Help with Trekkie hairstyles for an OC? <3

[GrowingOut]

Hello everyone! I've been a long time lover of these forums, and my hair is now down to my knees.

In a few months I will be going to a con with my friends as my Star Trek character, our ship's Bajoran Chief of Security. However, I would like to have a more Trekkie hairstyle than just the simple LWB I wear most days. Does anyone know of any styles that would fit a Star Trek uniform, while also being fun? They should hopefully need minimal fuss once made, as I need them to survive 8-10 hours.

I look like this:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ENElkAYWkAADKgq?format=jpg&name=medium

So I was wondering if you had any ideas?

Thank you!! <3

[Laurab]

That sounds so fun!
I've never been to a con, but good friends of mine are long time cosplayers, they always have an amazing time.

I don't know a ton about Star treck, what exactly are you looking for?
Do you want it up? down? braids? buns? Do you use heatstyling or hairspray?

I've been watching a lot of the youtube channel silvousplaits lately, and she does a lot of braids inspired by fantasy shows, historic fiction, and actual history. I don't think she has star treck stuff (though I think she has star wars) but it might be a place to look for inspiration. My hair isn't long enough for 80% of her stuff, but it's still really interesting to watch.
Just as a thought, here's her tutorial for a star wars inspired crown braid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0ptCiA8pm8

[GrowingOut]

I think I would like braids mainly, and hopefully something to show off my length! if all else fails a crown braid or oval bun could work! But I want to look good in uniform. :)

[Laurab]

I think I would like braids mainly, and hopefully something to show off my length! if all else fails a crown braid or oval bun could work! But I want to look good in uniform. :)

In that case I'm just going to double down on my silvousplaits suggestion :laugh:
She's really a queen of braiding hair, and I appreciate that she shows it all on her own head, since most of us don't have a magical helper person to braid our hair for us.
The ones that spring to mind for me are the second look in this video (EDIT: I mean first look, not second, but that's just my own imagination lol, you might like the second better!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puzgpBoesss
Or maybe the third in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNKyau560wA&t=235s

but I'd just scroll through and see what inspires you :)

[GrowingOut]

Thank you!

[cjk]

First off, I love you. Trek rules!

Go back to Next Generation and Voyager for guidance. Female hairstyles were discussed with regards to Ensign Ro and also Captain Kathy.

Or you can always go on the sites and get the canon explanation, but basically most next-generation hairstyles were out of the way. A lot of them are up but most of them were at least out of your face.

Part of it has to do with rank, though. Deanna Troi, for instance, never seemed to obey uniform guidelines. At any level.

Since Ro Laren was Bajoran her styles might be a good starting point.

Or you could always do a headband like Major Kira. Particularly in the dark mirror universe.

[Robot Ninja]

If you're going to be in uniform, I'd suggest a bun rather than showing off your length. Troi was the only one rocking long hair loose and free in the TNG era, and she didn't wear a uniform. Everyone else with long hair wore it tied back or bunned. Some of the Bajoran women on DS9 wore braided buns, so you might consider one of those, as a nod to your character's culture while still looking suitable for the uniform.

[MusicalSpoons]

The main Trek species that come to mind for wearing hair down are the Cardassians - either very inappropriate or very ironic for a Bajoran character, depending on how you view it! There are also the Klingons and the girls, Molly O'Brien and Naomi Wildman. I guess the humans with shorter hair tended to wear it down, but beyond bob or CBL it was mostly up, especially for the officers.

My first thought was a braided bun, though a braid worn down would probably go okay as a Bajoran (I mean they still wore their earrings so safety evidently wasn't a huge concern, so a long braid I would think would be no more of a problem). If it will shred badly though, I'd still lean towards bunning it. Ooh, maybe a rose or vortex bun for something a bit different :D

[Chromis]

Actually there were quite a lot of women with their hair down even in TNG, but most of them (like Ensign Ro) had collarbone to shoulder length hair. A lot of the longer hair is really in ponytails.

I think Dax looks like she is rocking a bumpit and DS9 is in the same timeline. She has a few hairstyles, although mostly you see her in a ponytail with that pouf thing on top. She had some half ups too. Tora Ziyal had some sort of interesting hairstyle too. Voyager would have also been not far from your timeframe. Sevenofnine had a nice sleek French Twist and Captain Janeway had long hair off and on including a French Twist with more scalp lift, a Gibson Tuck, and a Topsy Tail with a barrette.

[CherryFrizz]

Sounds like so much fun!

I have heard Dutch braids can be tough to section with knee-length hair, but, if you can do it, I think the ridges on the braids would be perfect with a Bajoran nose. It's also a hairdo that has the 'tough' quality needed by a security officer.

[CopperButterfly]

I think a lazy wrap ponytail would look good and not be out of place. It would still allow you to show off your length, be easy and no fuss. Anyway, it sounds like so much fun. It's something I've always wanted to do, but haven't made it happen yet.

[Queen of Cups]

You could do a variation on a braided crown.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vihjhxfxi5zo4tf/Kitty-Swink-on-Star-Trek-Deep-Space-Nine.jpg?raw=1

(And I loved seeing this question! I was just looking up Cardassian hairstyles the other day... but, you wouldn't want that for your character!)

