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papillion
April 15th, 2011, 08:20 AM
I'm trying to find a hairstyle that looks medieval - I'm not bothered whether it's authentic or not. I'll be outside all day, so it needs to be something that will stay put (or something that I can re-do quickly and easily).

I'd like to keep most of my hair down, with only a small section tied/braided back. So far, I'm thinking about something with rope braids and ribbons.

This is the dress that I'll be wearing: (click for bigger images)
http://www.gatlingmagic.co.uk/Gallery8/G8Images/8-14-th.jpg (http://www.gatlingmagic.co.uk/Gallery8/8-14.html) http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=100423&albumid=7644&dl=1302876566&thumb=1 (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=7644&pictureid=100423)

I'd really appreciate any ideas you can come up with!

AuburnTresses
April 15th, 2011, 09:02 AM
I you want some inspiration I would watch Ivanhoe (1997) by A&E the girls in there have beautiful hair!

Other than that I'm sorry I don't really have any ideas.

ElusiveMuse
April 15th, 2011, 09:02 AM
What about having the front section braided in little braids and pulled back? You could weave a ribbon through them or even flowers. Or a style I recently saw here referred to as maiden braids, where you braid the front on each side and wrap over the top of your head like a headband. It looks really pretty if you push it front toward your hairline.

misstwist
April 15th, 2011, 09:17 AM
Try a fairytale briad.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fairytale+braids&aq=2&oq=fairytale+br

Panth
April 15th, 2011, 10:09 AM
For "looks" medieval, I'd say a crown braid, heidi braids or a coronet braid (an english plait pinned to look like a crown braid).

For actual medieval ... the only one I've done is like on the Luttrell ladies here: http://www.channel4.com/learning/main/netnotes/images/history/hialp/8-3.jpeg

To do it:
- comb/brush out hair thoroughly
- part the hair from hairline to nape dead-centre
- make two english plaits but start them as high and as far forward as you possibly can - you want them starting from your temples and hanging well in front of your ears
- fold each plait so the bottom of it is at about chin or mouth level and sew in place with sewing cotton the same colour as your hair and a big blunt needle

I pinned the excess plait tails up on top of my head and hid them with a veil which I pinned to my hair. Judging by the Luttrell ladies, their plait tails fall back down between their plait and their face. But I think to do that their hair must be about waist and blunt-ended not TB+ and fairytaled like mine was at the time.

papillion
April 15th, 2011, 02:17 PM
The problem is that whatever I choose, I need to be able to do it in two or three minutes, and it has to stay put! So anything complicated or less than completely stable is out.

Thank you for the ideas, I'll have to try some and see how they look/how easy they are to do.

I've been doing a little research of my own, and so far, I quite like the look of the style shown here (http://www.ehow.com/way_5390061_medieval-hairstyles-women.html), with a little alteration it might work quite well.

Qwackie
April 15th, 2011, 02:34 PM
If you're hair is long enough, you could do a braid, wrap it around your head, and then pin it into place. It would probably look nice with a sort of cloth over it, covering the back of your head but showing the front. Like a hooded shawl.

*Rose Red*
April 15th, 2011, 03:29 PM
I´m very interested in this thread because I´m a fan of the middle ages as well and I go to a festival at the end of April, so I need some inspiration ;)

papillion
April 15th, 2011, 04:11 PM
We're doing medieval (ish) magic, so I'm aiming for a more 'fairytale' feel than anything accurate to the era.:magic:

Hence why I'd like to keep most of it down, which is a bit annoying as there are so many nice styles with the hair completely up. Still, they're something for me to play with for my own amusement!

That, and I'm probably going to have to do my hair while sat in the car, in about three minutes! It's going to be tricky to find something that is really easy and will last outside in the wind. :hmm:

Coan-Teen
April 15th, 2011, 04:30 PM
I'd say rope braids with the front sections, secured at the back. You could do ribbons and rope braids are dead easy to do. It's something you could whip out in the car and it mimics a half-up look in the back.

