Out of all the hairstyles I've ever done, this was THE hairstyle I looked forward to doing the most, and which (so far) took the most planning. (For obvious reasons.) At least, for a hair-baiding junkie like me, it's just got that big 'wow' factor that just says "Ha! Try me." So I did.
Even in the movie, it's obvious that it was made of fake hair. (Loads and loads of fake hair.) Since I only use my real hair, I'd at first figured it impossible to do, until I did some browsing and discovered that the studio made the style by combing false hair over a large foam form. (Hm, it's not all solid hair? 'doh!) I didn't have a foam form on hand, so I made do with some long rubber bands, two towels and two pairs of socks rigged up in a certain way that fit my head and made the right shape. Then I hunted around for something to act as the headdress (the style doesn't quite seem to work without it. . .) and had to settle for a gold-colored scarf. Several hours of planning, a few weeks' break, then a couple hours of work later, I finally pulled it off.
:)
Okay, so I had to scale it down a bit in order to use my hair, and the towel shows a bit on the bottom sides, but hey, YOU try it. :p
I only wish I'd been able to get a picture of the back. In the movie (although I don't remember ever seeing it,) it looked like this:
I almost had the same look on my version, but minus the knots along the ponytails. (It was hot underneath all that, and my arms hurt. I wasn't about to go the extra mile to make it movie-accurate,) and the towel showed through in the back. (Heheh. Then again, maybe it was a good thing I didn't get a shot of the back.)Either way, it was fun planning setting up, and taking it down. But not while it was on. (Hot and Heavy.) Would I do it again? . . . . Eh, given a few hours, I would. It was fun. :D
Supplies I used to duplicate the style:
- Hair that's mid-back-length or longer
- A large 'form' for combing the hair over. (I used two towels rolled up with two thick slipper socks in each end to make the ends (the sides of the style) wider, rubber-banded the bit together. Oh, and there was a chain of rubber bands along the inside of the roll. (When I put it on, the ends were tied under/behind my chin ) Better detailed instructions to come. ;) )
- A wide-toothed comb
- A fine-toothed comb
- Plenty of hair elastics (I used five rubber bands and several clips and scrunchies.)
Optional: A hand-held mirror to let you see the back of your head. (Or even better, someone to help you.)
Instructions:
First, brush your hair, and brush it well. (You'll be brushing it plenty more times, but as always, the first brushing is the most important.)
Part your hair right behind where the 'form' will be, and comb that part forward (in front of your face.) Put both the front and back in ponytails for now (not pictured) while you put the 'form' on and get it situated exactly way you want it. (There's no fixing it after, unless you take everything else down.)
Once you've got the form secured, take the hair in front that's in your face, and divide it into three sections (the central one somewhat smaller than the sides,) and clip them out of the way. (Okay, I know you look creepy, as does the drawing, but you really want to get this hairstyle, right? :) )
Optional, but handy: Okay, now turn your attention to the back of your head and portion off the hair back there into six to eight sections (depending on if this is your second try and how many you needed last time.) If this is your first try, do six sections and clip or rubber-band them off. (Picture isn't the best, but you should get the idea.)
Back to the front: Take one of the sides and divide it into upper and lower sections. Tilt your head to the side and use the wide-toothed comb to brush it over the 'form', taking up as much space as possible. (Use the fine-toothed comb to make it look 'perfect' once you get it in the general spot.) When it looks about right, bring the tail end around to the back and rubber-band it to one of sectioned-off pieces in the back. Do the same with the remaining sections on that side until the entire side is covered.
Do likewise on the other side. (See where the planning part comes in?)
You should now have the two sides wrapped over/around the sides of the form and attached to the back. Now all you have left to do is section off, comb, and rubber-band the top. . .
And you're done with the hardest part! All that's left to do is (if you want) to add some sort of headdress (or maybe take the miscellaneous ponytails in the back and knot them at regular intervals,) add makeup, etc. And I pray that, if you were planning on wearing a costume, it's already on, or you can step into it. (Because I almost learned the hard way that you definitely can't pull anything over your head once the hair style is done.)
Original Idea: Imaginary Styles
(Padawan's Guide also has many good pictures for reference.)
