Regency Hairstyle Tutorial
Jul. 5th, 2007 08:25 pm
At the brilliant suggestion of
Inspired in part by Georgiana Darcy's and Charlotte Lucas' updos in the 1995 Pride & Prejudice, along with some modifications of my own. ;-) Now in my opinion this is pretty period-correct, but I'm no expert. It certainly gives the correct "look" and isn't very hard, once you get the hang of it.

Step 1: Part hair down the center. (middle of your forehead and all the way to the nape of my neck, as if for two pigtails.) Then make a second part, this time going across and intersecting the first part, from just about behind your ears, intersecting across the top of my head about 4 or 5 inches from the hairline, making a sort of quadrant of four sections, with most of your hair in the back. (The two front sections, which should be pretty thin, will each be looped around the final bun for decorations later) Braid these back two portions together, starting it high up on the crown. Finish and tie off.

Step 2: Coil the braid you just made up around, making a bun. Pin securely, and if possible, moisten the wispy strands at the nape of your neck with water and curl them with your fingers. (mine does this naturally, but you might have to use curlers or just skip this part)

Step 3: Now you're going to braid the front sections of your hair that have been getting in your way. ;-) Start with either the left or the right section; it doesn't matter which. Smooth it back neatly, and seperate it into three strands just behind your ear and begin to braid. Try to keep it as smooth and straight as possible, and braid all the way to the end. Finish off, and repeat for the other side.
Taking your newly-created accent braids, using your hands, run them straight back to the bun, and pin the accents to the base of your bun. Your hair should then look something similar to the Step Four image.

Step 4: This part is really a matter of taste and how long your hair is. For me, I take the two accent braids and wrap them around each other once or twice, like this:
(note the red X -- tuck the braid ends inside the larger bun and pin them securely) You can just loop and swag them around your bun any way you choose. The finished product should look pretty much like this:


