Victorian hairstyles

[Stefanie]

Originally Posted by opheliarose

Does anyone have a good idea for styling my long, all one length hair into a 1880's do? A lot of the styles I've found seem to have bangs, which I refuse to cut for one play!

Here's an idea:
Pull your hair into a ponytail around the center of the back of your head, leaving 2 or 3 small chunks hanging from the hairline at your neck. Use some sort of styling product so that you can twist the ponytail without hairs sticking out all over. Wrap the twisted hair around the ponytail base so that it's kind of like a spiral and pin it in place. Tightly curl the 2 or 3 chunks that are left hanging like the ones in the second picture posted at the top.

Did that make sense? I can picture it... but if you can't I might be able to draw a picture of what I'm seeing in my head.

[opheliarose]

Not sure I'm picturing it...Kind of an "I dream of jeanie" thing? I'm wondering if that might be kind of severe from the front...

[Toni]

Originally Posted by opheliarose

Does anyone have a good idea for styling my long, all one length hair into a 1880's do? A lot of the styles I've found seem to have bangs, which I refuse to cut for one play!

Opheliarose,

According to the picture you had inserted in this post from Stefanie, I am guessing you like these closely placed fingercurls? Didn't I see where you posted elsewhere that your hair is very long? And I am assuming? all one length?

My first instinct is to say part your hair from ear to ear halfway back from front hairline. Starting above one ear, section off from back to front and curl tightly in a finger curl and pin down. Work from one ear to the other according to this picture.

HOWEVER, if you hair is very long and especially if it is thick, this is not going to work for you. You may find you have to pull your hair back and work a style at the crown and back down your head. Then pin down a hair piece of curls that you have purchased which is close as possible to your own hair color. This hairpiece may have to have the curls redirected to match the rest of your hairstyle, yet this is ok. Thank God for hairpins!

No way would I suggest you cut your hair when you do not want to, especially for a temporary role in a theater production.

[opheliarose]

Yep, very long and fairly thick, and straight. It seems like most of the pics I've been able to find online from the 1880's have some sort of curly fringe in front (frizzed, as they called it back then!). I've experimented with the parting hair ear to ear, and pinning the curls, but I find I wind up looking a little to Gibson-girl-ish. It also makes me look REALLY TALL! Not that that's a bad thing but I need to look sort of wimpy next to the guy who's beating me up (FAKE BEATING OF COURSE!). Also I need to pull it down for the last scene of the play (I have quite a bit of time to do this, but it might be wierd at that point if I have fake bangs!)

I haven't actually seen my costumes yet. A lot is going to depend on my necklines, and if I have hats or not. (HAts add a whole new set of problems!)

[dippitydo]

I would love to be able to try some of these styles. They look very complicated, but they do look pretty. I may try to see if my mother could help me do something like this to my hair.

[Toni]

Originally Posted by opheliarose

Yep, very long and fairly thick, and straight. It seems like most of the pics I've been able to find online from the 1880's have some sort of curly fringe in front (frizzed, as they called it back then!). I've experimented with the parting hair ear to ear, and pinning the curls, but I find I wind up looking a little to Gibson-girl-ish. It also makes me look REALLY TALL! Not that that's a bad thing but I need to look sort of wimpy next to the guy who's beating me up (FAKE BEATING OF COURSE!). Also I need to pull it down for the last scene of the play (I have quite a bit of time to do this, but it might be wierd at that point if I have fake bangs!)

I haven't actually seen my costumes yet. A lot is going to depend on my necklines, and if I have hats or not. (HAts add a whole new set of problems!)

Yes, I can understand your situation if you have to 'let your hair down' for that last scene. Perhaps you could go look and see what times of fake hair pieces are out there. You may want one for the done up style and another for when your hair is down. ANYthing to keep from cutting your hair. You're right, one play is not worth it.

And yes, do let us know if the costumes come with hats.

I love theatre and helping those get into their dress period. So keep us posted!

[opheliarose]

*sigh* No hat. But I do get a pretty fab cape!

Well, after a lot of swearing and experimenting, I finally got it figured out. I start by hot rolling my whole head, concentrating on the front. I'm using my fabulous Remington hot rollers that they don't make anymore, and I've seen them going for $200 on ebay!

When I take the rollers out, I have long, fat ringlets. I parted it down the center before I roll it. The front hair I'm pinning each individual curl in place, in a sort of pseudo-bang like Toni suggested. This gives me a bit of height which is a good thing! The back is braided, with about 4 inches of loose curls at the bottom. IT gets pinned into a huge chignon covering most of the back of my head. Then I pin in some sparkly pins and combs (More is more with victorian dress). It's suprisingly comfortable, since all the weight is pretty evenly distributed.

Then when I let it down, it's all nice and curly yet. Very bodice-ripper-ish.

[Toni]

Wow Opheliarose,

That sounds fabulous! You are so talented and creative. Thanks for letting us know how you figured this hairstyle out for your theater production.
Let us know how the show goes. And know that I would like to hear from you in the future when you have further theatrical challenges.

Break a leg!

[opheliarose]

Thanks! Fortunately for my next show I'll be a little Dutch girl- braids are so much easier!