Experimenting

Here is a collage of images documenting my experiments with my hair designs. I've used a variety of methods and techniques to trial all of my designs and assess which would be feasible to carry through as my final design. 

Tech File: Backcombing, Crimping & Frizzing

Products & Equipment required:

·        Backcombing comb

·        Pintail comb

·        Hairspray

·        Hair grips & wavy pins

·        Hair straighteners

·        Crimping Irons

Method:

Backcombing

1.      Take a section of hair, hold it vertically

2.      Using a backcombing brush, start at the roots and brush towards the scalp to create lift

3.      Use small movements and secure with hairspray

Frizzing

1.      Take a small section of hair

2.      Wind it tightly in a figure of 8 around a wavy hairpin

3.      Secure this by sliding a hairgrip vertically down the centre of the wavy pin

4.      Heat under hair straighteners and then leave to cool

5.      Release from the hair grip and then tease the styled hair to create frizz or style in the released formation 

Crimping

1.      Prepare the hair with heat defence spray

2.      Take a section of hair a little narrower than the width of the crimping irons

3.      Beginning at the roots, hold the crimping irons down on the hair

4.      Release and then down the hair towards the ends

Tech File: Padding

Products & Equipment required:

·        Prop
- tights
- fabric wool or cotton wool

·        Pintail comb

·        Hair grips & wavy pins

Method:

1.      To create your own rat, take some tights and stuff tightly with fabric wool or cotton wool to achieve the desired shape and length. Knot securely at either end and ideally match the colour of the tight to the colour of the model’s hair.

2.      Section the front portion of the hair to one side

3.      Create a plait along the sectioned line and secure

4.      To fasten the rat onto the plait, use hairgrips and ensure the grip goes through the tights as well as through the plait

5.      Style the front section of hair back over the rat and secure with hair grips

6.      Alternately, take a section of hair big enough the cover the rat and hold vertically and slightly forward

7.      Place the rat at the top and roll the hair over the rat and downwards until you’ve reached the scalp

8.      Then, secure with hair grips and style accordingly 

Tech File: Curling & Pin Curls

Products & Equipment required:

·        Curling Tongs

·        Heat Protection Spray

·        Hair Brush

·        Pin Tail Comb

·        Hair Grips & Wavy Pins

Method:

Curling

1.      Prepare the hair with heat protection spray

2.      Take a small, neat, section of hair

3.      Wrap the hair into the curling tongs and wind up using a spiral motion in the direction you want the curl to go

4.      Hold for roughly 8 seconds before releasing the curl

5.      To release, slide the curl off the end, using the leaver to loosen the hair slightly

6.      If you want to maintain the curl whilst it cools, fasten with a grip in a pin curl against the head

Pin Curls

1.      Take a small section of hair

2.      Curl it up neatly in a spherical motion until you’ve reached the scalp

3.      Fasten securely and discreetly with a hair grip

4.      To maintain form, you may want to wet the hair beforehand or fix with hairspray

Twists

1.      Separate the hair into two equal sections

2.      With a section in each hand, twist both sections to the right

3.      Then, overlap the right hand section over the left

4.      Twist them both to the right again and overlap the right section over again

5.      Repeat this until you’ve reached the end of the hair

6.      Fasten securely with a hairband

Tech File: Buns

Products & Equipment required:

·        Hair Brush

·        Hair Ties

·        Hair Grips & Wavy Pins

Method:

1.      Fasten the hair into a ponytail in the centre of the head

2.      Separate this ponytail into four equal sections

3.      Barrel curl each section outward and secure with hairgrips

4.      Using wavy pins, tease the creases of the four sections to fasten together

Tech File: Plaits

Products & Equipment required:

·        Hair Brush

·        Hair Ties

Method:

Regular Plait

1.      Separate the hair into three equal sections

2.      With the three sections between both hands, bring one outside section over the middle section

3.      Then, bring the other outer section over the middle

4.      Repeat this until you have reached the end of the hair, be sure to keep the hair taught to get a neat plait

5.      Fasten securely with a hairband at the end

French Plait

1.      Take a section of hair from the top of the head, from the hairline to crown area

2.      Divide this separated hair into three equal sections

3.      Begin a traditional plait, bringing the outer parts over the centre, one at a time

4.      Upon repeating this, pick up a section of hair from the side and add to the section of hair that you’re about to bring over

5.      Take these sections from the front of the head and keep taught

6.      Continue this adding method all the way down to the nape of the neck and then, when there is no more hair to add, plait regularly

7.      Fasten securely with a hairband at the end

Fishtail Plait

1.      Separate the hair into two sections

2.      With a section in each hand, use your index finger to take a small section of hair from behind one of the sections and loop it around to join the section in the other hand

3.      Repeat this step with the other hand, looping a small section around to join the other

4.      Continue this until you’ve reached the end of the hair

5.      Fasten securely with a hairband

Tech File: Blow Dry

Products & Equipment required:

·        Hair Dryer

·        Barrel Brush

·        Sectioning Grips

Method:

