Hairstyle Ideas for a Dress!

[HintOfMint]

Hi everyone,

I have a formal to attend in a few weeks and I have a dress, but I'm not sure how to wear my hair. All suggestions, up, down, curls, straight, will be considered. I am not against heat, although I am against teasing/backcombing.

http://sc7img.dillards.com/is/image/DillardsZoom/wdw002_zi?layer=comp&op_usm=2.0,0.5&&rgn=0,0,792,918&scl=3&fmt=jpeg&id=3onMj23lSbFv-RMY5vVsbw

I hope the picture loads.

My hair is "Can I call this waist," is mostly coarse and I have a 4" ponytail diameter. I am a 2A.

I'm trying to get away from the "prom" look with anything too fancy or high on the head. I will also be doing my hair myself or possibly with the assistance of a friend, so something for the updo challenged would be great!

[HereIGrowAgain]

I would do a sideswept chignon, with a frontal roll. Very 1940s. As a matter of fact, doing a google image search for 1940s hair turned up a lot of styles that would suit that dress very well.

[HintOfMint]

Thanks so much! I was thinking either 1920s or 1940s.

[Sanyia]

That dress would look nice with a glamorous 40's hairdo.

[HintOfMint]

Do you have any links, either for tutorials or a picture of a particular style?

[luxepiggy]

For some reason, I see that dress, and I immediately thought of this:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/shoppingpiglet/0420101004.jpg

[luxepiggy]

Since you mention suggestions for the "updo-challenged," you might want to try an off-center sockbun with a side part. I was really pressed for time before this year's Symphony Gala, so I had to do my hair on my own, and it was pretty easy. I even got a few compliments on it! (^(oo)^)

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6020&pictureid=83841

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6020&pictureid=83840

It's nice b/c I think it sockbuns always manage to look fancier than they are in reality, if people don't know how to make one themselves (^(oo)^)

[Gothic Lolita]

I can imagine a Victorian hairstlye (it's in the article section somewhere and on youtube). I'd make it a bit loose and pull out a few fine strands around your face to make it less severe-looking.

[Kris Dove]

Wear it down with a few waves or loose curls(either heat or cloth, whatever method you prefer to use) and perhaps a flower clip on the side?

[salls]

You might have an issue with 1920's as all the bright young things were cutting there hair off. good luck though, and I'm sure you will find something you like.

[Leneveu]

I could imagine something inspired by ancient Greece... :)

[sherigayle]

Gorgeous dress! I agree that a sideswept chignon would look wonderful. Definitely a 40's look.

[HereIGrowAgain]

Here is how to make rolls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy8kJVE168E).

I would then add a high, fully-rolled sock bun to the back, and by high, I mean in skull-cap area.

Additionally, I second luxepiggy's suggestion.

[HintOfMint]

Thank you all so much for the ideas!

I think I'm going to experiment with rag curls and pin curls and see what I can get out of them.
I was looking at photos of Dita von Teese and she has some great styles. I like this one, but I think my hair is too long for it. Is it possible to curl my hair and pin it in such a way that it looks shorter?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.topnews.in/light/files/images/Dita-Von-Teese3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.topnews.in/people/dita-von-teese&h=623&w=450&sz=51&tbnid=vKPI6D3KXuEWYM:&tbnh=264&tbnw=191&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddita%2Bvon%2Bteese&zoom=1&q=dita+von+teese&usg=__lUwIzOKg4jNPJ3Owur_NkqBzot4=&sa=X&ei=sfysTOPqO4vGsAOqzOy_DA&ved=0CCgQ9QEwCA

I could also do a series of rolls in the back, so it's a similar effect, just shorter. Any opinions?

[Shany]

I could imagine something inspired by ancient Greece... :)

Same here. I know there's a traditional greek hairstyle.. a kind of bun(not high on head) + double headband.

a headband like this: http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3JPBaU-SebI/SrUgsvU49OI/AAAAAAAAAQE/F2MLsE3b9nI/s800/blake_lively65465.jpg

I can't find a pic of the hairstyle on internet.

Something similar to this would be nice too:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-Jgx7GeH3M/TC1XPwicO5I/AAAAAAAAC7E/cmGlkHjjGyI/s400/Kore_F_11_1.jpg

[missmagoo]

I feel like there is an LHC member from who does all kinds of '40's hairstyles, and has a fashion blog too, I totally cannot remember who it is though. If you search for pinup hairstyle tutorials on youtube a ton of different ones come up.

[Capybara]

*snip*
Something similar to this would be nice too:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z-Jgx7GeH3M/TC1XPwicO5I/AAAAAAAAC7E/cmGlkHjjGyI/s400/Kore_F_11_1.jpg
That is exactly what I was thinking :) I attended an event earlier this year in a dress with the same "mood" to it (although it was one shouldered, and purple, it was the same silk chiffon, flowy material), and wore my hair in a similar style to this :) I'm not quite as talented as the braided who did the above style, but I did two dutch lace braids on eash side of my head (no crown/cascading crown braid), and herringboned the length. I like the idea of having a curled tassel!

