Hair:

Early Victorian Hair 

The Victorian hairstyles started in the Victorian era when Queen Elizabeth 1st rein over England and the hairstyles were indeed also quite regal in some ways. Women began to wear their hair in center partings, pulled back and high roll curls on the head, this look was apparently known as the 'Jane Austen' hairstyle (1920's). Other styles also included Plait buns with the pulled back hair which was known as the 'Apollo Knot' and considered a Fancy hairstyle.

- In the 1830's the hair was still as an up-do like the 1820's hairstyles but with a little twist the hair was making its way down the front of the face which began to start being used to frame the face. Which may have been inspired by the Queen herself as she began to wear her hair in a low bun but still with the pulled back hair. The most stereotypical hairstyle of this era where ringlets on the sides of the head or down the sides of the face and then the back of the head having low buns with decorative garments in there hair e.g. flowers and even bonnets. But as you may not think hairdressing was a mans job mainly and would make house calls for mostly the rich and the wealthy while less wealthy women could have their maids to do their hair or do it themselves. Stated in this blog ' Hairstyles and Hats, ca. 1830: part 1' its explains some processes of the hairstyles of the 1830's which were very elaborate 'The typical process of 1830 hairdressing began by parting the hair into three sections: one shorter one on each side of the forehead and one longer one in the back.  The hair’s part is sometimes located in the center, sometimes on the side, and sometimes v-shaped, like this:'

'The side sections are curled into ringlets with curling tongs (or else with curling papers or cloths), while the back section is yanked (painfully) into those loops and braids and pinned into place.  Pomade is used to keep the hair on top and in the back smooth and straight and shiny.  Lots of fake hair pieces are used, too, since of course not everyone is equally endowed, hair-wise.' For example:

Lastly, another popular hairstyle of the 1830's was a hairstyle that consisted of straight, pulled back hair with an low twisted bun and hanging plaits around each ear. Which they believed would show off there features of their ears and would usually be worn with a low dress that showed off the chest area. This look is one that I will be showing in practice later in this blog and I will go through the hairstyle step by step. 

Men's Hair:

Quoted by 'The Hair at the Nineteenth Century' was a statement about the men's hairstyles of the time which says  'wore their hair more or less long, and became in fashion big moustaches, sideburns, and beards. Also was "à la mode" the puritan hairstyle of the 19th century, with no moustaches, and sideburns attached to a short beard, like Abraham Lincoln'. This was a very popular hair- do of this era as personal hygiene and washing was starting to become a social norm for everyone so men (mainly wealthy) were becoming very conscience of their looks. They would wear their hair parted down the on one side and then sometimes curled on top, other options also were facial hair, top hats and other accessories.  

Victorian Hairstyles:

As mentioned perilously in this blog as inspired by the Victorian era I have produced one the most popular styles that many of the women would have worn in this period. The hair style consists of a center parting with two hanging plaits and a low bun at the back of the head. This look would have been worn with a low dress that would have exposed the top of the chest and shoulders. 

 To start off the look for this Victorian style as the style is very neat and straight, I parted the hair down the center parting about half way on her head using a pin tale comb. Then with the two sections of hair either side of the head I clipped this to the hair to later plait and with the rest of the hair, using a hair tie I tied it into a simple ponytail.



Then using the ponytail at the back of the head I took the hair and rapped it around the head to create a swirl. While doing this wrap I pinned in many pins to secure the bun into place. This was quite difficult as my client has quite a lot of hair therefore making it quite difficult to keep it all in place whilst also keeping it neat.



 After completing the bun I then took the two pieces of hair at the sides of the face and I plaited both of them in a normal three way plait. Then taking the plait I brought it round to the back of the head making sure it made a loop under the ear as this was in the style of this period. With the ends of the hair, as it was so long I wrapped it into the bun (using pins), which actually made the bun have more detail and look more interesting to the eye.
Overall, I am very pleased with this look and how it turned out and I was quite surprised how simple the look was to do with it looking quite detailed overall. On the other hand, to improve on this look next time I would start the plaits at the sides of the face higher up while making it more secure. I think by doing this next time it would make the hairstyle look neater.