The Outcome - Timed Assessment

Previously on this blog I have presented my three designs for my contemporary Elizabethan hair. 

I have chosen to create the first design for my timed assessment. The timed assessment lasted an hour and a half, within that hour, my partner, Phoebe had to recreate my make-up and hair design on me. 

The Final Outcome

Peer Review

In order to give my partner the confidence in creating this design in the timed assessment, I have provided her with step to step instructions, hair charts, hair piece and flowers.

We have also practiced creating the design before hand during a practical session, Phoebe was confused as to how to secure the hair piece onto my head, so I had to demonstrate the process in hiding my own hair and securing the wig over it. 

During the assessment, she often referred to my step to step instructions, which were accompanied by diagrams and hair chart. However, Phoebe had some difficulty securing the hairpiece onto my head, I found that she had not hidden my hair as securely as she should have underneath, making it more difficult for her to pin the hairpiece onto my head, and making it drop and sag. As a result, the original height and shape of my design had changed dramatically. I feel that she should have also paid more attention to the braids that were to be wrapped around the back of the head, she only pinned them down at the front and forgot to use pins to pin them down at the back of the head. As a result, when we were waiting to photograph the final outcome, I felt the braids slowly getting looser and drooping. In the original hair diagram that I provided Phoebe with, the flowers were to be pinned in a V shape, however, she decided to pin them framing my face, I feel that this was a good decision because it created a softer look and at the same time hid where the wig was attached. Overall, I feel that Phoebe did well in recreating my design, I feel that she managed her time well, even though she didn't recreate the shape that I originally wanted, she didn't lose time in trying to fix it and left enough time to complete the face makeup.

Self Assessment - Creating partner's design

I felt that my partner - Phoebe, really put a good image of her design into my head when she presented her ideas, she wanted to create height and volume and texture at the back of the head. With her ideas, she also presented me with photos of inspiration. I was confident with myself as I have practiced the techniques that would be needed to create the design beforehand during practical sessionS, these include, crimping, use of padding and braiding. Phoebe originally wanted to French braid the back of the head, however, when I practiced the look, I felt that the French plait made the back of the head look too flat and didn't give enough texture. As a result, I tested out a few different braids, such as the rope braid and simple braid. However, I still felt that these braids were too small to balance out the amount of hair on the top of the head, I suggested to create three separate braids and then braid them together to create a large intricate braid at the back, and also tucking it to create height and definition. I felt that the timed assessment went very well, however, I feel that I should have paid more attention to any fly-aways, making sure hair was set in place with hairspray. I am most proud with the strong textured shapes that I have created, I feel that it is a strong design and complimented the makeup well.

My Contemporary Elizabethan Hair Designs

This semester at Solent Hair, we have been given the task to indulge into Elizabethan hair. This unit is called 'Red heads and Royalty', which has already been addressed before on this blog. 

I have researched and have gain a understanding behind Elizabethan hair in the Elizabethan Era. Alongside research and reading on the thoughts behind ELizabethan hair, I have learnt and practiced my hair skills in order to create my contemporary Elizabethan image. 

I would like to achieve the following aims: 

1. Gain a good understanding behind the thoughts and ideas behind Elizabethan hair. 
2. Through research and reading, take inspiration and come up with own contemporary Elizabethan designs. 
3. Gain skills in hair through the process of recreating Elizabethan hair.

When researching Elizabethan images and studying portraits, I have kept a list of the features that are repetitive and stands out as Elizabethan and are also features that I would like to incorporate into my work. These are: 

• Intense Volume and height
• A lot of structure 
• TEXTURE, curls, waves, frizz and ringlets
• Bejewelled, decorated hair.

With this in mind, I came to my 3 final designs. 

Design 1

This design is inspired by the extreme volume and height the Elizabethans wore. Hair is built up with curls and plaits are incorporated to add some extra texture and detail. The flowers are a replacement of the jewels Elizabethan hair was adorned, making the hair more contemporary and adding a slight romantic touch. 

I carried out this design on myself and this is the outcome: 

I am very pleased with how the design came out. I actually used a wig to create part of this design. My real hair is crimped, with a lot of volume, I was able to put my hair in a bun and wrap and secure the wig around it.

Design 2

This hair design is very inspired by the strong structure within Elizabethan hair. This design does not have much texture but has a strong shape, casting almost a heart silhouette which was popular shape in the Elizabethan era. 

I also tried this out and this is the outcome: 

Again, i am very pleased with how this turned out. I used two pieces of padding to create shape on either side of the head and pulled my fringe back to create a bow like effect. There are stray hair around the face, this is not intended but I feel that it gives the entire look some character. 

Design 3

This is the third and final design. I wanted to incorporate curls, volume and height but at the same time making it more contemporary by pulling it to the side, creating a asymmetrical effect.  

After creating this look on myself and presenting this idea, I have chosen to abandon this design. It doesn't have enough Elizabethan features, one needs to look at it see Elizabethan features, this, sadly does not do it. 

Experimenting with Contemporary Elizabethan shapes.

This week we were asked to create a contemporary Elizabethan hair with the use of different techniques that we have learnt over the past few weeks.

I have chosen to crimp the entire head, this gives a lot of volume, since my model for the day had thin hair, this really helped. I feel that the texture of crimps has a more contemporary feel however; an Elizabethan shape still remains.

                                                         

To create this look I used the following tools:

Hair crimps

Sectioning clips

Hairbrush

Sectioning comb

Hairgrips

Hairspray

Heat protectant

1 x large padding

1 x small padding

I followed the following procedure:

1. Hair consultation. The consultation revealed that Amy had thin colour damaged hair, which was a little dry. Therefore a lower heat setting was used on the crimps. Heat protectant was also used before heat was applied to the hair.
2. Heat protectant applied to hair
3. Hair brushed thoroughly to rid of knots and tangles
4. Hair is sectioned
5. Lowest sections are crimped first leading up to the top of head.
6. Hair brushed through slightly, loosening crimps, creating more volume.
7. Hair sectioned into two sections, a top section and a lower section.
8. Using a large piece of padding, I rolled the hair around it creating a ridge at the top of the head and secured it into place with pins.
9. Taking the lower section, I used a smaller piece of padding and rolled the hair upwards. I also secured this with pins. 
10. Lastly I rearranged the hair, brushing it and applying hairspray to make sure none of the padding is visible through the hair.

 

             

Experimenting and Creating Historical Elizabethan Hair

We were given the task to recreate a period Elizabethan hairstyle. It consisted of high volume and shape on the top of the head and pin curls.

To create the design the following tools were needed.

Hairbrush

Comb

Sectioning clips

Hairpins

Hairspray

Small curling iron

Padding (to create shape)

The procedure followed these steps:

• 1.     Hair consultation, check for hair diseases, hair properties and if the styling is appropriate for the type of hair.
• 2.     Hair is combed thoroughly, getting rid of any tangles.
• 3.     Hair is sectioned.
• 4.     Sectioned hair is treated as separate pieces of hair when pin curled.
• 5.     When a curl is released and still hot, it is pinned to the head to set for a more dramatic curl.
• 6.     When full head of pin curls have set, they are released.
• 7.     Hair is parted into two equal sections.
• 8.     Both sections of hair is rolled over a sausage shape padding. This creates the shape needed.
• 9.     When the required shape is wanted and hair covers all of the padding, it is secured into place with hairpins.
• 10.    Curls are adjusted and pinned into place.
• 11.   Finished with hairspray.