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a wonderful time :blossom: It's a lovely dress!

[sibiryachka]

That dress is beautiful!! I'd say either something 30s-40s flavored, or something sort of Greek-goddessy, would look wonderful with it. It reminds me of Ashley Judd's character in "De-Lovely". The Dita vonTeese photo you linked looks like exactly the kind of thing I was thinking.

[kjirstiben]

That's gorgeous! To me, the dress reads as Edwardian, so if you were looking to stay in period, you might consider something like these:

http://thethinkingtank.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/20090817042351.jpg?w=500&h=772
http://thethinkingtank.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/20080731154206.jpg?w=500&h=958
http://www.beauty-and-the-bath.com/image-files/gibson-girl-updo-hairstyle-01_fs.jpg
(perhaps without the semi-frizzy tendrils...)

But I also concur with the idea of something ancient-Greek inspired.

Seems like whatever you do, the dress calls for something fairly relaxed and romantic, maybe with curls...

Let us know what you decide! And your dress is just lovely!

[HereIGrowAgain]

Yes, and pretty please post photos! Hey, if you try a few different styles, we could vote! *hint hint!!!!*

[angelfell]

I could see your hair in medium-sized curls, with the curling iron. Then, gently with hair pins or bobby pins, the curls pinned up on the back of your head, not so they stick to your head but so that it looks almost like a beautiful curly bun. Also, with two or three curly strands framing the face.

With dresses, my motto was always this; if it's got straps or sleeves, hair should be up, and if it doesn't, then hair should be down. But with that dress in particular, what I'm imagining would be elegant but not too formal.. something like this (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NO2UOMMYKZ0/SMJzOjLoFSI/AAAAAAAABBw/Q2i6SpwMuTA/s400/Eva+Longoria+Updo+Hair.jpg) .

[Magdalene]

Fingerwaves into a low chignon, possibly on the side. Lots of wispies. That dress is gorgeous!

[HintOfMint]

Thank you for all your input!

I found an old blog that I had bookmarked some time ago, and I found these ideas.

http://freelancersfashion.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-beat-cake.html
http://freelancersfashion.blogspot.com/2010/01/hotel-room-hair.html
http://freelancersfashion.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-wanted-to-come-up-with-some-smart.html
http://freelancersfashion.blogspot.com/2009/04/did-you-know.html
http://freelancersfashion.blogspot.com/2008/08/hairdos-3-all-rolled-up.html
http://freelancersfashion.blogspot.com/2008/08/hairdos-2-pincurl-it-baby.html
http://freelancersfashion.blogspot.com/2008/06/more-pattern-mixing.html

What do y'all think? I'm pretty sure I'll do a side part and pincurl or twist it along my temple almost behind my ear, with a bit of a wave like here : http://freelancersfashion.blogspot.com/2010/09/making-wave-by-make-up-table.html
But the back is free game.

[HintOfMint]

Ooh what do y'all think of this?
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3714620160/nm0842258
I at least want the front to look like that. I may have to do the fashionblogger's pincurls in the back.

Or this!
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3992033280/nm0842258

[HereIGrowAgain]

So, have you made your decision yet? Has the event happened? If it has, then where the heck are our pictures? ;)

[Peggy E.]

That dress would look nice with a glamorous 40's hairdo.

That dress would look nice with a shaved head!! ;o)

It's a gorgeous dress and I'd think you could pretty much wear any upstyle you particularly like and are comfortable with.

[HintOfMint]

The formal is a week, don't worry, I'll post pictures.

Alas, some bad news. I had to return the dress. It didn't fit well at all and it cost far too much to tailor and it wouldn't even be finished in time.

I will still use this thread to figure out what I want to do with my hair. Thanks again, everyone!

[HintOfMint]

Hey everyone! Good news and bad news from that night.

Some of the bad news first: I couldn't procure bobby pins in time, so I couldn't use any of your updo ideas. I was bummed too, but between class and the other parts of the getting ready process, I may not have had time to do the pincurls I had in mind.

The good news: My hair looked amazing. I decided to straighten it (yes, with heat, yes, I know, bad) because that was the easiest and quickest thing to do and I was planning on straightening it this month to see my length. It was so different from how everyone usually sees me, so it was a big hit. And I saw that I was finally at waist. So I had a night of dancing, swinging around my waist-length pin straight hair. It went well with the dress I decided to wear which had a 1960's sheath silhouette.

More bad news: I ended up with a dreadlock at the nape of my neck from all the dancing. And my hair was pretty dry two days after the straightening. My hair hates me right now. I got the dreadlock out as gently as possible, did a serious S&D, made a peace offering with a shea butter leave in conditioner and am about to do a modified SMT using honey, coconut oil, and Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition (holy grail of conditioners).

All in all though... completely worth it! It was nice to have such a dramatic difference in my hair for just one night. And I have a new leave-in, so my waves may be a bit more controlled now. I'll be happy to return to my waves and wurls. And I have bobby pins now, so if I want my hair straight, I'll wrap it.
Alas there are no pictures of me from that night that I know of yet.