[GrowingOut]

Thank you everyone! I think I'm going to play with braided crowns, they're giving the look I wanna go for with Lt. Tyr! <3

[Entangled]

Sorry I'm late to the party! I was looking for a website but had forgotten the name. The pictures are defunct, but here are some fun ideas for the future.


Analysis (whoo, scientific): This style is worn by a minor character in The Next Generation episode Descent. As far as I can see from the pictures, it looks as if the hair is separated into a few large sections and braided. Then the braids are coiled and twisted around into rather random-looking knobs on the head. You can see the top section is piled rather high on her head (pictures 2 and 4) while the back section is visible at the sides of her head when she's looking straight ahead (picture 2). It looks like there are two bottom sections of hair and one on top; you can sort of see a part down the bottom half in picture 3 while there is no part in the top half in the other pictures.

Directions: Separate your hair into a top and a bottom section. Pull the top section up and gather it at the top of your head. Braid it tightly. Now separate the bottom section into two equal portions and braid these tightly as well. Now coil the top braid around in the same general shape as in the pictures, namely a couple "knobs" on top of the head, tucking the ends underneath and pinning it. The bottom sections are more spread out along the sides of the head. Coil them around and pin them, making sure they show on the sides of the style enough. That's it!

From imaginary styles (http://imaginary-styles.iwarp.com)

View from the back (http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/s7/7x01/descentparttwo072.jpg)
Top angle (http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/s7/7x01/descentparttwo081.jpg)
Side angle (http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/s7/7x01/descentparttwo076.jpg)
Webpage for reference (http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=152&page=4)

Other than that, my impression is that you can do any kind of updo, really, provided you do some styling. At least for Next Generation, anything goes as long as you've got some volume on top. Vintage hairstyling techniques might help. Lots of hair (https://images.app.goo.gl/ewfM3x1hBY2Wp7kd6)
Captain Janeway (https://images.app.goo.gl/MtBvxsuoTbAushHh7)

And as a comparison:
Some 1950s updos (https://images.app.goo.gl/pTYYMzgBMYaaw3HL9)
Some African American hairstyles from the 40s and 50s (https://images.app.goo.gl/8G1NsCP8pv3PwNK47)
1940s hair (ignore the flowers) (https://images.app.goo.gl/ZbDx9S88VNmY3RBo6)

The main things seem to be sleekness (unless you're Deanna), volume (often in front in a sort of pompadour), smooth braids and twists, and/or structure. Most hairstyles that aren't short and loose fall into one or more of those categories. I think vintage hairstyling techniques could lend a hand. Granted, I am most familiar with Next Generation and haven't seen Deep Space Nine, so correct me if that doesn't continue to hold true.

[cjk]

Sorry I'm late to the party!

Granted, I am most familiar with Next Generation and haven't seen Deep Space Nine, so correct me if that doesn't continue to hold true.

DS9 was set in the same time period and in the same timeline as TNG, in fact the pilot episode has the Enterprise-D delivering Miles O'Brien to the space station to report for duty.

Where it differs is that DS9 is a repurposed space station built by the Cardassians and manned by a blended crew, Federation and Bajoran.

Consequently, a lot of this stuff that went on in DS9 would not be considered canon for a Federation officer.

Though the fact that her character is Bajoran does give her certain leeway, the uniform standards were officially relaxed as part of their own version of an affirmative action plan.

Briefly mentioned by Ensign Ro.

[Entangled]

DS9 was set in the same time period and in the same timeline as TNG, in fact the pilot episode has the Enterprise-D delivering Miles O'Brien to the space station to report for duty.

Where it differs is that DS9 is a repurposed space station built by the Cardassians and manned by a blended crew, Federation and Bajoran.

Consequently, a lot of this stuff that went on in DS9 would not be considered canon for a Federation officer.

Though the fact that her character is Bajoran does give her certain leeway, the uniform standards were officially relaxed as part of their own version of an affirmative action plan.

Briefly mentioned by Ensign Ro.

Ah! That makes sense. Once I finish TNG I’ll watch Deep Space Nine.

I wanted to add one thing: one of the biggest things for Star Trek as opposed to other sci-fi series is that at least for Starfleet officers, few if any visible hair fastenings or adornments are used (again, with Deanna Troi as an exception).

[cjk]

...few if any visible hair fastenings or adornments are used (again, with Deanna Troi as an exception).

And when they are they are very plain. I seem to remember some French barrettes, for instance. But they were either a dull black or brown that kind of matched the person's hair, and I think one other was that silver-colored metal that they like to call tritanium.

Rare but not without precedent.

They are fasteners. Not adornment.

Remember, despite the fact that they look like spandex pajamas these are uniforms.

[iforgotmylogin]

Ah! That makes sense. Once I finish TNG I’ll watch Deep Space Nine.

DS9 my fave after TNG

What it's like watching the start of DS9 for first time as a TNG fan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYxdqsndIF4

[clandestine]

Kai Winn, has a nice braided lattice looking bun.