My Inital Designs

The 3 Hair Templates of our initial ideas

Design 1
This design I did a while ago looking back now is extremely traditional. Having a fringe I initially wanted it to be curled and pinned much like what was popular in those days. In a lot of Elizabethan painting the idea of a curled fringe was a favourite.

A Elizabethan copy is right here on Ann-Marie Duff who played the role of Elizabeth herself in a the mini series "The Virgin Queen" just look at those perfect curls framing her face, images like this inspired me to look into having the hair done.


Upon reflection and practicing though this look didn't work very well with my partner as my fringe is shorter I didn't want to have a finished result of it not being up to the design. I also realised NEW ELIZABETHAN what was unique about this look?. Maybe playing to safe. Off I went to research more and design.

Design 2
Yet again a design I did a while ago much like the last there were big elements of keeping to the Elizabethan ways with the curled fringe (looser curls this time) but with the popular heart shape which was used with padding and even when parted in the middle.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/486881409689926405/

Look at this image, The hair padding is perfectly into the popular shape, the attifet moulded around the hair

Also After looking at props I designed a band to fit around the crown that would separate the fringe and padding in pearls, hair props or accessorises are in fitting.


Design 3
Design 3 is the design I decided in the end to continue upon. I love plaiting not because its pretty but because the finish look can be relaxed or extremely detailed.

A few weeks after the design had been written up I began looking into including my fringe and not curling it; after all this entire project is based on the Elizabethan era meeting a modern twist one that we can reflect and work upon connecting to our hair.

After working more onto this design I decided this was the final look me and my partner as the stylist would work upon.

Alexander McQueen Inspired Hair

Alexander McQueen the incredible designer who lives on through the legacy of designers working for his label such as Sarah Burton his original right hand women and the now creative designer. His designs are beautiful the dedicated workings of a talent.

McQueen in a lot of his campaigns has clearly been inspired by the Elizabethan era which reflected on the catwalk.


Fall/Winter 2013

The fall/winter McQueen show in Paris. Just look at these images; the references to the Elizabethan era is as clear as day... the structured clothing, the lace, the collar and thats just the outfit. The hair is covered in this beautiful pearl detail on the hair net; a piece of both art and jewellery in my eyes. The beautiful clear makeup on the girls that also nods to the Elizabethan era with the slight tinting on the lips and paleness with the blond eyebrows. The look is contemporary because the net covers the models faces something in Elizabethan times they would do and off course the fact skin is revealed to show how modern times have changed from the days of only ankle peeping. Sarah Burton at the time was pregnant with twins and still managed to pull this off with the McQueen team. I love this entire show.

McQueen Show F/W 13

Fall/Winter 2004 

Extremely contemporary yet still with clear referencing toward the Elizabethan era in the fall/Winter 2004 collection for McQueen, its madness to think this show is ten years old. Off course this look isn't a exact copy of an Elizabethans beauty look but the references are there; the bleached eyebrows, the tight curls of the models hair which are extremely Elizabethan with the fact on many of the models they were in the hairline like in many portraits in the era  (notice above its red, red hair and pale hair was seen as the ultimate beauty look to have in Elizabethan times) 

the models faces are also whited out to make them look extremely pale. Theres a extremely to this look the makeup though simple still looks extremely to its lack of life. The eyes are the focus point on the face framed nicely under the eyebrows in a pale yet still but defined line. The entire look is structured.


For the image above the hair though curled is also swept/jelled probably to highlight the idea of a larger forehead being seen as beauty (Elizabeth is know for her high hairline).
These curls have been created using a tiny hair curler and then pinning after; The hair is extremely detailed a lot of time has been given in prep and production time to achieve these perfect tight curls.

F/W 04

RIP

Hair Washing

For our very very first ever (have I made that clear) lesson with Lottie we learnt the step to step way to properly washing ones hair like how to a hair salon would work.

A step by Step; to be fair the usual every other day. The way to massage the hair with shampoo and conditioner.

Processes

before water is placed on head ALWAYS test temperature; test of wrist.

1.Wash hair to remove to wet using the basin and the model having placed a towel over the shoulders to protect from drip .

2. turn tap off and grab a small portion of shampoo in your hand, on the head work through the hair lightly massaging. REMEMBER shampoo cleanses.

3.Wash out, cup around the hairline to save the model/client getting water into their eyes or ruining their makeup.

4. Apply the conditioner and carefully pat onto hair; only work into the hair not the roots. This builds up grease if you work into the root and increases the amount you should be washing you hair,

5.WASH OUT, If dry and brittle add a serum onto before its dry and massage the tips

A good website to learn facts and tips is http://hairdressing.ac.uk easy peasy.

This is a process every stylist will learn; what if on a shoot the designer wants the hair clean? or you're working a wedding? Hair is important and needs to be treated well. Remember though everyone has different hair. Different types; thin, thick, brittle and frizzy.

Plaits

oh plaiting the joys, at the beginning of the class I was dreading the precise and delicate art that is plaiting for me before I started the course the only plait I could do was the three stranded simple one we learn at primary school any other complicated creation wasn't obtainable with my brain.


