period hair (rolled)

[Angel of Mercy]

Hello,
I was wondering was there a distinction or difference of/in rolling the hair up or down(covering a portion of the ear) at the front of the head? Was one more comman than the other for young teens? Any information would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Kate Vogel]

Re: period hair (rolled)

Krystin,

Depending on your age and how you dress, another option would be leaving your hair loose. If you are still in that lovely transitional stage, it should still be acceptable for you to have your hair down, oiled, and parted in the center.

I've seen a few CDVs and engravings of women with hair that appears to be "rolled" (I think Alaina Zulli still has a few on her website, too), but I have seen more CDVs of women with hair that is braided and pulled back into their chignon, or with hair that is simply pulled over the top, or entire, ear and then styled down at the nape of the neck. Unfortunately, modern layered hairstyles can make this really difficult, but it is generally nothing that cannot be solved with a bit of quality pomade.

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: period hair (rolled)

Kate,
Well, I'm 17 and about 90% of the time in a work dress at events. So, it would be okay to part my har down the center and french braide my hair almost in pig-tails and put them in a bun? Or roll each side then with them braided, into a bun? My hair naturally becomes oily in a day or so of it being washed so, I wash it the day before leaving for an event. Thus, it glues itself down on it's own. But, thank you again.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: period hair (rolled)

Some thoughts:

Practically speaking, it's rarely convenient to wear loose hair when working. It tends to drag through gravy, is more prone to singe in the fire, and often drapes in cow muck. Not pleasant.

Teen girls doing active work might pull their longer hair into a simple braid at the base of the neck, or do it in two three-strand braids (one behind each ear), and get it out of the way that way.

I've yet to find any documentation of a "French braid" style from the mid-century... the furthest back I've been able to document it (without the name) is around the turn of the century.

Krystin, do you portray adult duties and tasks, or childhood duties? For the older teen, the simple style of parted in the center, smoothed back, and braided behind each ear, with perhaps those braids pinned into a simple bun at the base of the neck, works very well.

(You will see photos of girls in their teens, with their hair worn loose. Often, this style has a smooth crown, but soft waves from the ears down or so, and is held back with a pretty ribbon... my hunch is, these girls regularly wore two or more 3-strand braids, and took them out for a photo style, rather than this being their everyday, slop-the-hogs, milk-the-cows style.)

[motozulli]

Re: period hair (rolled)

I think I know what you are asking...whether the hair is rolled away from the forehead or towards, yes? The hair rolled forwards was a style coming out of the 1850s, though by no means confined to that decade (eg. http://www.geocities.com/myrtleavenu...dvthursday.JPG ) while the hair rolled up was a style moving into the middle of the 1860s (eg: http://www.geocities.com/myrtleavenu...triped1866.JPG )

So my conclusion is that there may have been a loose correlation between age and the direction hair was rolled, based on the fact that more young people than old tend(ed) to be trendy.

Cordially,
Alaina Zulli

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: period hair (rolled)

Ladies thank you,
I've been busy with school. While at Fort Delwaware, I'm in the laundry, cleaning in the parlor, or kitchen..doing labor work..common for my area during the 1860s to get money to raise a family...we are portraying 1864. So, would I roll my hair up then? I usually roll it back and into a bun, but it doesn't always want to stay because I have layered hair. Thank you again!

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: period hair (rolled)

Ladies thank you,
I've been busy with school. While at Fort Delwaware, I'm in the laundry, cleaning in the parlor, or kitchen..doing labor work..common for my area during the 1860s to get money to raise a family...we are portraying 1864. So, would I roll my hair up then? I usually roll it back and into a bun, but it doesn't always want to stay because I have layered hair. Thank you again!

If you are doing work, I would stay with the bun. I have fine, fly-away and slippery hair and find if I use lightly coat my hair with pomade, it generally will stay in place. You can generally find pomade in the ethnic hair section of the grocery store or a beauty supply store. If you don't want to use pomade, you could use a hair styling gel or mousse and that also should hold you hair in place. The modern gels or mousse will brush out and not leave you with oily hair.

I'm not an expert on hair styles but I would expect that a rolled hair style would be more difficult to keep in place.

[S. Hampton]

Re: period hair (rolled)

Ladies thank you,
So, would I roll my hair up then? I usually roll it back and into a bun, but it doesn't always want to stay because I have layered hair. Thank you again!

Krys,

I usually recommend folks roll layered hair or bangs back or under to help control and conceal them. If you do it right and have the right product in your hair, it won't come out at all and be a godsend. I used this technique alot when I had bangs and I use it now since my hair is in long layers.

I'd recommend some type of pommade from the ethnic section of the drug or beauty supply store (like Sally's Beauty Supply) instead of a gel or mousse. The hair pommade Speedy and Kara sell in their sutlery works well too (AND it comes in a period looking container!)

I tell folks to use pommades over gels and mousses because gels and mousses don't have instant hold...they have to dry or set up in order to work. That means you have to sit there and hold your hair in place to keep it from coming out while the product sets up or if you have stuborn hair, it may come apart as you try to style it. Pommades usually are ready to go....I tell folks to rub some of it in your hands to warm it up and thin it out a little.

In order to roll your hair so it doesn't come out, take a section in the front from right near the part, start to roll it (up or down....personal preference and age.) As you are rolling your hair, keep putting pommade on your fingers and roll the pommade on your hair through out the whole procedure (that will help it stay put!) Then take the section next to it and roll it in to the last section, same direction. The technique has the same principles as a french braid....you add smaller sections to an already exisiting section to make them one piece. There is a way to roll your hair under to hide bangs and the roll, but I can't explain it....I'd have to show you in person...which I can do, no problem.

You keep doing this to one side until your finished or if you wanted to roll it until your ear line and then braid the rest of the hair on that side so you could make a bun. Fasten the braid on that side. Do the same thing with the other side. Take the pieces of braid from both sides and bring them together in the back to make a bun. Secure it with pins. I like using the Goody or Good Hair Days plastic pins...they're really good for holding in buns, braids or large sections of hair.

If you want a demo in person, just let me know what event you'll be at and we can play.

Good luck!

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: period hair (rolled)

Ladies,
Thank you. I'll look into getting the pommade. Stacy, I'll be at Gettysburg and To the Gates of Washington/Monocacy events...maybe more. Just let me know, I'd love to try new things with my hair. I'm trying to get to more events this year, I asked my dad if I could go to more and he said if your mother goes with you...hmmm...oh-well.. See you sometime and thank you again Ladies.

[S. Hampton]

Re: period hair (rolled)

Ladies,
Thank you. I'll look into getting the pommade. Stacy, I'll be at Gettysburg and To the Gates of Washington/Monocacy events...maybe more. Just let me know, I'd love to try new things with my hair.

Krys,

Sure, no problem! Email me privately when it gets closer to the events you're going to and we can set up a meeting time/place. If you have any questions about a specific type of modern pommade, email me. Some are better than others---easier to use, better hold, etc.

See you on the field! :wink_smil

Stacy