Crowing about Crowning Glory

[BetsyConnolly]

I didn't make it - I don't mess with that kind of stuff If you wanted to make it, however, it probably wouldn't be hard. I just don't have a recipe.

It's called a Bee Bar - http://www.beebar.net/ A friend and I bought a large one and split it between us, so I don't have the list of ingredients, but I do remember it being full of period ingredients - lots of natural oils and, of course, beeswax. I have the vanilla scent, which is very light and wears off quickly so you're not walking around smelling like a perfumery. It actually smells more like beeswax than anything.

It's also great for your hands, and I find that what doesn't wash out of my hair makes it nice and smooth and works with styling, which is more than I can say for other, stickier pomades. It's really the only thing I've tried that gives my hair the period look. I have very fussy hair.

[wendy]

thank you, I will order some and give it a try. Sounds lovely.

[Jennifer Hill]

It's definitely on my to buy list!  Thanks a bunch for posting it.  Jennifer

[Emily Barry]

Here's a hairstyle I've been doing lately:


And the back:


It's a bit wispy in the pictures; it was the end of the day, and very windy too!

I part my hair down the middle, then across from ear to ear (kind of in a curve, actually, starting far back on the crown at the top, then angling forward to just behind the ear- that way there's more hair in the front portions, and makes my hair look thicker than it actually is! )  Then I carefully comb/brush the back hair smoothly into a "ponytail" in about the center back of my head (for mid-fifties and earlier) and coil it into a "snail" bun, pinning it securely.

Now with that up out of the way, I concentrate on the front.  First I take the part nearest my forehead and just tuck it behind my ear- keeps it smooth and out of my face.  I then pinned a small rat just above my ear and smoothed the hair behind over it towards the front.  Then I rolled all of the front hair (on that side) towards my face and under, and keep twisting till I reach the ends- then it gets looped up (how far you want the loop to hang down below/at/above your ear depends on what flatters your face shape) with the ends wrapped around the bun.  Tuck the end under, stick a few pins in, then repeat with the other side.  Take the time to make it as smooth as you can- a boar bristle brush with a light touch works well for me.  I find this works best if, ah, you haven't washed your hair in a day or so...   Hey, it's period correct!  Oh, and my hair is about waist-length, and medium thickness.

[AnnpetticeBrown]

here is my friend and I's hair that we did for the Gettysburg reenactment this past weekend

this is the back of the dance do;
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=278721&l=7cf00ddc20&id=100000593066737

here's the side view of mine that I did for the dance;
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=278798&l=ef748fe03f&id=100000593066737

and here's Cheyenne's dance do;
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=278722&l=73e3177319&id=100000593066737


here's my day do,the darn ribbon wouldn't go in the middle;
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=278801&l=9fdb399bda&id=100000593066737

and here's Cheyenne's day do;
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=278800&l=3cfbd10796&id=100000593066737

I'm afraid cheyenne's stayed up much longer then ether of mine did 
but it was fun.I did both of ours.do they look correct?

[AnnpetticeBrown]

I'm guessing that it didn't work for this one ether so here they are.

http://s1021.photobucket.com/albums/af332/Ann-Pettice/?action=view&current=100_2088.jpg

http://s1021.photobucket.com/albums/af332/Ann-Pettice/?action=view&current=100_2087.jpg

http://s1021.photobucket.com/albums/af332/Ann-Pettice/?action=view&current=100_2084.jpg

http://s1021.photobucket.com/albums/af332/Ann-Pettice/?action=view&current=100_2082.jpg

HAHA!!! we have success!!

[CVanS]

Okay, I am sure that someone else posted this question at one time or another but, I have not found it yet.  So, maybe you can help me.  After having been out of the hobby for about 15 years, I am slowly getting back in.  I have had my hair ultra-short for several years but, I am in the process of growing it out.  I am fortunate that my hair grows rather quickly.  However, having said that, I do not think that I will have it long enough by January (which is my first event where I will be dressing period).  It will be an evening event.

Do I go with the flow and center part, apply appropriate creams/oils to get the look and leave as is.  And do I use an evening cap over the previous treatment.  I have salt and pepper hair.  You can see my evening cap by going to my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/cvansluys  Look in Anything Civil War Related Album.

Keep in mind that this is about 15 years old.  I did not make this cap and I am not sure if it is truly correct.  I do not care for the flowers and would/could replace them.

