Dramatic/Over The Top Protective Updos (Pics)

[MadeiraD]

I wear my hair up always now, and I do think it's really helping me avoid damage, however having my hair always straight back makes me feel a little dowdy (my look tends to be a little eccentric/rock n' roll and as elegant as a chignon is I just don't always want that look).

Currently I'm experimenting with using rat rolls and bumpits, and false hair to add volume without teasing, waiting for some false bangs to arrive (which I will cut to modify) and doing my updos a little looser/softer.

I love the look of Edwardian updos and beehives (I'm planning to make a big rat to use to create those with no teasing)

I love a big dramatic look, and I'd love to find ways to protect my hair that incorporate the dramatic style I adore.

Here are some fun Edwardian ones which should be doable with hair pieces instead of teasing:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c36/SurrealPinUp/1908mayhairstyles_zps47144334.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/SurrealPinUp/media/1908mayhairstyles_zps47144334.jpg.html)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c36/SurrealPinUp/1908mayhairstyles2_zps977fccdc.jpg
http://americanduchess.blogspot.com/2012/02/v45-edwardian-hair-mysteries-solved.html and some more here



I'd love to figure out a way to do this by pinning hair over a hair piece, and then pinning the curls
https://31.media.tumblr.com/e0187a38b0e7784e94c6672be19835b9/tumblr_n0ax2mZsU61qj6wguo1_500.jpg

[CurlyCap]

I have NO IDEA how to style straight hair, but I got curious about how to do some big updos without teasing. Here's one LHC-friendly one I found:

Mostly giant pin curling:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X72_1cOARX8

[Rosa Harris]

I know how to do styles like the one you are asking about. You place a round hair piece to the back of the crown. Braiding the section you are pinning over and tucking it under the hair peice will give you a solid platform to pin the hair piece to so it does not move. Hair eicepIt has to have a good bit of length - I'd say at least 12 inches. You can tease and hairspray the dickens out of it till stiff before pinning it on. If its synthetic, don't expect to get it back the way it was - just keep it as a beehive hair form. Your own hair you will want to roll on large curlers with jell and let dry. Just lay the curls up over the teased hair piece and spray into place. You use a hairdryer to set the spray, It has to be a super-hold spray. Actually the last spray I was using for this stuff was made by white rain.

[CurlyCap]

Totally doable with a rat instead of teasing. Can make it even bigger with a giant rat and saving some hair along the hairline to do pin curls onto the main structure. And, of course, pomade instead of spray.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMm81fPJ08E

[SkyChild]

I have a couple of those doughnut things which I've used on top of my head before to create a Marie Antoinette inspired do. Admittedly my hair isn't that long but even then it looked pretty impressive for a Hogmanay party! Your Edwardian style ones will be exactly the same. Practice and you'll soon be able to do them easily.

I'll try and rake out a picture. As posters have said - the base has to be firm. Usually a crown braid is a good base to pile hair on top of. Then use a rat (or those doughnut thingies)
I put half of my hair through the middle of the doughnut on top of my head and pinned it to the outside, then put the hair around my head up and pinned on the outside to disguise rats. Easy enough really. Once my hair is longer, I'll be doing it again for more height. Then add ostentatious jewellery, hair clips and gems and veils!


https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/1546459_681245975231843_1915115321_n.jpg

[Rosa Harris]

what my mom would make with a hair piece and some heavy spray was essentially a huge hair-rat that was re-usuable. She had a number of these. She special made them for her clients I've even seen her add chicken wire to the structure for truly huge styles that was sewn to the hair-peace base. These were usually for competition hair shows and were extremely elaborate. You round it and mold it into the shape. Back then the spray they used was actually a lacquer so it was much more stiff.

ETA: Skychild: lovely updo there :)

I hate my hubby threw away my hair rats. He did not know what these furrballs were when he moved it I was livid. I had some truly huge old-style ones made by matting my own hair fall between my fingers and over time adding to it.

Women used to keep a vase on their beauty stand to collect their hair fall into to use for different things such as making rats. To me natural rats work much better than plastic ones. Mainly because you can always re-shape them - work the ends together and things like that.

I've been shying away from doing these styles because of the damage involved - well products. I just don't trust anything with alcohol and such in it on my hair.

Hopefully I will get around to uploading my mom's old hair drawings she did. Some of them are quite fascinating. They are all bee-hives and updo's from years ago she drew them back in the 50's and 60's. I have some pics of her styles she did.. maybe upload them now that would be fun. BRB with that.

posted em as a blog http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/entry.php?b=116465

[chen bao jun]

That was interesting RosaHarris. I remember hairstyles like that.

ETA: Quick and dirty translation of the french in the article MadeiraD put up. French-speaking members feel free to correct. I bolded the part with the actual instructions. Notice how even a hundred years ago, they really recommend fake hair:

'Greek style has not only invaded the domain of city fashions and interior decorating; its influence is being seen on hairstyles. Evening hairstyles are now low, with ample wavy sections and the knot or Greek chignon rolled up softly on the neck. This new type of hairstyle needs new types of hair ornaments and so we see ‘bandelettes’, lace galloon in gold or silver, and crowns of leaves finishing off the classic look of our elegant ladies. The chignon is placed a little higher or lower according to which way better suits the wearer’s profile and the entire silhouette, but the front and sides of the hairstyle remain soft and make a soft halo around the face. For all of these styles, the hair is generally parted into three sections. The section behind is gathered together with an elastic (they say ‘cordon’) or held up with tortoise shell pins (bobby pins weren’t invented yet). The two front sections whether forming bands or made bouffant are pulled over a rat or simply held in place by combs. In certain cases, once the front has been arranged, the back is taken out and all of the hair formed into a Greek style knot, as our illustrations show. A low coiffure isn’t suitable for certain face shapes, while a high coiffure suits everyone, which is the reason that it remains stylish. The illustrations show several charming examples, which are created by placing rats on the top of the head and covering them completely (with hair). This style is recommended for those with stronger features or when you are wearing wide brimmed hats. In this case, it’s best to part the hair on top of the head, take a lock of hair and braid it making a solid foundation for the rest of the style. Once the rat has been attached at this place, you can lift up the rest of the hair around it and makes large curls, a knot, a roll or a braid to finish the style. The latest type of rats and artificial bouffants are so lightweight that they can be used with endangering your hair, they don’t make your head feel hot and they are not heavy. But they add a lot of solidity and permit you to create flattering styles. It is better to use these than to tease your own hair or to curl it too often.'

