Crowing about Crowning Glory

[Heidi Hollister]

Bravo Joanna!  It's beautiful and looks SO real!

[anb717]

Joanna, thank you so much for the primer and the pictures!  Once my hair gets a smidge longer, I think this method will work for my hair.

I know you notice the colors, but I think once in the net and attached to your head, it won't be noticeable.  If someone points it out--even a friend--just accuse them of never noticing your natural highlights

[BetsyConnolly]

Nice tutorial, Joanna! As soon as I get myself practiced up on my braids, I'll post a tutorial of that.

Ditto Abby on the blending - most people with long hair have some natural variation throughout the length. When it's all pinned up like that, you can't even tell, unless the viewer is standing uncomfortably close (in which case you've got other problems on your hands )

[Joanna Jones]

Well, I'm due to have tea with Miss Clairol this week, so I might make sure things match a little closer.  Then I will stop worrying about it.

Betsy, I am really impressed you got the braids to work.  Please post a tutorial (or a video on youtube?

Joanna

[BetsyConnolly]

Betsy, I am really impressed you got the braids to work.  Please post a tutorial (or a video on youtube?

Joanna

All in good time, my pretty  I'm still fussing and trying to make it just right. It seems the trick is not to over-estimate the amount of fake hair you use in the braids, and to keep it as straight as possible.  I'll be putting up pictures soon!

[Joanna Jones]

Betsy, are you saying that you should use a smaller amount for the braids instead of a larger amount?  Or the opposite?

Did you find just the right length of hair or did you cut it to that length?


I'm going to tackle twisting the side hair under (the "halo" I posted about) probably Friday - I'll try to take pics if I haven't thrown the camera against the wall by the end.

[BetsyConnolly]

Smaller amount. The size I found was just perfect (maybe even a little short) so I didn't do anything with it, but i suppose if yours is too long you could trim it.  Or leave the tails long for extra pinning leverage.

[Veronica Carey]

Well, I did it.  Had nearly 12 inches cut off my hair and sent it to Locks of Love.  They do take grey hair if it has not been dyed or permed.  So now I have a bob that is longer than chin length but shorter than shoulder length.  Still no bangs, so I can part it in the middle and put it in a *tiny* pony tail, over which I hope I can securely pin a braided bun I made from purchased hair.
I DO love the look of my new "do" for modern life.  I'm having to take methotrexate for 5 months, and one side effect is hair loss--not bald, just hair falling out much more than usual.  I just couldn't face finding 24" long hairs all over the place!

[Veronica Carey]

Joanna, that looks great, and your explanation and pix were superb!  I still have some hair that needs blending and twisting into a chignon--I will definitely use your method.
As to blending, the only thing I can think of is spread out one lengthwise, then put the 2nd color on top, and separate into 2 hanks, flip one over, separate again, flip over, etc,  and also separating in small batches.  That is probably about what you did.  Yours looks super, and very very natural!

[BarbaraSmith]

Well, I did it.  Had nearly 12 inches cut off my hair and sent it to Locks of Love.  They do take grey hair if it has not been dyed or permed.  So now I have a bob that is longer than chin length but shorter than shoulder length.  Still no bangs, so I can part it in the middle and put it in a *tiny* pony tail, over which I hope I can securely pin a braided bun I made from purchased hair.
I DO love the look of my new "do" for modern life.  I'm having to take methotrexate for 5 months, and one side effect is hair loss--not bald, just hair falling out much more than usual.  I just couldn't face finding 24" long hairs all over the place!

Veronica, good for you!!!!!!! What a lovely thing to do with your hair. I'm sure you'll make someone's day. And I'm sure the shorter length will be easier to deal with for every day. I know my own shorn locks sure have been! 

Best wishes for your health!!!!!!

Hugs,
B.

[anb717]

Veronica, I've had my hair that short for the past few months and it is possible to do period styles.  This is an instance where false hair and a basic net can be your best friend.  I use the vast majority of my hair for width, braids, or twists, and use my fake hair in a net.  If I recall correctly, you do the 1850s, correct?  You should be just fine and dandy to accomplish hair styles of that era. 

As for the methotrexate, I've taken it in cycles for a few years for autoimmune issues and I found that the hair loss did get better after time.  I luckily never had large amounts of hair come out, but I know how disconcerning it can be to see hairbrush full of long hair can be.

[Veronica Carey]

Thanks, Barb and Abby!  I dress out tomorrow for the museum for the first time since my haircut--hopefully I can get a hairpiece bun to stay put!  Can't stay in my bonnet or wool hood indoors all afternoon!

[Angela O]

Here's my attempt at working with my hairpiece and putting my hair up.  I was pretty pleased with it for only attempting it twice.  It could be a little neater, and I wish I had thought to get one from the back.  I was thrilled that it stayed put all day long.  I did follow all your advice and didn't wash my hair for a few days and used lots of hairpins.  Any other advice?

Angela

[Joanna Jones]

Very nice!  It looks great!

[Fiddlin Girl]

Wow!! Great job everyone!!

FG

[Heidi Hollister]

Angela, you have just enough hair to give just the right amount of poof.  It looks stunning.  Mine tend to look plastered to the side of my head with my thinish hair and even with rats the hair is too fine and the rats show through or the hair won't lay right... I get so frustrated I tend to just go with the thin, plastered to the head look.

Truly beautiful and elegant hair.  I'm jealous.

[Angela O]

Thank you everyone.  Heidi, I will admit that my sides are just barely long enough as my hair is heavily layered.  One side stayed pretty well, the other I had to keep tucking a little wisp out of the way.  Thank you Joanna for the pictures of how you blended your switch,  I need to adjust the color of my slightly.  The color difference doesn't show up in the pictures as they are a little dark.

[Paula]

Here was my latest attempt at period hair.  No front shot, since I was going to Church and not an event, so I had a side part rather than center.
Sorry about the rubber band showing.  Didn't realize it until after I took the picture.


 Next time I think I am going to try to make my bun flatter against my head and lower down toward the base of my neck.

[Joanna Jones]

Looks nice!

[Veronica Carey]

One thing that will give it a lower profile is if you take the 2 side coils down  further behind your ears and wrap them around your bun from the bottom of the bun upward instead of wrapping them from the top of the bun.
It looks like you have long, thick, shiny hair.  I am envious!