Is this lesson we learnt 3 basic plaiting techniques

1. French - perhaps for me the most difficult of the 3 as I found it extremely fiddley and strangely stressful at first hah, this plait is extremely Elizabethan the people of this time did love a good braid. I wonder who first thought to plait ones hair.

for this plait the plait is in the three strand format, but after the connection is plaited you need to grab your hair from the sides that the three strands are from.... Sound confusing? Isn't to bad after practice, work down the hair using straight sectioning whilst working the hair because it's a lot easier wasn't till a lesson with Helen long into the project and she taught me to do the straight sectioning technique it looks a look neater to and organised.

this plait for me personally still needs practice It's not perfect. The day I can plait my fringe into the rest of my hair will be a happy day

Here is a typical french plait I actually found on a  hairdressing training site

2. Fishtail - this is the plait I always wanted to know how to do. I love this plait, extremely feminine and pretty.

The braid it's self is actually easy it can be fiddly but just working with your hands higher so you have more control in the hair. simple take two strands of how much hair you want for your creation and with each moment take a piece of hair from the OUTSIDE and cross over that selected strand and cross under the next strand and proceed to do this process with the opposite hair carry on taking and crossing under under a fish tale is created, does take a while and is fiddly at first but pretty easy to accomplish. For another look once the plait is complete and and secured at the end you can use your hands to loosen the hair to create a relaxed look, pl to the sides never down as that doesn't make any sense anyway.

3. Traditional plait- of course this plait is easy peasy, like all plaits it's can be messy or neat; If you have layers a messy plait will happen.

Remember the red classic plait Rihanna had for the mtv awards a few years ago? I KNOW YOU DO.

An big braid created with hair extensions 

                                        http://www.elizabethan-portraits.com/Various_6.htm


In this portrait of Elizabeth of Austria, Queen of France painted by Francois Clouet not only in her hair is a jewelled what looks like a pillar box hat; the hair is in plaiting around her face in a delicate formation starting at the parting.

Elizabethan Hair

A brilliant example of some popular Elizabeth Hair styles

Elizabethan hair was big bold and extreme; intricate detailing was involved with renascence important women. Just look at some of Elizabeths hair styles within portrait this woman was seen as the ultimate idol; viewed as beautiful, people wanted to look like her so hairs were exactly the same people would copy the queen, women of nobility even dyed their hair a yellow colour to reflect the queens of course though hair dye back in those times to make ones hair yellow a concoction of saffron, cumin seeds and oil would make the desired look. Image the smell of there hair.

Hair down was seen as youthful and worn for most weddings as it represented virginity, due to women back then not cutting their hair regularly and keeping it long; flowers were also worn in a womens hair for weddings to show natural beauty; only married hair was swept back and styled like I will write into.

There were many different types of hair styles back then though all in common due to the fact they were 99% of the time some sort of updo past marriage; Elizabethans loved plaiting and curls.

Elizabeth herself ended up having over 80 wigs after losing her hair.

Elizabethans loved props from pearls to pieces such as ruffs and hats like french hoods.

A ruff was worn by both female and male Elizabethans, acting as a high frilled collar that framed the face as hair was also generally worn up. A ruff was made from gauze and lined with lace once in shape. Ruff's always amaze me the eccentric wardrobe of the Elizabethans theres something incredibly clown like about them, must of been extremely uncomfortable to being a weight around the next.

A French Hood which obviously had its origins in France was a decorative head piece that was wired and shaped around the head in a half crescent style band; most would be brimmed with jewels or pearls. Elizabeths mother Anne Boleyn is credited as introducing the hood to english style. The French's shape because more pronounced in its curve during Elizabethans reign; guess it was just a change in fashion like pastel.

The Coif was a linen hat that was actually worn by children always with the colouring of white, sometimes the coif was worn under larger hats because they were good for keeping the hair in place as they were close fitting to the chin.

The Caul I lovvvvveeeeeee this basically a hair net covered in pearls or other decretive pieces, women would wear at the back of their heads on a bun to spruce it up a bit. Find these extremely pretty and delicate.

The pillbox hat yes you are correct the pillbox hat was extremely popular in the sixties making a reappearance. Even back in the Elizabethan times these hats were worn with a veil; the fashionable Tutors.

Hair Hair Hair

So the entire course is Makeup and Hair styling; hair for me is a challenge I can hardly plait my own hair who know coming into this what I would of expected. An exciting journey is taking place within my own learning and self confidence.

Each week we have two double lessons of Hair one is a practical with our tutor Lottie learning pretty much everything over the next three years whilst the other double lesson is on a thursday learning about the different types of Elizabethan hair; Our tutor Helen also has worked in the theatre and worked with wig making which is a exciting area and one I would like to explore.

For me personally I come from a art back ground doing a art fountain before I came onto the course; my chosen pathway was 3D as I enjoyed creating 3D pieces such as masks. For my final project I created a baked gingerbread man chandelier which was fun.

Within hair its just learning and gaining the confidence to properly create the looks.

I can't wait to complete my completed designs in a few weeks with my partner