divide the hair into two equal parts, and either braid them, or to "bind" them. I then either roll them around the crown (backhead), or I make it into a bun. Not terribly exciting, but period.

I find that many period hairstyles for everyday use consisted of getting the hair out of the way in one way or another, and by that to make a firm know/roll/whatever where the hat, cap, caul, snood or veil could be attached.

These depictions shows the style I often head for, though sometimes I attach the braids/roll higher on the head:

[Rowan MacD]

  My hair is cut in a shoulder length bob with no layers, so I can't braid.
  I'll be looking to create a removable hair piece, to decorate at my whim.

[isabelladangelo]

I've seen fake hair pieces like hair buns and braids that look pretty realistic.  They are sold at some of the re-enactments I've been too.   

http://www.amazon.com/Lattice-Hair-Glamorous-Hairpiece-Available/dp/B006DD85PK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_bt_1

Turns out, they even sell them on amazon. 

[Anna Iram]

These are great! I've been wanting to create something like this. Good price. You could certainly sew a ribbon or a sring of pearl thtough if you wished to.

[Rowan MacD]

 Thank You!!! 
  That's exactly what I'm looking for!

[gem]

I have one of those! We had a visiting vendor at our fair that was selling them for $5 apiece. Mine even has pearls in it.

...However, I have *never* figured out how to attach it to my head and have it look like anything other than something stuck to the back of my head. It's almost exactly the same color as my own hair, but there just doesn't seem to be a seamless way to affix it and have it look like it belongs there.

[Sitara]

When you attach the bun to your head, leave a hank of your real hair out. Braid it and wrap it around the base of the hair piece. This helps tremendously with blending it in.