Hair "pouf" achieved in front

[Madora]

Otter checking in Might have to try this. I always cheat and use one of those teeny tiny claw clips but then when my gray roots start to show you can see them on the sides. Like an otter with racing stripes.

"...Like an otter with racing stripes." Oh, God, that is hysterical, Kitten! I needed that chuckle! Thanks!

[Madora]

Schoolmarm Ms Otter proudly checking in. Wasn't there a "thight-bunned mean ladies club" somewhere on the boards?

Thanks for the lovely instructions, Madora. The size of the pouf depends on where I part my hair, I'm not sure if this is true for others as well. If I take more hair from the front (like from temple to temple) in one section, it gets bigger than if I only take a section from eye to eye. Does that make sense?

I'm curious, Phexlyn, where do you place the part? Is it more towards the front (right in front of the ears, running from one ear, up and across the head to the front of the other ear?). That would be an interesting variation.

Yep, those ladies cheated with all kinds of hair helpers, the "rats" in particular. Some of the Edwardian cabinet photos I've seen on the 'Net are positively preposterous with the height of some of the styles! I always liked a good "Gibson girl", but while the style was wildly popular, not everyone knew how to pull it off so that it looked stylish.


I think at least some of these ladies cheated by using hair rats, but for daily styling this is an easy option.

Yes, there was a thread a long time ago about the "tight bunned, mean ladies club". Very funny!

[Gertrude]

The Edwardian pouf was made with rats and frizzing the hair with a curling iron and back-combing it. There was a practical reason for it in that hats of the era were huge and needed several hat pins, of very stout nature, to hold the hat on the wearer's head. Those lethal pins were then stuck through the rats and helper hair pieces. The hair was built up to support the picture hats.

You can easily and less painfully buy two of those foam doughnuts for sock buns, with the press-studs. You undo both, join their press-studs to make a long sausage, have lots of your hair at the front over your face, then pin on the sausage and carefully arrange your hair over the modern rats and hey presto, Gibson girl.

Works really only in thick hair, and preferably wavy hair but when it works it's amazing in a good way.

I hope I am a cute otter as well, my hair does not pouf and it separates revealing the rat/doughnut/sockbun form (-;

[Madora]

The Edwardian pouf was made with rats and frizzing the hair with a curling iron and back-combing it. There was a practical reason for it in that hats of the era were huge and needed several hat pins, of very stout nature, to hold the hat on the wearer's head. Those lethal pins were then stuck through the rats and helper hair pieces. The hair was built up to support the picture hats.

You can easily and less painfully buy two of those foam doughnuts for sock buns, with the press-studs. You undo both, join their press-studs to make a long sausage, have lots of your hair at the front over your face, then pin on the sausage and carefully arrange your hair over the modern rats and hey presto, Gibson girl.

Works really only in thick hair, and preferably wavy hair but when it works it's amazing in a good way.

I hope I am a cute otter as well, my hair does not pouf and it separates revealing the rat/doughnut/sockbun form (-;

Thanks for the interesting info, Gertrude. Those Edwardian ladies were clever in how they used artifice to create such stunning updos. Yes, the craze for picture hats (especially The Merry Widow hat) was something else in that era! The hatmakers had quite a field day concocting ever more extravagant creations for their patrons. Kind of sad that hats have pretty much vanished from the scene ... except at Ascot and special occasions, like the Royal Wedding. I think Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy was the last American to really have much interest in hats. Her pillbox chapeau was famous.

[Majorane]

I love poufs! And I will pouf like this when I braid in the future!
But does anyone know of a way to pouf (without clippies) when doing a stickbun? Because I love my stickbuns and I don't have enough hair for braided stickbuns, so i look like an otter onna stick. Which is a look that can be very flattering, but alas not so much for me.

Also: Pouf! Pouf! Phhooouf! I love the word pouf.

[stachelbeere]

haha! this is how I do my paranda top knots

[velorutionista]

I love poufs! And I will pouf like this when I braid in the future!
But does anyone know of a way to pouf (without clippies) when doing a stickbun? Because I love my stickbuns and I don't have enough hair for braided stickbuns, so i look like an otter onna stick. Which is a look that can be very flattering, but alas not so much for me.

Also: Pouf! Pouf! Phhooouf! I love the word pouf.

I just tug (gently!) at the top front section of hair (tugging away from bun, toward face) once the bun is up, and that usually gives me a little pouf/height in front (unless it's very dirty hair). I also find it helps to dry my front section of hair twisted and poufed (using a mini claw clippie while drying), as that sets me up for good poufage (that's a word, m'kay?) till next wash.

[Majorane]

I just tug (gently!) at the top front section of hair (tugging away from bun, toward face) once the bun is up, and that usually gives me a little pouf/height in front (unless it's very dirty hair). I also find it helps to dry my front section of hair twisted and poufed (using a mini claw clippie while drying), as that sets me up for good poufage (that's a word, m'kay?) till next wash.

I'll try that! Less vigorous than I am now doing! So my bun doesn't get yanked to shreds. Thanks!
Poufage poufage poufage

[Savvyhorsez]

Looks really great Madora!

[Madora]

I just tug (gently!) at the top front section of hair (tugging away from bun, toward face) once the bun is up, and that usually gives me a little pouf/height in front (unless it's very dirty hair). I also find it helps to dry my front section of hair twisted and poufed (using a mini claw clippie while drying), as that sets me up for good poufage (that's a word, m'kay?) till next wash.

Ah, ha, someone else does the slight tugging towards the front, away from bun! I did this too, years ago, but was very, very careful with those front hairs because they are so delicate! You have to be sure that the back part of the hair has enough "give" to allow you to pull those tiny hairs forward. But yes, a pouf was worth the risk!

Hmmm...poufage. Can we give it a French twist and call it "Pouf-ahge"? A little bit o class!

@Thanks very much, savvyhorsez!