Now it's off to the Netherfield ball to dance with Mr. Darcy! (or Mr. Bingley, if you prefer) ;-)
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Date: 2007-07-06 08:06 pm (UTC)And please make some more of these if you have anymore hairstyles to share! I have long hair and am always trying to figure out what to do with it so I'm looking forward to trying this one. Thanks :D
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Date: 2007-07-06 09:17 pm (UTC)This is the "best" one I've come up with so far. I'm not satisfied with my crude attempts at a Jane Eyre-type hairstyle (everyone thought it looked hideous!) or a Civil War one. ;-)
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Date: 2007-07-07 03:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-07 04:49 am (UTC)I don't suppose we'll get to see pix? ;-P
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Date: 2007-07-08 07:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-08 09:00 pm (UTC)For some reason they're hard for me. I have a snood, too, but I just can't get it to look *right*!
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Date: 2007-07-09 06:52 pm (UTC)I love it and I'll be trying to, although my hair is not long enough. But anyway, thanks :))
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Date: 2007-07-09 08:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 08:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-16 05:44 pm (UTC)May I friend you?
I'm in the San Diego Costume Guild.
Val (mom of Chloe & Rudy)
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Date: 2007-07-16 08:09 pm (UTC)Thanks for the comment. I'm flattered you like my hair instructions! And a Costume Guild must be exciting.
Of course you may! :-)
You know, I thought you meant children, but then I saw your pic and realized you meant cats! LOL!! They're adorable. I wish I wasn't allergic sometimes...
~Lauren
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Date: 2007-07-16 08:15 pm (UTC)I just found out about your LJ from
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Date: 2007-07-16 08:36 pm (UTC)Sure! The more costumers the merrier.
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Date: 2007-07-16 08:40 pm (UTC)My LJ is Friends Only so you're welcome to friend me also.
Yep, those are my kitties. I'm in the icon this time.
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Date: 2007-07-16 08:44 pm (UTC)*squints the better to see your dress* Pretty!! Regency, I presume? Your necklace -- is it coral?
Do you like Jane Austen movie costumes? (I bet this is a stupid question...)
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Date: 2007-07-16 09:49 pm (UTC)I'm the President of the SD Costume Guild, I cater English tea parties as a side job. I just retired from the police department last month after 28 years. Now I have more time for costuming. My favorites are Regency, Victorian bustle and Natural Form, Edwardian, and a little bit of 1790s. My icon now is my dress I made for the Marie Antoinette movie debut we went to. I just love to dress up. I'm 53, so I'm a late bloomer, but young at heart.
I have a large online photo album of events our costume guild went to if you'd like to see them. (Again, no adult content)
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Date: 2007-07-16 09:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-17 12:23 am (UTC)President of a Costume Guild? Sounds like a career I'd like, lol!! I love just about every era, but Regency, Bustle, and late 18th C. come first for me. ;-)
If you don't mind having a commenter that's 21, I'll drop you a comment every so often. :-) And I'd love to see more of your pretty creations!
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Date: 2007-07-17 12:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-17 02:23 am (UTC)Have you read any of Kendra's website? She has lots of good costume diaries. http://demodecouture.com/index.html
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Date: 2007-07-17 04:07 am (UTC)I use Kendra's extant clothing index *all* the time! And I'm anxiously awaiting the completion of her Gwendolen Harleth dress. ;-P
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Date: 2007-07-17 04:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-17 08:08 pm (UTC)Have you ever rented a movie just to see the costumes?
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Date: 2007-07-17 10:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-18 01:11 am (UTC)I love Wives & Daughters!
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Date: 2007-07-18 01:39 am (UTC)Jane Austen email newsletter
Date: 2007-07-18 02:52 am (UTC)Do you get this email newsletter? I have been getting the JA Regency World magazine from the UK, and they have an online newsletter too that's pretty good. When you go to the website, check the upper right for the link to the Email Newsletter.
http://www.janeausten.co.uk/
Re: Jane Austen email newsletter
Date: 2007-07-18 04:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-18 04:49 am (UTC)Have you ever considered getting Netflix?
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Date: 2007-07-18 05:02 am (UTC)I just go to our local Blockbuster Video and look for ones they sell that have been pre-viewed. Or put them on my Wish List for birthdays, etc.
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Date: 2007-07-18 05:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-18 04:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-30 05:30 pm (UTC)Very glad I found your iconage!
And by the way, I find that listening to the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack while browsing your journal is very fitting.
~Hillary
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Date: 2007-07-31 01:15 am (UTC)Don't worry, you haven't scared me so far. ;-)
Is it really! Well, I suppose it would, considering how much JA I bombarde my readers with. ;-P Thanks for the comments!
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Date: 2008-01-25 04:17 pm (UTC)I have a question for you, though, if you don't mind. I have suddenly had a strong interest in learning the Rules Of Etiquette, and I thought you may know of something, a book or website, that could help me. Also, since you like the clothes, something about proper dress, why things are the way they are the way they are now, etc, would be amazing.
Sorry if I'm just wasting space in your comments. *^-^*
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Date: 2008-01-25 09:39 pm (UTC)I don't mind at all. Which rules of etiquette are you referring to -- the ones during the Regency era, or modern rules? I'd be more than willing to help you once I understand what it is exactly you would like to know, but consider yourself forewarned -- I'm no expert!!! :-D And no comment is a wasted comment. I love comments!
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Date: 2009-05-10 11:44 pm (UTC)Thank you SO much for that ^_^
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Date: 2009-05-11 06:25 pm (UTC)Beautiful Style!
Date: 2009-05-28 02:25 pm (UTC)Re: Beautiful Style!
Date: 2009-05-31 08:18 am (UTC)Re: Beautiful Style!
Date: 2009-05-31 01:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-22 05:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-01 07:40 am (UTC)Thank you for asking in advance, and of course I'd love to see what the vid looks like as soon as you've made it!