[ravenreed]

They are called Hair Receivers and I have one. I went to a garage sale a while back where one was for sale. Since I was the ONLY person he met who what the heck it was and how it was used, the fellow gave it to me. How awesome is that?!



Skychild: lovely updo there :)

I hate my hubby threw away my hair rats. He did not know what these furrballs were when he moved it I was livid. I had some truly huge old-style ones made by matting my own hair fall between my fingers and over time adding to it.

Women used to keep a vase on their beauty stand to collect their hair fall into to use for different things such as making rats. To me natural rats work much better than plastic ones. Mainly because you can always re-shape them - work the ends together and things like that.

I've been shying away from doing these styles because of the damage involved - well products. I just don't trust anything with alcohol and such in it on my hair.

Hopefully I will get around to uploading my mom's old hair drawings she did. Some of them are quite fascinating. They are all bee-hives and updo's from years ago she drew them back in the 50's and 60's. I have some pics of her styles she did.. maybe upload them now that would be fun. BRB with that.

[MadeiraD]

I bought a big bundle of kanekalon to make rats out of (husband is too grossed out by real shed hair :sad)

[Of the Fae]

My God I love those....
When my hair was much longer I did a pompadour style bun a number of times. Very cool if your hair is full and dense but way too fine to wear down.

[SkyChild]

Thanks Rosa harris.

Madiera D, please post some pictures to show your lovely updos. I'll practice some and put them up too.
I was going to post about this style of thing myself as braids always make me seem like a young fresh country maid, and I wanted something with a bit more drama. Going to try and do some Georgian ones too.

[MadeiraD]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/12665ff5937549f7e3794c46bb1ebe5d/tumblr_msfc78gYGM1qb5grro2_500.jpg

Well there's one attempt

[ErinLeigh]

I love it!

[SkyChild]

Oooh!
You're gorgeous!

I like your pink bit, and the hairstyle is really good for a first attempt!

[cosmic crusader]

I've made a giant rat from shed hair and I can't figure out how to use it without fear of it 1. Showing, or 2. Falling out. I will be watching this thread with interest. Big, over the top hair is just my style.

[durgidog]

MadeiraD that looks fantastic!!!!

[Rosa Harris]

on my larger one I sewed onto/into it three of the small clips used to secure clip in weave. You could also attach it to a small hair comb. I always pulled the section that would be right under the rat together and braided it about an inch and tied with a thread wrap. This is a very small section to give a secure base for attaching the rat. The rat can also be attached with hairpins -- you push through ad then flio them and push back to secure them. Last one does not work with my super-thing hair.

[MiaBeth]

Neat thread -- I love seeing the vintage hair then and now!

[Tall Blond(ish)]

How about this?
http://madisonmooregallery.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ditavonteese.jpg?w=480

[Ocelan]

I agree that those romantic Edwardian style big hairdos would look great on you MadeiraD! I have also been dabbling with them slightly, but my straight and lank hair rarely does what I want. I tried that one which CurlyCap linked for a vampire photoshoot (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4539&d=1369753454) last year and I thought it was cool, even though I should have attempted to get some volume first by sleeping with a top knot at the very top of my hair which I nowadays do. It's a great protective sleep hairstyle too! I secure mine with a claw clip. Oh and it helps give straight hair some bun waves which help with the rolling of hairs and such.

Vintagious (video CurlyCap linked was from her) has also other cool retro and old looking hairstyles. She mainly does pin-up type 50's hairstyles with victory rolls, but there are several olden style hairstyles from her too. She does tease her hair in some videos, but I think that's completely unnecessary most of the time, especially if you use hair rats and such for extra volume. I really liked her recent geisha inspired video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFJ-m0JLP-I&list=UUWetg6EP-uy8ddCoR143Xug) which I also imagine might suit your style.

[SkyChild]

Ocelan, that's a lovely vampire photo. Nice elegant updo too.

For those wanting to do victory rolls and similar - I do mine without any teasing or backcombing whatsoever and they come out fine.
Start rolling from the bottom of the hair all the way up and then pin. Sometimes I twist the bottom of the hair a little to help me hold it together while rolling. Practice a bit but it should be easy to anyone who can cope with a complicated braided style!

[MadeiraD]

Ocelan, that's beautiful! I tried a beehive today but I'm having trouble with tangling with the length in the back, and securing it over the padding

[CurlyCap]

Found some more (I love Iris J. She really understands what it feels like to put your hair up).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5NZr1ne9I0 (I love the wig as a hair rat). More pin curls necessary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bR9pm4kURU (Lots of volume with no rats at all)

[SkyChild]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUPijJ1g6l8

This lady has a few videos of Edwardian styles. She does backcomb, but says you could use rats/hairpieces instead.

How are you all getting on? Any more photos of our own ones?

[StickyMane]

I have NO IDEA how to style straight hair, but I got curious about how to do some big updos without teasing. Here's one LHC-friendly one I found:

Mostly giant pin curling:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X72_1cOARX8

Wow thanks for finding this and posting this! I am so excited to try this.