Thread: Updos 101

Okay, so I am a remedial learner when it comes to hair. Other than leaving my hair down, all I've ever learned to do with it is twist it up in chopsticks.

I'd like to figure out how to do a loose updo, inspired by Mata Hari's glamorous turn-of-the-century styles. For example:





(click for larger versions of the photos)

Any tips? The easier the better, since I doubt I have the skill to do something involving dozens of pins on the back of my head. Please explain it to me the way you would to a five-year-old. Chimpanzee.

I'm like you - I find most people's instructions too complicated so I went to youtube and reviewed a hella lotta videos to determine which were best for me and then I downloaded them and practised...you wouldn't believe how easy it is to have someone demo on screen and then you turn to the mirror and try yourself.

May I suggest the Long Hair Community? They have a range of articles and how-tos for a variety of updos that will work on different hair lengths.

My best guess is hair combs and a few well-placed bobby pins...

if its for stage, i suggest getting a good quality 3/4 fall and having it professionally styled into the above configuration (by a wig stylist, not just any stylist). then keep it pined onto a foam head in a wig box when you are not wearing it.

it should last for a long time if you are careful with it, and you won't have to mess with your own hair

if you don't have someone that can do it, i've got a lady who does wigs and mails them, styled, to theater people all over the country. pm me

Backcombing can help in a lot of instances. It helps keep the shape and you have a good foundation into which to attach other hair (real or fake) and decorations.

Natalie and Bul Bul Ksa: Thanks for the recommendations, but do you have any specific links you would suggest? Beauty topics make me go cross-eyed, so I don't think I'm going to make it through pages and pages of hair discussion.

Sabrina: That's an interesting suggestion. I don't think I'll be putting my hair up frequently enough to warrant a custom wig (right now I'm only considering it for a photoshoot), but I'll definitely keep the concept in mind.

Azhia: I rarely use combs and never use brushes because of my curls. Do you think it would be possible for me to backcomb without destroying the ringlets?

Thanks everyone for the comments so far. Please keep the suggestions coming, the more specific and detailed the better!

You just back comb (or back brush) the base and don't touch the rest of the hair strand, except to finger curl it around the base.

*bump*

No one does updos? Well, I can't say I blame anyone!

Look on youtube for tutorials. I put my hair up all the time, the secret is the decoration or hat to wear on top (as Mata Hari has). Although maybe not something with a duck in the front like hers! ANd, she either has waist length hair or a hairpiece added to the back. Anyway, I do a messy loose twist with the back 1/2 of my hair and then put a clip to secure it. Twist back both sides and lift as you go to clip higher on the sides. Then put a cute decoration to hide the messy ends. A styled hairpiece could also be clipped on here as well. Ahhh, look at Youtube.

My main issue is stability. Bc it's one thing to do an updo and then having it stay out during an entire evening quite another, I tend to default to things that based on a ponytail or I use hardware. (Actually, I should say used to, bc I cut off my hair a couple years ago and I have a chin length bob these days.)

To achieve the above updos, I'd suggest maybe doing two ponytails, one on top of the other and then do bigfinger curls on the side to hise the base of the ponytails and pop your headdress on top. Or use two rollers as base, rolling your hair around the roller, letting the sides flow off the roller and then pin the rollers to your head.

HTH.

Kem

I haven't watched or listened to the video but when I fast forwarded through to 1:30 on this one it seemed to be kinda what you were after: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFp99WFUSy0"]YouTube - Hair Care & Hairstyle Tips : Simple Updos[/ame]
Just pop a long stick pin to bring the hair 'upwards' and help it hold.

There are some other good posters on youtube that have very good tutorials on various types of hair:

YouTube - ilovegerardo's Channel

and

YouTube - pursebuzz's Channel

are two...


There is a specific tutorial I watched and now use but I can't find it...will keep looking and will post if I find it because it keeps your hair very secure

Found it [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ByYvpe0plg"]YouTube - How To: Quick and Easy Updos[/ame]

It is the first hairstyle in the tutorial - the one where she puts a low bun at the side of the head but you can easily move this to the back. My hair is significantly longer than the model so I use those short glitterly stick pins to pin the longer hair all around the bun, it's a soft, romantic type of lock and holds extremely well.

It will be easier to get your hair to hold if you have precurled it and put some hold lotion/gel in.

Be warned: the other hairstyles on the video are not the best

for decorative clips....CVS has been having really beautiful jeweled and beaded hair clips and pins on 1/2 price sale about every other week recently, between $3-6 for most things

also....root lifter spray! Tresemme makes a good one--what's your photoshoot that's coming up??

I would almost bet good money that in the first pic Mata has a preformed hairpiece attached to her bun, which produces that lovely fullness.

Something like this is a good base:

-::- o l d e _ f a s h i o n e d -::- - Regency Hairstyle Tutorial

Another thing you can do for that soft turn of the century look is part your hair down the middle, roll both hanks of hair away from your face, fasten at the ends, pick up, arrange towards the back of your head and pin. Just two big soft rolls. You need a LOT of hair to make it look really full though. If your hair is curly/frizzy you may find there is enough volume without backcombing or using hair pads (which they used at the time).

Originally Posted by bul_bul_ksa

I'm like you - I find most people's instructions too complicated so I went to youtube and reviewed a hella lotta videos to determine which were best for me and then I downloaded them and practised...you wouldn't believe how easy it is to have someone demo on screen and then you turn to the mirror and try yourself.

OOH yes!! Do you have any favorite you tube up do hair links? i'd love to see how to do some of this stuff

^ I've put some above.

The best thing to do is to do a search on, for instance, 'messy up do' then fast forward through each of the videos to see if the end results are what you are after and then watch the whole thing. There is a lota lota rubbish on youtube

Thanks everyone for the tips, and, Bul Bul, thanks so much for posting the YouTube links.

I've been sitting here experimenting with some of the suggested styles, and, I'm not gonna lie, I've tangled my hair into a big knot more than once. Hair is not my preferred medium!

I have great hopes for the hair pad/roller idea -- I think I'll pop out tomorrow to see if I can get a couple. My fine hair just isn't accepting this roll-on-the-sides-for-volume method.

Great links!:)

I have a 3/4 hairpiece that is in a half updo and braided with colored bands that I use for persian dance(I pin a headdress on it also),
only takes two minutes to attach.

These are great and pretty up do's but sadly won't work for my fine, slippery hair. I can only backcomb so much, but will still try. thanks for posting those.