Buns and Plaits

You will need...

• Katie head
• Hair bands
• Hair pins
• tail comb

 

For all of my technical work I started off with a simple pony tail. I created a half up half down style on my mannequin head as her hair is quite fine and short. This made it easier to demonstrate my technique.



 

Modern Bun
 

For the first bun we created a modern ballerina bun. This can be created very easily using a hair doughnut but sometimes needs to be made out of kit. To do this you first need to tie the hair back in a ponytail and make sure it is secure, then you section the pony tail into 4 sections, taking the section from the top backcomb the outside of the hair and roll outwards, complete this step with all four sections making sure they are all even and point in the right direction, secure these with 2 bobby pins to ensure the style stays put, the hair now should look like a flower. To finish use a hair pin to bring both of the rolls together and secure. The bun should now be even, secure and not sparse.

 

 

I have used this technique to make a bun before, so I didn't find the logistics of it too challenging, however I was thought a new way to pin the bun into place by using a pin to move the hair, this is the bit I found challenging as it often knocked the hair out of place. This is something I will need to practice. 

 

Simple Bun
 

A simple bun or a twist bun would more likely be used in historical work, this was simply created by first creating a ponytail to anchor the hair to the head, then by twisting the hair all the way down, wrapping it around the ponytail and fastening with hair grips.

 

I found this technique quite easy to do, however I need to practice it on different hair lengths and spend time making it look neater.
 

Plait Bun
 

To create a plait bun, I started off again by creating a ponytail, then I created a simple braid all the way down the length of the hair, I secured the end with another hair tie. Like the simple bun I wrapped this around the base of the ponytail and pinned to secure.

 

With the plait bun I had trouble trying to fix the braid into a bun shape, when putting pins in they tended to slip out and I don't believe what I created was very secure. However after a few tries I found where it needed to be secured.

 

Simple Plait
 

To create a simple plait you can either start from a secure base or plait the hair loose, if you start from when the hair is secure this will make it easier and will turn out neater. After this you have to divide the hair into 3 even sections, these will be the strands of your braid so the neater they are the neater the braid will be. Then you need to grasp all the strands and start by pulling the left strand over the middle strand, then cross the right section over the middle strand, complete these steps all the way down the hair until you have a plait.

I was very comfortable creating a simple plait, I started from the hair being loose because I believe this looks better. I would like to experiment creating braids in different sizes.
 

French Plait
 

To create a French braid you first need to make sure that the hair is free of knots as this can make it particularly tricky to do this. A French plait is created by first picking a section and moving it away from the rest of the hair, then divide this into 3 equal sections and start off a normal braid, this will be made easier if you keep your hands close to the scalp at all times. When you are plaiting, you need to gather a small section of hair from each side and add it to the strand at the other side of the head. repeat this on both sides until you are off the scalp, then continue with a simple plait and secure with a hair tie.

 

I am very pleased with my outcome of my French braid, I tired to keep as close to the scalp as possible and I believe the result is really neat and effective.

 

Fishtail Plait

To create a fishtail plait you have to start by separating the hair into 2 even sections, from the left take a small strand of hair from the outside of the braid and place it on to the right side and hold it, do the same from the other side until you can see a fishtail effect. Do this down the entire length of the hair and secure with a hair tie. To make the braid messier or looser you can pull the strands out of the braid.

I am also really pleased with the outcome of my fishtail plait, I did the opposite with my French braid and kept a really loose tension, and this created a beautiful effect which could be pulled out.

**HEALTH AND SAFETY**

• Make sure model is covered at all times

Introduction

For our hair and postiche task we have been given the title 'Readheads and Royalty' this brief focuses on researching and observing the techniques used in Elizabethan hairstyling and to create a modern version, research will be gained from portraiture from the time, films and fashion. Along with creating this final contemporary design, we will learn essential skills and techniques along with health and safety and hygiene.

 

I am really excited to start this unit, prior to coming to Southampton Solent University, I had studied hair and makeup for media for 2 years, this included hair and although I had prior experience working with hair I am still not 100% comfortable with hair, I am really interested in looking into techniques again and really getting in and perfecting them. I am also interested in gaining more information about the Elizabethan period, as making period looks modern/ more fashion editorial is something that I am very interested in. I also think it will be challenging creating a design that I will have to give to a partner and create their design.