how to deal with modern hairdos

[LadyMorna]

I recently bit the bullet and got my shoulder-length hair cut short. It works better that way in mundane life, but what shall I do at Faire? I could wear one of my wigs on days that aren't blazing hot. My character is minor nobility, Scottish highlands. I know most Highland women wore a kertch on their heads once they married, and that would work with a less dressy outfit, but not my "fancier" garb. What sort of hats/headcoverings do some of you other short-haired ladies wear with your garb?

Lady Morna

[CapnFayeCutler]

Here's a link to a prior discussion about shorter hair... Hope that helps!

http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=243.0

[Cilean]

I never go to faire without headgear, just as the people of this time period would not have done.  If they lost their hair, and they did, they would wear extra hair or fake hair.  I have several pieces I have made myself and some have 'tape' or a white twill tape plaited in so that I can tie it around my head so that my coifs and escoffions wear correctly.    Even my French Hood I am working on is dependant on using this technique.

Look at these sites on hair taping:

http://www.mfgraffix.com/hird/faoilt/hairtape.html

http://community.livejournal.com/longhair/2412414.html

http://www.heatherspages.net/Nuremberg%20dress/hair%20and%20head/hair%20taping/hair_taping.htm


A YouTube Infrmational
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjc4GJGUZBM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqbAdvL8kME


I purchase Synthetic hair that is about 40" long, and I use this to make my braids. 
Here is one place to find what I am talking about! So no one ever knows how long my real hair is, it is covered and kept away like a good Elizabethan lady, if I am doing Florentine, then I use hair pieces to give my hair the Omph I need and then I use a veil.


http://www.beautyink.com/detail.asp?product_sysno={3E8C56B5-E4D8-49B2-9A34-0BFC53E72480}&category={6FDFC68D-6819-4E84-85EA-2F6061587357}&cat_name=Synthetic-Hair&section=ha


Cilean

[sealion]

***thread hijack***

Cilean- I would love to see photos of how to wear the fake hair for a Florentine style. I have the fake hair braided with "tapes" but can't figure out how to workit into my own hair.

[McGuinness]

It is true that no one in the period would have gone about with their head uncovered so you can probably cover up most of your modern 'do with a hat or headwear of some kind. You can use a snood to cover most of your head and can cover up the back if you can use a headband or pins to get your hair back that far. (Not sure if you can see it in my profile pic - my hair is only about shoulder length there but the snood covers most of it and I used a barette for my bangs and bobby pins and a pony tail for the rest to hide the length).

If anyone asks about it, you can also make it a part of your character. In the time, someone may have had their hair cut as a treatment for an illness like a fever, or as a penance from the church for some sin (usually pride or the like).

Unless you dye your hair neon green or cut in a mohawk or something outrageous, you can always cover it or make an excuse for it, unless you are a cast member and your director wants you HA.

[FortuneRose]

I'm not sure how well my photo is seen in my avi, but at the time my hair was cropped REAL short.  I had hacked off a perm and tons of multicolored terrible cosmetology class dye jobs.  It was a short, pixie-like bob, which didn't work at the festival well.  I just wore a black snood and ten my attifet veil over top.  Covered well

[gem]

Lynn McMasters has a great photo tutorial for a period hairstyle done with hair that's pretty short:

http://www.lynnmcmasters.com/hairdo.html

[SleepyArcher]

just shave it all off, that's what I did!   


hehe

[Margaret]

My hair (usually shoulder length or a bit shorter) is always covered by a caul - so no one ever sees it.

Actually - I get alot of comments like "It's strange to see you with hair!" or "Oh wow!  You DO have hair" if people see me in real life or before I get my hat and caul on for the day.   

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

My hair is of medium length. I wear a snood or caul most of the time with my headwear.

[Katie Bookwench]

My hair is also short - though while it was longer, I still wore the linen caul/snood under my hats.

That way, all I had to do was put it up in the morning, and I could forget about it. No more worrying whether my style still looked good, or whether my locks needed to be brushed after running around site.

It's also cooler to have my hair up and away from my neck on those hot days.

[Cobaltblu]

If someone asks just say you were robbed and the robbers cut your hair in this strange fashion.

Regards,

CB

[tigrlily64]

Or, if you're a paytron, ignore it.  You don't have to be HA, and if anyone asks, it's not their business.