Movie Braids

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I am clueless when it comes to hairdos - which is kind of ironic since may hair has been long for over two decades. Often when I'm on the Internet, I look for ideas and tutorials. Sometimes what I find is a hairdo for costuming; and then I have to share it with you.

Arwen's The Two Towers Cut Fight Scene Braid by Mary Bertke

Over at Dreamweaver Braiding, Mary Bertke has tons of examples and tutorials on how to braid hair from the classic three strand to the more complicated eight strand, without forgetting twists and Herringbone. Once you know the basics, you can create complicated assemblages such as Arwen's do in the cut Helm's Deep scene (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - 2002).

Liv Tyler as Arwen, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Using a Herringbone and French Braid technique, she also shows us how to create Legolas' hairstyle.

Legolas' Lord of the Rings braids by Mary Bertke

The resemblance in uncanny.

Orlando Bloom as Legolas Greenleaf, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Finally, while looking through her pages,. I also found this style. Does it remind you of anything?

Dutch High Classic with French braid below

Think back to your childhood, from a Galaxy far, far away...

Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa, Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

That's right folks, it's Princess Leia's other hairdo; the one from the medal giving ceremony.

Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa, Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

Of course, I choose to present only movie hairdos today (as they can be very useful for costuming), but Dreamweaver Braiding has many more examples, many of which are perfect for weddings or RenFaires. Check it out!

On my end, since my hair is not as long as it once was (currently at mid shoulder blades level, but butt length a few years back), I think I'll use Nancy-Raven as a guinea pig!

New Irish Dance Wig

Last Tuesday, my dance teacher surprised us with a request, that all her older dancers 9and I'm the eldest) have full wigs for our show... which is next Friday. With less than two weeks, I had to hurry. I spent a good amount of time shopping online and exchanging e-mails with sellers. Here is what I learned: wigs are freakishly expensive and so is shipping when you need it immediately (Okay, I already knew both these things, but they were confirmed to me once more).

Then on Friday the local Irish Dance supply seller (Faery Reel - lovely people) writes back saying if I want to, I can stop by her place and I can look through the bargain bin to see if anything fits my budget and hair colour. So yesterday, late in the afternoon, I head out with my daughter, drive two hours (because by local, I mean "The Greater Montreal Area"; it was still quite a long way from my home, but what choice did I have?) to go get myself a wig.

Morgan (Double Wig) by Youngblood

The wig I found is a double wig (twice as much hair as a normal human being would have) which is a 26" long, full head wig, with large elasticated cap, loose split curls and thick density fibre. I personally don't like split curls for Irish Dance wigs (I was really hoping for tight ringlets), but that was my only choice. The other wigs were either too small or the wrong colour.

Speaking of colour, it was a shock to me to realize how much darker my hair had gotten following my pregnancy. I used to be a Strawberry Blond, but this wig is Light Ash Brown with some Light Blond highlights and it's a near perfect match.

Gwenyver's Morgan Double Wig in Light Ash Brown / Light Blond - Front

This thing is huge. I wonder how it will feel when I dance in it?

Gwenyver's Morgan Double Wig in Light Ash Brown / Light Blond - Side

One thing is for sure: I'm going to look like a lioness with this huge main of hair.

Gwenyver's Morgan Double Wig in Light Ash Brown / Light Blond - Back

Of course, I,m sure you care to know how much Swiffer cost me (yes, I have nicknamed my wig "Swiffer"): 50$ and a half tank of gas. Seems like a lot? New, it costs 120$ on average. I guess the frizz caused by many hands checking the thickness of the curls (in it's previous life, Swiffer was a display wig) is well worth the bargain.

Stay tuned for pictures of me wearing it (and of our show next Friday).

Hairdo: Scarf tying

While I was preparing for my first LARP week, oh, back in 2005, I spent a lot of time cutting and sewing garb and costumes while watching Era music videos. One that inspired me greatly was Misere Mani.

I really liked the costume worn by Irene Bustamante, who plays the role of the mother / singer (and this has nothing to do with the fact that she is, in my eyes, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, no sir...). I often wondered how to wrap scarves the way she wears hers in said video. Then, recently, I was sent a link for some Jewish online clothing store (through a costuming list I belong to) that also features scarf wearing tutorials; I need wonder no more. Her scarf tying technique is called The Crown. The little blind girl's scarf is apparently The Classic Tie.

And for those of us who watched The Mists of Avalon (2001) and wondered how the maids could wear a braided head wrap (I sure did), this is how you do The Braid.

For all of the different scarf tying technique, go to Head Scarf tying instructions.

Now none of you have any excuse not to cover your head the next time you go to a Medieval Event (if you don't and you get a heat stroke, listen to my voice in your ear that tells you "You deserve it: you should have listen to Gwenyver, she is always right!" - mwahaha).

HairDo: Gibson Girl

I have had a request! Yeah! I'm not jut talking to myself like a crazy person, someone actually reads all my craziness (OK, I actually know that already because I have had a few very appreciated comments). So, Following my HairDo: 18th Century Pouf post, I received a request for some help in doing one's hair in the style worn by women in Road to Avonlea (1989).

Felicity King and Sara Stanley, Road to Avonlea (1989)

For those of you who do not know the series, it is set in Prince Edward Island in the early 1900's, also known as the Edwardian Era.

Gibson Girl, Drawing by Charles Dana Gibson

The beauty icon of the Edwardian era is of course the Gibson Girl (and by this, one does not mean a girl named Miss Gibson, but the girls illustrated by Charles Dana Gibson; look it up).

Alas, I have found no tutorial videos for this hair style (that I was satisfied with, I should add), but I do have a favorite web page (you didn't think I'd let you down, now did you?).

Introducing In Timely Fashion - Crowning Glory Period Hairstyles: under the Edwardian icon, they present well explained, photo accompanied tutorials for four hairstyles of the time: the Edwardian Twist, the Gibson Braids (my personal favorite - I've often done my hair this way for Christmas parties), the Gibson Pompadour and a Variation on the Pompadour using Rats (hair styling accessories, not rodents). The Pompadour* is the hairstyle most associated with Edwardian times.

*At the time, women used Hair Frames called Transformation, also referred to as Pompadour, to get that perfect elaborate hairstyle.

Gibson Girls at the Beach, Drawing by Charles Dana Gibson

Have you noticed? The Gibson Girl hairdo is perfect to go with a 1890 - 1900 bathing suit, for say, a day at the beach?

HairDo: 18th Century Pouf

With the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France going on, my mind is on 18th century fashion. I can make an 18th century dress in ten hours, but Hairdos have never been my forte. So just how does one do their hair in the infamous Marie-Antoinette Pouf style?

First of, if you are wondering what a Pouf looks like, please see the following fashion illustration of the time:

Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français. 2e. Cahier des Nouveaux Costumes Français pour les Coeffures B.12 (duplicate) "Pouf d'un gout nouveau..."French, 1778Esnauts et Rapilly, French, 18th century

I bet some of you thought Marge Simpson's hair was both ridiculous and impossible. Surprise! The beehive was just a Pouf, nouveau genre.

And now, for some tutorials. If you wish to wear a wig, you can either find one that is already styled as a Pouf, or you can make your own Pouf wig using a long haired wig. I suggest you DIYers visit Démodé's 1770's Pouf Wig Tutorial. I do love the result of heir red-haired Pouf wig and can't wait to try to make one myself.

If you would rather use your own hair (you must have long hair to attempt this), Ask Me Make-up has a video on YouTube (which I watch often, just for fun) on how to do your hair Marie-Antoinette style.