Rafusen
April 16th, 2011, 01:16 AM
I second Coan-Teen on the rope braids and ribbon. It's very quick, looks nice and will likely stay put all day.

ravenreed
April 16th, 2011, 01:35 AM
This style is lovely. Can you do the rope braids before you leave the house? That way most of your hair will be down, but you still get a crown effect. Rapunzel's Resource mini rope braids. (http://rapunzelsresource.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/mini-rope-braids/)

BritishBraider
April 16th, 2011, 01:56 AM
For "looks" medieval, I'd say a crown braid, heidi braids or a coronet braid (an english plait pinned to look like a crown braid).

For actual medieval ... the only one I've done is like on the Luttrell ladies here: http://www.channel4.com/learning/main/netnotes/images/history/hialp/8-3.jpeg

To do it:
- comb/brush out hair thoroughly
- part the hair from hairline to nape dead-centre
- make two english plaits but start them as high and as far forward as you possibly can - you want them starting from your temples and hanging well in front of your ears
- fold each plait so the bottom of it is at about chin or mouth level and sew in place with sewing cotton the same colour as your hair and a big blunt needle

I pinned the excess plait tails up on top of my head and hid them with a veil which I pinned to my hair. Judging by the Luttrell ladies, their plait tails fall back down between their plait and their face. But I think to do that their hair must be about waist and blunt-ended not TB+ and fairytaled like mine was at the time.


I have to try this! Thank you for the instructions! :D

PrincessBob
April 16th, 2011, 02:17 AM
:popcorn:watching this thread...

papillion
April 16th, 2011, 07:24 AM
I'd say rope braids with the front sections, secured at the back. You could do ribbons and rope braids are dead easy to do. It's something you could whip out in the car and it mimics a half-up look in the back.


I second Coan-Teen on the rope braids and ribbon. It's very quick, looks nice and will likely stay put all day.


This style is lovely. Can you do the rope braids before you leave the house? That way most of your hair will be down, but you still get a crown effect. Rapunzel's Resource mini rope braids. (http://rapunzelsresource.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/mini-rope-braids/)

Oooh! All great ideas, and practical ones too! That's definitely the sort of look I'm aiming for. I'll have to give it a try just as soon as my hair is dry.

Panth
April 16th, 2011, 08:06 AM
I have to try this! Thank you for the instructions! :D

If you do, could you get pictures? :blossom:

QMacrocarpa
April 16th, 2011, 09:21 AM
Something from the "Elven hair styles" thread might work for your purposes, like the one in post #191 (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1318493) (I hope that link works). Seems like it would be pretty quick to do.

papillion
April 17th, 2011, 08:17 AM
I love the way the mini rope braids look when knotted/looped together, but I can't get them to hold securely.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=7661&pictureid=100572

So I experimented with just letting the ends hang loose, which is far more secure. Only problem is that the elastics are visible, which doesn't really look very medieval! But wrapping some ribbon around them should hopefully solve the problem.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=7661&pictureid=100573

Thank you all for your help!

boudica
April 17th, 2011, 11:17 AM
OMG That is lovely!

Pantha
April 17th, 2011, 11:40 AM
From what I can see of the dress you'll be wearing all of the suggestions would apear Medievalesque I love the wide sleeves.

teela1978
April 17th, 2011, 12:05 PM
How about some sort of bun with the hanging down braids, using the rope braid style you already have... sorta like this (http://www.dreamweaverhairdesign.com/2010/09/back-in-juliet-wedding-style.html)

papillion
April 21st, 2011, 03:21 PM
From what I can see of the dress you'll be wearing all of the suggestions would apear Medievalesque I love the wide sleeves.

It's one of the reasons I made the dress in the first place! Though they do get in the way sometimes.

teela1978 - that is a pretty style, I'll have to give that a try.

The first of the shows is on Sunday, so I'll try and get some photos when I'm in full costume.