Victorian/vintage-ish updo (pics)

[bettylibertine]

Hello everyone!

Thought I'd share how I do my favourite, go to hairstyle :D It is inspired by this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QigGoRY_Nic&feature=plcp) hairstyle, replacing the tying of the braids.
Not only is it super comfortable, but it's very pretty (or I think so) and it will stay all day. You will need to know how to dutch braid for this one. Apologies in advance for the terrible instructions)

To begin, divide hair in two down the back. (If you prefer side partings, just begin your centre part from the crown.)
Dutch braid each section.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/cherryflavouredtrash/DSCF0308640x590.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/cherryflavouredtrash/DSCF0318480x640.jpg

Next, loop one braid upwards, pinning it in place so that it is lying half on, half off the other braid. (Or wherever you think looks best - the point is to eventually make an oval-ey shape with the braids)
Bring the end of the braid across to the other side, creating a oval shape. (Sorry I didn't get a better picture)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/cherryflavouredtrash/DSCF0326480x640.jpg
Repeat with the other braid (but bring it up the other way, criss crossing with the first braid)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/cherryflavouredtrash/DSCF0338480x640.jpg
Make sure that you bring the second braid over the end of the first, and pin to hide the tassel.
Tuck the ends of the second braid under the first (I usually do this near the top/side, where I can tuck it under where the first braid goes across the crown)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/cherryflavouredtrash/DSCF0339480x640.jpg

And you're done!

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/cherryflavouredtrash/DSCF0352480x640.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n199/cherryflavouredtrash/DSCF0353480x640.jpg

Here's hoping that somewhere, someone can follow these horribly written instructions :p

[caadam]

I really need to try this one day! And I can understand your instructions just fine. lol

However... I don't know how to dutch braid! *le sob* I shall have to learn, now I have a reason to!

[bettylibertine]

Oh nooo!
I'm glad you like it though (and that you could understand my instructions) :D

[DarkCurls]

I just watched that video yesterday. ^^
Very pretty updo, instructions are fine with the pics.
I wonder what length of hair is needed for this to start looking okay, wondering whether I should attempt.

[Becky9679]

Lovely style! Definitely one for me to try although my hair is probably not long enough yet.


I really need to try this one day! And I can understand your instructions just fine. lol

However... I don't know how to dutch braid! *le sob* I shall have to learn, now I have a reason to!

Here you go, easy instructions for Dutch braids in single (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Th69mzcBA&feature=plcp) and double (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIsgDy50Cn0&feature=plcp) ;)

[Alvrodul]

Lovely updo! I like this hairstyle a lot, and I have put a recent picture of the style in both the flexi-8 and the fake crown braid section! :D

[Misty'sMess]

A hair style that uses my two favourite things: double dutch braids, and pinning all hair to the back of head :) So wearing this to work tomorrow and uni the day after and forever onwards

[Annibelle]

Heeey, I wear double dutch braids all the time! (Glenn calls them my "dragon braids." )

I'm going to try this, but I'm fairly certain it will look stupid on me, as my hair appears to be thinner and shorter than yours. :o

[piffyanne]

Oh, this is gorgeous! I'll definitely be working on my Dutch Braiding, if I get to have this as a carrot at the end of my stick! :D

Maybe by the end of this month or the next?? :cheese:

Thanks for sharing this with us all! (That, and as putting up with my high ratio of smilies-per-sentence. :cool:)

[bettylibertine]

I'm glad that everyone likes it!
It is a brilliant style - both casually and formally. I wear it to uni a lot, but also wore it for my cousins wedding when I was bridesmaid. (Everyone else got their hair done by hairdressers, while I did my own! :laugh: The best part was that everyone was amazed with it, and even more so when they found out I did it by myself :p)

As for length - I'm not too sure how long your hair would have to be. My hairs a bit longer than my sig now - however I suppose it depends on how large you make the loop :) I just like mine a bit further down.

Alvrodul - I'll have to check them out!

[Hyacinth]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Victorian era-ish hairstyles. Thanks for posting this & I can't wait to do this in the future someday!

[BrightEyes]

Very pretty and elegant:) I hope I can try this one day.

[Arashi]

It's so pretty! I actually have my hair in double Dutch braids right now, but sadly I think my hair is too short for this to look good at the moment. Definitely going to try it when my hair is longer, though.

[catamonica]

I love your hairstyle. It is beautiful. It does not look like it would be hard to do.

[caadam]

Here you go, easy instructions for Dutch braids in single (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Th69mzcBA&feature=plcp) and double (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIsgDy50Cn0&feature=plcp) ;)

Thank you so much! :flower:

[bettylibertine]

Thanks for the lovely replies!
If anyone gives it a go - please post pics!

[Tabihito]

My hair appears to be just a little short for this style, unfortunately. I like it though, it's a way to double braid without showing off just how thin each of my braids are.

[Xi]

This style looks lovely!:blossom: I will try it tomorrow. Cool idea -- thanks for the instructions! :)

[californiagirl]

Oh my! I cannot wait until my hair gets long enough that I can do this style! I love it! Thanks for the tutorial.

[PixxieStix]

Looks lovely, I can't wait until my hair is long enough to try this! :)

[Octave]

Oh this is just too gorgeous (if there even is such a thing). I'm so going to try this tomorrow. Ahh I'm a sucker for lovely historical inspired updos. :)

[Lippytoes]

Ooh, I think I know what style I'll be wearing for my brother's graduation party on Saturday! Yay! It looks so pretty on you; hopefully it'll work on my hair.

