Crowing about Crowning Glory

[Jennifer Hill]

Hairpins, all you curly heads out there.
I bought some standard wire U pins & cannot keep the burgers in.
Help?  Jennifer

[Ms. Jean]

Oh, my hair is mainly influenced by gravity, but other people talk about hairpins that -- ahem -- resemble tortoise shell.  (plastic, sorry.0

I've seen these hairpins at regular stores -- WalMart or Walgreens, not sure which.

Can't find a link right now....

Next!

[Maggie Koenig]

Jennifer,
  Ms. Jean speaks of Good Days Magic Grip Hair Pins.  They are magic.  I have very fine, slick hair and like Ms. Jean gravity takes a tole on my hair and these hair pins are the only ones that seem to keep my hair pieces in place.

[E Topping]

Jennifer,
  Ms. Jean speaks of Good Days Magic Grip Hair Pins.  They are magic.  I have very fine, slick hair and like Ms. Jean gravity takes a tole on my hair and these hair pins are the only ones that seem to keep my hair pieces in place.

I believe this is what you are looking for - Sally's Beauty Supply sells them:
http://www.sallybeauty.com/Magic-Grip-Hairpins/GOODHR1,default,pd.html?cm_vc=SEARCH

Elizabeth Topping

[Lori D]

I second the notion! I also have super fine, thin hair and the magic grip are the only ones that have ever worked in my hair...don't be fooled by their appearance!

[Denise Butler]

Ah, but Jennifer has curly hair, which usually isn't fine.

I have very thick, wavy hair. I can't get the "magic grip" in my hair. And if I do, they are too short to hold the weight of my hair... not to mention the difficulty of removing it if I do get it in my bun.

I use these:

http://www.prayercoverings.com/catalog.php?item=211&catid=27&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D27

I only need 3 to hold my bun firmly in place. I bought 2 dozen when I ordered... a lifetime supply!

Also, the trick to hair pins is to "weave" them through your "bun" hair and "head" hair. I don't know how to explain it better; Betty Loba of James River Emporium showed me how to do it at the Ladies and Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference a few years ago.

[BarbaraSmith]

I use these:
http://www.prayercoverings.com/catalog.php?item=211&catid=27&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D27

I use these too. I tend to break the Magic Grips.  But I have quite the supply of all sorts of pins and combs and goop, nonetheless. 

I've found the long U-shaped "old fashioned" pins at my local ethnic wig store. I can find just about everything there....  If you don't want to mail order, check out a wig shop that advertises they sell extensions and other beauty products. Regular "wig only" stores don't always have them. But the big "Beauty Supply" stores that cater to the African American community normally do carry them.

Good luck!!!
B.

[Joanna Jones]

I also have much better success if I start the hairpin in the opposite direction, then turn.  Example: at the top of the bun, point the hairpin up, grab some of the bun with the pin, then turn the hairpin to point down as I slide it through my head hair.  Sometimes it gets so tight I can't actually get it through and have to re-do it a little looser.

[Colleen]

I also have much better success if I start the hairpin in the opposite direction, then turn.  Example: at the top of the bun, point the hairpin up, grab some of the bun with the pin, then turn the hairpin to point down as I slide it through my head hair.  Sometimes it gets so tight I can't actually get it through and have to re-do it a little looser.

My great-grandmother's hair was to her ankles to the day she died...she wore it in a bun and this is the way she taught me to use those as well.

Colleen

[Denise Butler]

thanks, Joanna, for describing it so well!

[Jennifer Hill]

Thanks, ladies.  The plastic ones work pretty well, for me.  I just wondered why "regular" Hairpins didn't.  I wish everyonelived
closer.  It would sure be a lot more fun!  Jennifer

[Heidi Hollister]

This weekend was my unofficial foster sister's first CW event and she had me do her hair.  She has nice thick hair to the middle of her back so I had a lot of fun doing it.

[AnnpetticeBrown]

that is stunning Heidi!!love!bet she was happy my word

[BarbaraSmith]

Awesome! I wish you'd make my hair look this good, Heidi!!!! 

LOL,
B.

[Brooke Whitaker]

Heidi, you did a wonderful job. She has very beautiful hair!

[Amelia Thomaston]

WOW!! Can you do mine? 

[Kendle L.]

Beautiful!

How long is her hair and can we have instructions on how to do it?

[Frau Burau]

Please ignore my scowl... one of my girls caught me and I didn't know it!  This is what I do with my hair...  part front section into two, bun in back, and sweep sides under/around bun, then secure.  Holds pretty much all day that way, no hair supplies beyond pins needed.  Anyone have a better idea for fine, thin hair  (long down to mid-low back) to stay out of the way yet remain war period correct? (I don't mind being mid-50's either...)

[Heidi Hollister]

Kendle, her hair is to her mid back.

Instructions:

1. Part hair in a Y part
2. Braid back section and wrap in a bun impossibly low on the nape of the neck.  Pin.
3. French roll the side hair and twist until it folds back on itself.
4. Pin this over the top of the bun, hiding the straggly hair ends
5. repeat for other side and lay the twist over the top of the first twist and pin.

Frau Buau, your hair looks good.  My hair is also fine and thin.  I often do the bun, then twist the side hair or braid it.  It stays pretty well secure.

[Heidi Hollister]

Okay!  New hair brags!  My foster sister learned to do her own hair at the last civil war event and she started doing other people's hair.  This is her creation:




And I was pretty proud of this hairdo.  It was my first attempt at copying the hairstyles I saw in original 1850s images.  I fear it will never be this perfect again, so I had to snap pictures to remember the moment.