1.      When the hair has been washed, you should begin to blast it dry to reduce the amount of excess water on the head

2.      Before the hair is entirely dry, stop blasting and add some product
- serum is ideal for dry ends
- mousse is ideal for flat hair

3.      Standing behind your model, section off the sides of the hair to leave a brush width down the back of the head

4.      Section this strip, you want to work with a small amount of hair at the nape of the neck

5.      Put your hairdryer on a medium heat and full blast

6.      Aim the dryer right into the root to give lift, dealing the hair over the barrel brush (lift in the roots is very important and if the roots aren’t dry, the style won’t sit)

7.      Aim down to direct the hair as far as mid length

8.      Continue over the same section of hair until it is dry

9.      You may use the cool setting to set the hair if you wish but try not to touch the hair too much

10.   Use the curve of the hairdryer to manipulate the hair around the brush

Tech File: Washing Hair

Products & Equipment required:

·        Wash Basin

·        Shampoo

·        Conditioner

·        Hairdressing Gown

·        Towels

·        Wide Tooth Comb

Method:

1.      Undergo a consultation with the model
- ask for the model’s name and age
- find out if your model has any allergies or is taking any medication
- find out what treatments your model’s hair has had (colouring, perming etc.)
- check the density and condition of the model’s hair by physically touching and feeling the hair

2.      Take the model to the basin, protect their clothing with a hairdressing gown and put a towel around the back of their neck

3.      When the model is comfortable, with their head in the basin, check the hair once more looking at the scalp condition for issues such as dandruff and check for head lice (they’ll generally be around the back of the ears where the head is warmer)

4.      Should head lice be present, the treatment can no longer be carried out as the risk of contamination is too high

5.      Begin the flow of water at a warm temperature and start to move the tap around the model’s head to wet all the hair

6.      It is important to check with the model that the temperature is not too hot or too cold once the water has reached the scalp, if it isn’t satisfying, you should alter the temperature accordingly

7.      To get the hair line wet without spraying water onto the model’s face, you should use your spare hand (providing it is dry) and cup the model’s hair line to act as a barrier

8.      It is also important to cover all parts of the model’s head including right underneath the nape of the neck

9.      Moving onto shampooing, the amount of shampoo is entirely dependent on the amount of hair your model has

10.   Begin to work into the scalp in a rotation motion and work into a lather all across the scalp and down the hair

11.   Rinse all the shampoo out and repeat the shampooing process again and rinse again

12.   Then, you should condition the models hair, working it into mid lengths and the ends, avoiding the scalp if they are prone to greasy hair

13.   Work a little conditioner into the scalp giving a nice and relaxing massage to make the treatment more enjoyable

14.   Comb through the hair with a wide tooth comb to detangle the hair

15.   Rinse the hair of all the conditioner, listen out for the squeaky clean noise to indicate clean hair

16.   Squeeze the hair of all excess water and use a towel to hold the hair once it’s been washed to avoid it dripping onto the model’s face or clothes

Tech File: Health & Safety

These are health and safety practises that should be identified with and present during all studio/ practical work…

·        Prepare your station in advance with any equipment or products you many require

·        Lay couch roll onto the surface prior to setting up your station

·        Carry out a consultation on your model and refer to it regularly to ensure a safe practical session

·        Make sure you wash/sanitise your hands regularly

·        Ensure you are presentable, respectable clothing, hair tied back, no jewellery etc.

·        Ensure that all electrical tools and appliances being used have been PAT tested

·        Stow/trail wires of electrical items safely to avoid a trip hazard

·        Ensure all products and equipment are stored in accordance to their regulations

·        Clean and sterilise all brushes and tools between use on models to avoid cross contamination

·        Use disposable tools where necessary to avoid cross contamination

·        Decant products and work from a separate palette to avoid cross contamination

·        Protect the model’s clothes during the practical with a wrap or couch roll

·        Should a model present any contra indications that restrict or prohibit the practical session, act accordingly

·        Be sure to report any accidents, spillages or other hazards that occur in the work room immediately

Trialling an Elizabethan hairstyle

Here, I practised creating the above design plan on my own hair. 

To create this style, I separated the front portion of my hair and produced two French plaits around my hairline in opposite directions, intertwining red ribbon within them both. With the tails of the two plaits, I wound them back around the top of my head in a spherical shape, knotting the ribbon in a bow at the nape of my neck.

With the remaining loose hair, I sectioned it into four parts and curled each one into a large pin curl formation, fastening flat against my head using hair grips. 

Unfortunately I didn't have the necessary products or tools to fashion this look properly however it's given me a greater understanding of creating the Elizabethan styles and the looks I am able to achieve. 

Design Plans

Using design templates to display 3 different angles, I drew rough designs of the contemporary/Elizabethan images previously posted. 

More Contemporary/Elizabethan Pictures

I've used more contemporary pictures and added Elizabethan style detail. 

HEADDRESS. 2013. HEADDRESS. [ONLINE] Available at:http://headdress.tumblr.com/. [Accessed 03 November 2013]