Thanks again for any input.

[BethT]

Hey there CVanS!  Here is a thread on short hair with pictures of original ladies from the time period who have short hair, and lots of discussion!

http://thesewingacademy.org/index.php?topic=521.0

If you search 'short hair' then you ought to come up with a lot of threads.

For the facebook albums, I think you might need to get into your civil war album, and at the bottom of the screen should be a web address that says 'share this album with anyone by sending them this public link' and if you copy and paste the link below it, all of us will be able to see your photos much more easily!

-Beth

[Jessamyn]

Emily, obviously everybody else is as bad as I am about keeping up with these "brag" threads, because I don't see how anyone who saw your pictures could fail to tell you how lovely you look, and compliment you on your clear instructions as well.

Ann, you did a very nice job. I would suggest that while Cheyenne's hair is pretty, it is very high and tight by CW-era standards (which is probably why it stayed put so well!). Generally, CW-era hair is much lower on the back of the neck. She might find a little false hair to be very helpful - or even just not pulling the braids in so tightly. The studding with flowers is also pretty but not something I've seen in period daywear.

[Ms. Jean]

Do I go with the flow and center part, apply appropriate creams/oils to get the look and leave as is.  And do I use an evening cap over the previous treatment.  I have salt and pepper hair. 

Many of us take the hairpiece/decorated net path, included in this thread on Evening Headwear.

http://thesewingacademy.org/index.php?topic=311.0

and on Hairpieces:

http://thesewingacademy.org/index.php?topic=3034.0

Somewhere is CyberSpace is a gorgeous image of the hair plus hairpiece plus net of the lovely Joanna Jones -- can't find it this morning.

By January, you'll find a solution!


Jean
Route 66

[CVanS]

Thank you Jean.  A lot will depend on how quickly my hair will grow in the next 5+ months.  I will probably revise my evening cap (don't care for the flowers that are on it).

[AnnpetticeBrown]

Ann, you did a very nice job. I would suggest that while Cheyenne's hair is pretty, it is very high and tight by CW-era standards (which is probably why it stayed put so well!). Generally, CW-era hair is much lower on the back of the neck. She might find a little false hair to be very helpful - or even just not pulling the braids in so tightly. The studding with flowers is also pretty but not something I've seen in period daywear.
[/quote]

aww man well do you think it would be more correct if the braids were lower and looser?
and were the hair styles that I did of mine alright?


thanks


A-P

[Joanna Jones]

I don't know about lovely, but here it is:


My hair is about chin-length and layered.  With a bit of pomade, I roll the sides back, fasten the back into a barrette which I flip up, then put a big hairpiece over the whole thing.  It is easier with the short hair than with long (I have a lot of hair and when it is long and I flip it up in the back it is too bulky to get the hairpiece over well).

[rrbeers]

Here's some random pictures of my hair to share I don't use hair pieces.  Its all mine (attached).



It's really hard to take a picture of the back of your own head! Hehe.




Good side view of one of my favorite ways to do my hair.

[Michelle Whitaker]

Y'alls hair looks so lovely! Emily, your hair looks so fitting, your dress is a beauty too! I enjoy looking at how people do their hair! Do you all do your own hair or do you have people help you?

[Mrs Mosley]

RRBeers, your hairstyles are beautiful. I also do not use hairpieces, and find it encouraging seeing different things you can do with your natural hair. Thanks for posting all the pictures. It gave me some great ideas.

[rrbeers]

You're welcome, Kristen! I'm glad they could be of help to you!

[Joanna Jones]

If anyone has a subscription to "Your Wardrobe Unlock'd" there was a series of articles last month on making your own hairpieces with synthetic hair - lovely stuff called Kanekelon that costs about $2.00 per "braid" - and one "braid" is more than enough for a hairpiece.  It focuses on the '70s but the principles apply to hairpieces in general.     http://yourwardrobeunlockd.com/

[AmandaCarol]

Rachel, your hair looks amazing!!! Reminds me of how I do mine sometimes. I do have one question, where did you get the green fabric in your last picture ? 

[rrbeers]

Thanks!

The sheer? That was off of eBay from the company from India.  I think its pure_silks or something like that.  It is nice and cool, but it is a rather stiff fabric and hard to keep looking nice at the end of the day as it gets crunched looking as time wears on.