wiggy

[anotheranon]

Just opened the wig - doG DAMN! This thing is LONG!!

And I've got to style this into a french twist/Regency "do" before I even put the hat on it!

Those of y'all who have met me know I have no experience of with serious hair styling (and no need of it!) How do you folks with long hair do stuff with it? I mean, what is a "french twist", anyway? How do you keep the hair from flying everywhere while twisting it, and how do you make it stay?

And how the blazes can ANYONE do this on their own head? I'm already envisioning having to nail it to a styrofoam wig mold to get everything to hold still, despite instructions telling me you'll be able to create this hairstyle in less than a minute -- it is so easy!

Did I mention I don't do hair?

Comments

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

LOL!!!!!!!!!! It certainly would have helped if they had used a model with a lighter hair colour (rule one of hairstyling illustration ... NEVER use a model with dark hair because the viewer can't bloody SEE the details!!!!)

Ahem ...

What they are trying to show you in these instructions is actually a fake French twist ... one of the few things I can manage to do to my own hair. And it IS easy ... trouble is that they neglected a few details (a little tricky if that wig is really as long as it looks in the pictures, but this is doable). You'll need LONG bobby pins ... not the standard size, the 3-inchers (u-shaped hairpins are no good for this)

This is how I fake a twist. Gather hair up in one hand at back of head as if making a ponytail (might be easier for you to practice by using an elastic to create a real ponytail, but you won't want to do this for the final version ... the elastic will show and if you cut it out, it'll loosen the 'do). Anyhoo ... gather up hair as if making a ponytail, point the tail ceilingwards, then use both hands to twist the tail upwards, as if twisting rope. The hair will automatically form a wrapped look up the back of the head (it'll also "shorten" the hair in the process, so that'll take up some of the wig length).

When you reach the top of the head, hold the twist with one hand, take your first pin and, from the top of the twist, push it vertically DOWNWARD into the twist, making sure it also catches some of the "scalp" hair. Push in a second vertical pin, also from the top down, crossing the first pin to form a tall "X". This is a trick my hairdress taught my ... insert pins in x-pairs this way will keep them from shifting and letting hair loose. It should now be safe to let go of the hair, letting you use both hands to play with pin placement anywhere else they seem needed. Then you can play with that little topknot of the hair ends as you see fit.

You'll likely have to play with and practice a bit, but this should work. With my just-past-shoulder-length hair, I generally start with my "ponytail" around dead-centre of the back of my head ... with the long hair, you'll likely need to start the twist at the nape (I also find it easier to do this bent at the waist with my head upside-down, but I'm a little weird ***grin***). Curl in the wig is a bonus ... curly hair is like velcro and helps hold the pins and 'do more securely.

Good luck and scream if you need assistance. ;-)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I tried the method you describe above. This does seem to work, especially using the longer/larger bobby pins - thanks for the tip!

It's not beautiful, but it's my first go, and a hat will cover most of it.

Humor: D. acted as my "wig mold" and I think we scared the crap out of the cats, who stood by staring in mute shock. If I look like a sick drag queen, D. looks like a Monty Python pepperpot in the thing!

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

I tried the method you describe above. This does seem to work, especially using the longer/larger bobby pins - thanks for the tip!

Glad it worked. I have hair that kills regular bobby pins or else does its best to expel 'em at high velocities ... locking big pins is the only thing that works (and doing it that way means I can get away with only 2 or 3 pins in my hair and it stays UP all day). Couple more practice runs and you'll be able to do this style with your eyes closed ;-)

Hope you took piccies of D. in wig (and cat audience) ... LOL!!!!!!!!!