[Phexlyn]

Very pretty, you have lovely braids with very even thickness! :)

[terylenerose]

Looks like my hair is too short for this one too. I'll have to wait about 2 years. My braids are too short to be good for anything. But when they stop being so short, I'll definitely do this! I really like your hair too, so shiny, thick and a nice color. :)

[heidi w.]

I really need to try this one day! And I can understand your instructions just fine. lol

However... I don't know how to dutch braid! *le sob* I shall have to learn, now I have a reason to!

It's a simple, basic, 3-strand braid. Don't let the name throw you. Two pigtail braids and then loop them to the other side and pin. That's basically how I'd approach this.

To the OP, thanks for the pictures. They help inform the instructions very well. A picture is worth something.....

heidi w.

[heidi w.]

Looks like my hair is too short for this one too. I'll have to wait about 2 years. My braids are too short to be good for anything. But when they stop being so short, I'll definitely do this! I really like your hair too, so shiny, thick and a nice color. :)

Your hair is long enough, just weave the braid less tightly and you'll get a bit more length to them.

Do people know you can make braids appear thicker by expanding the weave? A whole lot of people weave too tightly and don't really know it. I found this out when I once let a chick braid my hair length. I ended up with stubs! The girl did not know how to braid, so I spent my time at a party using my hair and teaching her how to braid on my hair. She had a swell time, and just laughed her way through. I'm glad she had a good time learning, and yes, it was funny what she kept reproducing. Hair down to my calves, and I ended up with braids that were like stumps she wove so tightly. It took a bunch of tries to learn to not be so tight.

heidi w.

[heidi w.]

I just watched that video yesterday. ^^
Very pretty updo, instructions are fine with the pics.
I wonder what length of hair is needed for this to start looking okay, wondering whether I should attempt.

If one's braids are not long enough to dangle a bit, that's ok. Have it shorter and pin the hair closer to the head. One can do this then with shorter hair.

Notice that the OP's hair is around hip length.....or bottom of back length. Not super long....but she gets the job done.

heidi w.

[spidermom]

It's lovely. I wish I could stand the feel of something resting against the nape of my neck.

[DarkCurls]

I'm not hip yet, only at waist. I may try this, but probably not until my hair is a bit longer to get the loose, loopy, draping look down. :o

[heidi w.]

I must say, this is a neat hair style video. This author of this video is hairstylist archeologist of some kind, if I remember her title correctly which is provided at the top of the video (print, not verbally stated.) She does point out that one can now use bobby pins, even though they're not technically of the period of Cleopatra's time. The OP does a different kind of criss-cross of the braids that is unlike the criss-cross of the braids in the videos. The video shows the complete braid and sews the braids together in a tiny topknot. What the OP did is more like Gone With The Wind hairstyling......but it's still super nice, and easy to do. This video also kind of show how braiding is done, and explains that a Dutch braid is a 3-strand basic braid. So no fancy skills are really required.

Have fun. With the hot weather coming, this can be an easy hairstyle for weekends, and still looks nice enough to wear to work, or even an interview. Yeah, I said that. Maybe apply some decorative clips in the hair somehow if an interview. A good alternative to the french twist.

Very pretty both ways. Oh, and notice the author in the video is using a mannequin head. Mannequin heads generally come with pretty thick hair on the mannequin. (I didn't notice if she anchored the mannequin head down, but I'm guessing she did while she did the up close work that was video'd.) So, don't overly worry if your braids aren't overly thick or wide. Once the whole thing is put together, whether you copy the OP or the video, it will look really nice. And you'll feel pretty most of the day, too....unless someone yells at you like your sister or boss. Hope that doesn't happen. Krankypoos abound.

heidi w.

[bettylibertine]

Once again - thanks everyone! And definitely play around with it - heidi w. made some good suggestions (thanks!).
I hope to see pics for when people try it! :D

[akilina]

Awesome!! Can't wait to have long all one length hair so I can do this

[Tisiloves]

You can also do a really nice modification of this with only apl-ish hair, instead of forming a full circle just form the initial "cradle" and tuck the ends in.

[jacqueline101]

I like that a lot.

[onlyforhim]

very beautiful really

[Patty lou]

Flexi 8 and crown braid section where????????????

Patty lou

[bettylibertine]

Thanks guys!
Who are you referring to Patty lou? :)

Also, fantastic idea tisiloves

[Tisiloves]

Thanks, Betty, adapting updos to my shortarsed hair is becoming one of my major hobbies.

[Patty lou]

In Alvrodul's pictures.

Patty lou

[bettylibertine]

Ah! Gotcha - sorry I'm no help there :p

[Venefica]

That is a beautiful hairstyle the thread starter have shown off, I will have to try that one day.

[Alvrodul]

You wished for pics Patty lou - here is one from last yearhttp://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m529/Alvrodul/Updos%202011/Cleopatrado.jpg


... and this picture was taken earlier this summer. :D

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m529/Alvrodul/Updos%202012/Cleopatrastylewithflexis.jpg

[Madora]

Alvrodul, I just can't get enough of that first picture! Your hair is so beautiful in the sunlight!

[bettylibertine]

So lovely Alvrodul!