Not enough female reenactors pay attention to their hair, so it is my goal to find ways to teach women to do their hair in a suitable manner. I have found a video on YouTube that teaches women how to do their hair in a Regency period updo. The Regency period was just prior to the early Victorian period. Some of you are getting into reenacting the War of 1812 and even Jane Austen-style living histories, so I thought I would change up my usual Civil War reenacting lessons and jump to the previous generation.

If you do not have long hair, consider using clip on extensions like the clip on extensions in this blog. Read that blog to understand why hair is very important in portraying nineteenth century women and why it should not be ignored in reenacting today.

Please do not use this style at a reenactment later than about 1825 because it won't be correct.

Not enough female reenactors pay attention to their hair, so it is my goal to find ways to teach women to do their hair in a suitable manner. I have found a video on YouTube that teaches women how to do their hair in a twisted braided bun very similar to styles I have seen in mid-nineteenth century photographs. This style is a more intricate version of the basic braided bun that I showed you all last week. Pay extra attention to how this girl twists her hair at the sides of her head because women in the nineteenth century did that a lot. She keeps saying it's an Edwardian style in her video but it's really mid-Victorian aka Civil War period. Edwardian women can be identified because they piled their hair on top of their heads. This style is clearly at the nape of the neck, which is identified as mid-Victorian.

If you do not have long hair, consider using clip on extensions like the clip on extensions in this blog. Read that blog to understand why hair is very important in portraying nineteenth century women and why it should not be ignored in reenacting today.

Please remember that if you are doing your hair for the early 1860s, there are a few standards that should be employed no matter what style you use.

1. Always part the hair down the middle.
2. Always keep the bulk of the hair at the nape of the neck.
3. For early 1860s, cover the ears with the hair.
4. From 1864 onward, tuck the hair behind the ears.
5. NO BANGS DURING THE CIVIL WAR!

Here is a video that shows how to do a twisted braided bun. Remember to keep it on the nape of your neck, part it down the middle first and use hairspray or something to smooth your bangs in with the rest of your hair. If you prefer, you can do one braid and make a regular bun out of it, or twist the hair into a rope and make a bun out of that. The main point of the style is the twists at the sides of the head with the bulk of the hair at the nape of the neck.

Not enough female reenactors pay attention to their hair, so it is my goal to find ways to teach women to do their hair in a suitable manner. I have found a video on YouTube that teaches women how to do their hair in a braided bun. The braided bun was extremely common but not quite as common as the everyday twisted bun. It was fast, it was easy, it kept hair out of the face while women went about their daily chores. I highly recommend the braided bun for the majority of your reenacting activities because it is easy and accurate.

If you do not have long hair, consider using clip on extensions like the clip on extensions in this blog. Read that blog to understand why hair is very important in portraying nineteenth century women and why it should not be ignored in reenacting today.

Please remember that if you are doing your hair for the early 1860s, there are a few standards that should be employed no matter what style you use.

1. Always part the hair down the middle.
2. Always keep the bulk of the hair at the nape of the neck.
3. For early 1860s, cover the ears with the hair.
4. From 1864 onward, tuck the hair behind the ears.
5. NO BANGS DURING THE CIVIL WAR!

Here is a video that shows how to do a relatively easy braided bun. Some people do one braid and others create two braids from one ponytail and wrap them around each other. Remember to keep it on the nape of your neck, part it down the middle first and use hairspray or something to smooth your bangs in with the rest of your hair.

Not enough female reenactors pay attention to their hair, so it is my goal to find ways to teach women to do their hair in a suitable manner. I have found a video on YouTube that teaches women how to do their hair in a chignon. This style was often used in the nineteenth century, more often after the Civil War as the bulk of the hair crept up the back of the head.

If you do not have long hair, consider using clip on extensions like the clip on extensions in this blog. Read that blog to understand why hair is very important in portraying nineteenth century women and why it should not be ignored in reenacting today.

Please remember that if you are doing your hair for the early 1860s, there are a few standards that should be employed no matter what style you use.

1. Always part the hair down the middle.
2. Always keep the bulk of the hair at the nape of the neck.
3. For early 1860s, cover the ears with the hair.
4. From 1864 onward, tuck the hair behind the ears.
5. NO BANGS DURING THE CIVIL WAR!

Here is a video that shows how to do a relatively easy chignon. Remember to keep it on the nape of your neck, part it down the middle first and use hairspray or something to smooth your bangs in with the rest of your hair.

One of the most common issues with women trying to accurately enter the reenacting world is the lack of proper hair. Let's face it, our foremothers were rockin' runway hair long before there was a runway. Hair that long simply isn't practical in this modern age in which we don't have servants to maintain our coif. So, unfortunately, period correct portrayals often suffer in this area for women today.

Some reenactor sutler companies sell rather sorry looking hair pieces to try and add ready-made buns, length or sausage curls, but they can be spotted from a mile away. They remind tourists that they are looking at make believe rather than feeling immersed in the reenactment or living history. Throughout history, hair has been considered "a woman's crowning glory" which is why they kept it so long. In my opinion, if a reenactress wishes to put her best portrayal out there, she needs to consider all aspects of the nineteenth century woman, not just which dress looks the prettiest. You can have the best, most accurate dress out there, but if you're walking around in a little bob or some other overly sculpted hairstyle, you will always remind tourists that you're just acting. I believe the best portrayals make the tourist believe you fell out of the 1860s. They are more apt to pay attention to what you can teach them.

Today my friend in London was raving about her new hair extensions. I never wanted to try hair extensions before because I don't like the idea of a hair dresser sewing fake hair to my existing hair or using glue or attaching with tracks on my scalp. It all sounded like torture. She posted the how-to video and I watched it in awe at how easy it is and how real it looks. My mind immediately went to reenacting and how these extensions could be used to give ladies instant long hair for their event that can be curled or straight because it is all real hair. If you reenact a lot, it might be worth investing in these extensions. I believe they will greatly improve the quality of your portrayal. They run between $90 and $120, which sounds a bit pricey, but going to the salon to have it done costs a lot more. Some women spend hundreds of dollars on extensions. I believe this is an option worth considering. I'm definitely going to save up my money.

Watch the how-to video.