Ways to add interest to the front of updos

[florenonite]

I've seen many threads here about adding interest to the front of updos without cutting a fringe, so I think it would be a good idea to have a thread devoted to it. If you've got a way you like to do your hair to make your updo pretty from the front as well as the back, post a tutorial/picture/link in this thread, and I'll link to it in the first post so they're easy to find.

Nightshade's article on adding lift at the front of updos (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=87)

"Front Swoop Bang" (http://ohsohappytogether.blogspot.com/2009/05/simple-and-quick-updo-how-to.html). This is actually a tutorial for a hairstyle, but the way she does the front of her hair looks really nice, and I imagine it could be adapted to a lot of different updos.

Softening the front with whispies (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=640178&postcount=3) or holding the whispies back with nice clips (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=641461&postcount=22)

Another way to add lift (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=640212&postcount=4)

Accent (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=640222&postcount=5) Braids (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=640751&postcount=16)

Fake Side-Swept Fringe (http://www.longhairloom.com/changeyourlook.html) (thanks dorothea-brooke)

lots (http://community.livejournal.com/vintagehair/587488.html) of (http://www.youtube.com/user/elegantlyamused#uploads/11/xdibwcoofeg) vintage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn3pFjAlehM&feature=channel) stuff (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQSBWHWO4s0&feature=channel_page) (thanks Arctic and misstwist)

GlassEyes' Finger Wave Thingy (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=140)

[naomimcc]

Interesting! I may try those! I have a very high forehead so when my hair is pulled back it's very taught looking...these may soften things up a bit...

[Cinnamon Hair]

This may sound too easy to be a tip, but lately I have been letting my wispies do their thing. Instead of using gel to smooth all my short hairs back into an updo I just brush them back and then let them fall out of the updo as they may. It gives my updo a softer look, without having to cut any side pieces or bangs... they're just natural shorties.

[misstwist]

I spent big money at Sally's today and bought this http://www.sallybeauty.com/Mark-V-Comb-and-Lift/SBS-333002,default,pd.html?cgid=Hair11-01 (ignore the scary teasing teeth).

I've been wearing some retro styles that start with a ponytail on the high crown. After making the ponytail I've been taking my rattail and lifting the hair in front of the ponytail to add some volume, but I've been getting inconsistent results.

After I got back to the car with this baby today I whipped out the visor mirror and got to work.

I was wearing a high crown ponytail with the "front swoop" mentioned in the first post. That means I had a ponytail holder, two small barrettes anchoring the swoop and a hairpin holding the tail of the swoop around the ponytail holder.

I grabbed hold of the ponytail to anchor it and used the pick to gently lift from crown to hairline, and fluffed up the swoop. It worked great to add a little fluffy volume to the front. Since the humidity was about 90% today I had the bonus curlies around my hairline and at the nape.

I'm going to try it on a bun anchored by a hairtoy in a day or two. I haven't taken out my ponytail, just wrapped it as a beebutt bun before showering and will sleep in it and wear it again tomorrow (unless husband objects--he's working at a wedding and may decide I need to be a bit more polished, even though I'm not working).

The teasing comb seems like it may have a tendency to catch during the lifting maneuver, so I may have husband cut it off.

Thus far, this method seems to have everything to recommend it.

[Finoriel]

I´m not a fan of anything which adds height on top of my head, like the poof or similar techniques. I use other techniques to add some interest in updos from front and side view.
-Small accent braids beginning at the front hairline, like for the good old rose-bun. Works with every bun and every braiding technique :D endless variations.
-Dutch or french braiding the scalp hair, before putting the length up. Again works with every braiding technique that can be french braided. The length does not need to be braided though. :wink: Just was the only picture I had for now (dutchbraided chinesebun).

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=42328&albumid=2818&dl=1245480965&thumb=1 (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=2818&pictureid=42328) http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=42327&albumid=2818&dl=1245480965&thumb=1 (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=2818&pictureid=42327)

[GlassEyes]

As emasculating as this sounds, I do have a way to add interest to the front of hair styles. I've done it for years now.

It's sort of based off the finger wave technique, and it has to be done on wet/misted hair. Should I do a picture tutorial? I can do one after work when I shower.

[Heavenly Locks]

It's sort of based off the finger wave technique, and it has to be done on wet/misted hair. Should I do a picture tutorial?

*nods emphatically*

:drama:

[kdaniels8811]

I look horrible with my hair skinned back off my face, so keep my bangs at chin length or so. I am very interested in learning other methods, thank you for starting this thread! And I love the braids going back into the bun, that is another one I am going to try. I love this forum and all the people that make it great!

[Periwinkle]

I look horrible with my hair skinned back off my face, so keep my bangs at chin length or so. I am very interested in learning other methods, thank you for starting this thread! And I love the braids going back into the bun, that is another one I am going to try. I love this forum and all the people that make it great!

Any chance you could elaborate on that?

I have a fringe (bangs) that's sideswept and about eyebrow length, and it hangs over my forehead in the front. I've seen lots of people mention that they keep theirs longer, but obviously you couldn't wear that exactly the same way as it would hang directly over the whole face. So what do you do? Is it more like face-framing layers? Do you brush it back?

