Shape of Elizabethan Hair and Modern Interpritations

During Elizabethan times it was very common to wear the hair in a heart shaped arrangement which was pushed over wire frames, this continued to be fashionable through to the 1570's - 1580's but after about 1590 the central dip dissapeared and curls and frizzing were less usual, so the hair was brushed into a high oval shape.

 

"Which force, must be curled, frizzed and crisped, laid outing wreaths and borders, from one ear to another, and, lest it should fall down it is underpropped with forks, wires and i cannot tell what.." - Phillip Stubbes (Anatomie of Abuses) this quote shows the lengths women would go to achieve the these fashionable hairstyles.

• Image 1 - 1585, John Bettes the Younger, English noble woman
• Image 2 - 1596 Anne, Lady Pope with her children from her first marriage by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (National Portriat Gallery - London UK)
• Image 3 - 1578 Unknown Lady by Nicholas Hilliard

 I chose these images to represent the shapes of Elizabethan hairstyles, and I also tried to keep away from always using Elizabeth to represent all of the Elizabethan styles. These images show a variation from a strong heart shape to a rounded shape, and also shows some of the looser hairstyles that the children would wear. The children tend to have looser, rounder hairstyles, this is because it represents virginity, however it looks like you can tell the age of the children by what they are wearing and how elaborate their hairstyles are.

As the women age the hair seems to get curlier and more structured, by looking at the photographs I would suggest that the woman in image 1 is older than woman 3 because of her hair, or she might be more noble.

• Image 1 - Heather Chapman for Sam Villa Blog
• Image 2 - NAHA 2012 - Sarah Goddard
• Image 3 - UNKNOWN (UK Hairdressers)

These are some images of contemporary shapes that have been made that remind me of Elizabethan hair, although the first image is probably more suited to braids, I have included it in this section as I like how the braid has moulded into round curved lines. The second image I absolutely love and I will definitely be designing this for my Elizabethan hair, it is totally crazy and elaborate, but I believe this is how the Elizabethans were so this is why it reminds me of them. The final picture I chose because of how ultra modern it is, the extreme round shape looks almost alien.

Courtais G. (1973). Elizabethan 1558 - 1603. In: Unknown Women's Headdress and Hairstyles in England from AD600 to the Present Day. London: B T Batsford LTD. p48 - 58.