Contemporary Interpretations

This image is the original image that I found. I saw how the image looked quite edgey and modern. It looks almost pixie-like. As the style was fairly plain, I saw potential for multiple additions.

Below, is the image I added to with a high and volumized ponytail. The hair is of a thick density. To achieve this look, extensions would be necessary to achieve such length at this colour and of this thickness. I also added a bit of blue to the blonde. The fringe has a dip dye effect and the ponytail has multiple strands of blue through it. I also wanted to add more intricate details as reference to the Elizabethan era and incorporated a few delicate braids into the ponytail and these would be completely blue.

This look is very simple and feminine. It reminds me slightly of the 1920’s. I feel this look has lots of potential to be altered to create a much stronger contemporary look.

After being inspired by adding padding to curled hair in our practical lesson, I thought this look created a slight twist on it as it is low down, rather than creating an uplifting volume. One side of the hair wraps the hair from underneath, bringing it upwards and tucking it in to create a tidy finish. Yet the other side creates a larger amount of volume by wrapping the hair over the top of the padding and tucking in underneath. The curls adds an Elizabethan twist to the look and the loose curls make the look softer and more youthful. On the left side of the image, you can see that the hair is slicked down at the top. For this look, I also used a jewel head piece as I feel this looks feminine and regal. I feel this is very modern and kind of androgynous. Yet the pearls (that will be attached to pins) add femininity to the final look.  

My hair is fairly long as it is, so I think that hair extensions won’t be necessary for this look. If not, I own human hair extensions which can be styled with heat and match my hair colour. To curl my hair, tongs would be used on fine sections of hair to create a tight curl. Hair would be wrapped round padding to create a large volume effect. Then pins with pearl detail would be put into place to finish the look off.  

This style is a little more complex. I like how it reminds me of Elizabeth I’s earlier hairstyles; half up back off the face and long at the back/down the sides. There is a small amount of detail at the sides where the hair is scraped off the face. The loose hair has wavy loose curls and heavily volumized.

Below, the style I edited. I create a large quiff to add volume, structure and a sense of power. The quiff makes the look more impacting. At the sides of the head where the hair was pulled back before, I added three tightly plaited french braids in the direction of the pulled back hair. This adds detail and makes the sides look finished. I left a section of hair each side, infront of the braids as this reminds me a little of Elizabethan styles. I then felt the rest of the loose hair needed more volume to compensate for the increased volume ontop. Below the quiff, on the forehead, I added a jewel headpiece to create a regal look. The headpiece is delicate and simple, but adds a lot to the hairstyle. This could be fitted to the hair at the bottom on the quiff or fixed to the forehead with an adhesive.