[kdaniels8811]

I am just letting it grow out so push the chin length hair to the side. When I put my hair up, I pull some of it out to hang down. It can be annoying but I don't like my hair pulled straight back. I also use Nightblooming's "adding lift" method. so I guess you could call the bangs face framing layers? Yeah, they kind of just hang there. Since I have gone to herbal washes, I am starting to see waves!

[dorothea-brooke]

I think this tutorial (http://www.longhairloom.com/changeyourlook.html) on fake bangs was posted somewhere on LHC a while back (can't imagine where else I would have found it!). I haven't tried it yet, but it looks interesting. I'm sure you could do this with updos by pinning with a nicer hairtoy, or covering up the pin with some more hair combed over....

Let us know if anyone has tried this -- I'd love to see a pic with an updo. Hmmm, maybe I'll give it a whirl this weekend. :)

[Ella Menneau P.]

Dorothea, thanks for posting the fake bangs tutorial--I can't wait to try it! If it comes out well I'll post pics!

[Arctic]

I have been doing lot of vintage 40's style inspired updos lately. Here's a great example video (http://community.livejournal.com/vintagehair/587488.html). They do need some practicing but look really good!

[florenonite]

I´m not a fan of anything which adds height on top of my head, like the poof or similar techniques. I use other techniques to add some interest in updos from front and side view.
-Small accent braids beginning at the front hairline, like for the good old rose-bun. Works with every bun and every braiding technique :D endless variations.
-Dutch or french braiding the scalp hair, before putting the length up. Again works with every braiding technique that can be french braided. The length does not need to be braided though. :wink: Just was the only picture I had for now (dutchbraided chinesebun).

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=42328&albumid=2818&dl=1245480965&thumb=1 (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=2818&pictureid=42328) http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=42327&albumid=2818&dl=1245480965&thumb=1 (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=2818&pictureid=42327)

I do something similar. I have a side-swept fringe that I'm growing out so I part my hair on the side and plait my fringe down from the parting to the opposite ear, do a couple more crossovers to keep it from unravelling, and then incorporate it into the updo I'm doing.

[dorothea-brooke]

Cool video, Arctic! Thanks for the link. Ella, please do post pics! :drama:

[florenonite]

I took some pics of the way I plait my fringe back most days. I part my hair on the left, then part it from the parting to the ear behind my fringe. I do a French plait from the parting to my ear, do a couple more crossovers to keep it from loosening, and then incorporate it into my updo or clip it back if I'm wearing my hair down.

Top view:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1012&pictureid=42363

Side(ish) view:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1012&pictureid=42365

Side view:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1012&pictureid=42364

[misstwist]

I have been doing lot of vintage 40's style inspired updos lately. Here's a great example video (http://community.livejournal.com/vintagehair/587488.html). They do need some practicing but look really good!

That was a nice tutorial I hadn't seen. I'll have to add LJ's vintage hair community to my page.

It wasn't entirely necessary for her to hot roll her hair before putting it up. I know there are people who like to set their hair first because they think it makes putting the rolls in easier but I think it's just a matter of practice.

Since we've brought out the vintage tutorials, I'll post a couple I've posted before.

This is what the front of my hair looks like most of the time these days. This was how I almost always wore my hair in barrettes in when I was younger. This front allows me to do nearly anything with the back.
http://www.youtube.com/user/elegantlyamused#uploads/11/xdibwcoofeg

I've only just started to play around with this. It's a little bit difficult to get the arm position down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQSBWHWO4s0&feature=channel_page

I sometimes add a roll in the front as in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn3pFjAlehM&feature=channel

I know that Casey and Super Kawaii Mama both say that hair needs to be thick and wavy or made so, but I'm not entirely certain that's true.

My hair is very wavy, but it's also very fine and just barely a ii. If I'm doing a roll I sometimes use some fiber putty or some aloe gel to help the hair stick together.

If you you don't think you are wavy enough to have enough body for these, try it with brushed braid waves.

One last thing, I don't like crossed hair pins showing so I use Good Hair Days Grip-Tuth side combs to secure the poufs.

[GlassEyes]

*nods emphatically*

:drama:
Okies.

I'm back from work and freshly showered. I'll probably do a video instead to save myself the energy of writing.

...ironic, saying that as a writer and wannabe-novelist...T_T

[Tangles]

I actually like the taut look, but I easily get temple frizzies, so sometimes it's better to go for an intentionally softened hairline. Thanks for posting these!

[GlassEyes]

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=140

Article. I'll do a video if the instructions aren't clear.

Now, I'm going to bed. *is nearly a zombie, and has a double shift tomorrow*

[hellkitty]

I've got nothing useful to contribute, but this is a great idea for a thread. I have straight hair and have done the 'skinned' look for years now, not because I *like* the world seeing my enormous Renaissance-esque forehead, but because I am hairstyle-challenged. It gets old. I am so trying some braids like Finoriel has for tomorrow!

Keep ideas coming!

And again, thanks for a great thread!

HK
HK

[Pierre]

I put a couple of tiny Flexis (or MiniMaxes, but since I got the Flexis I've been wearing them) on my temples. The real purpose is to keep hairs out of my face, but they pretty up the front too.

[misstwist]

I actually like the taut look, but I easily get temple frizzies, so sometimes it's better to go for an intentionally softened hairline. Thanks for posting these!

I wonder how much of this is reaction to our own face shape. I have a very round face and need some height to soften this. I think oval shape faces work better with very sleek fronts to their updos than round faces.