Hair Shapes
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It's been really interesting while researching Elizabethan hair, there is most definitely a common theme regarding the shape of the hair. It's really popular to see rounded or heart shaped hair. In the painting below it has all the elements that we are supposed to be researching. The curls, the frizz, the adornments and the shape. It's apparent that Elizabeth had a variety of wigs because she's never seen with the same hair do twice. There's always slight alterations.
This heart shape hair is created with padding or maybe some wire structures. You can see that the dress is covered in pearls and she has got lots of pearls in her hair. Pearls are a symbol of purity and virginity. So it's a perfect for the Virgin Queen. I really like how she looks like she has a widow's peak that seemed to disappear in her later portraits. I guess that's the joy of wigs and the joy of being rich enough that price isn't a problem. This is quite clearly two plaits/rats/padding that's been manipulated in the front to help make a heart shape.
Just when you think you can't find any contemporary hair that includes rounded or heart shaped, you remember Lady Gaga. This woman is an absolute wig junky and it only took looking through her 'hair catalogue' that has been documented online by one of her many 'monsters' you can find something.
This is probably my favourite Lady Gaga hairstyle that I can reference to Elizabethan hairstyles. I mentioned earlier that in some of the Elizabethan portraits, there was normally something adorning the top of the hair to give the illusion of a heart shape. I think this does the exact same. Upon close inspection you can see that it is in actual fact, a crown. The hair is styled around the crown.
A slightly tamer look that just has a rounded overall shape. I like how there is volume added to the roots. I think that is important to make the top look rounded. It's nice how the curls and waves have been teased out and this makes the sides look rounder too.
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I really like this portrait. I don't think it's of Elizabeth but it had the rounded hairstyle that we are studying. You can see at the front that the frizz created from curls. The rest of the hair is covered with coif. It looks as though there are some decorations are roses. Which would have been undoubtedly popular because this was a really powerful symbol of the monarchy.
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I'd like to point out that heart shaped hair in Elizabethan portraiture is quite difficult to find. I struggled greatly with this. What I did come to find was that it was sometimes the adornments that gave the illusion of a heart shape. It's notable that the heart shape is more popular in the later years of her reign.
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Anon n.d
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This heart shape hair is created with padding or maybe some wire structures. You can see that the dress is covered in pearls and she has got lots of pearls in her hair. Pearls are a symbol of purity and virginity. So it's a perfect for the Virgin Queen. I really like how she looks like she has a widow's peak that seemed to disappear in her later portraits. I guess that's the joy of wigs and the joy of being rich enough that price isn't a problem. This is quite clearly two plaits/rats/padding that's been manipulated in the front to help make a heart shape.
Contemporary use of Rounded and Heartshaped Hair:
In today's society, you don't need to wear your hair up unless it's within your job role, or for healthy and hygienic reasons. This means we are a lot more liberal and expressive through our hair designs. Even though we don't have these restrictions, we are only really becoming comfortable and accepting to things aren't seen as a normal or 'wearable' trend.
I absolutely adore this photo. Her hair looks so healthy, bouncy and full of life. I love how it falls into a heart shape. It's quite a subtle heart shape but still really effective.
I absolutely adore this photo. Her hair looks so healthy, bouncy and full of life. I love how it falls into a heart shape. It's quite a subtle heart shape but still really effective.
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| Anon n.d |
We have become a lot more creative with a our plait work. I've noticed that there has been a massive influx of variations of braids that are shared, pinned and taught through social media. Heart shaped plaits have been really popular among younger girls. Again, it's a fairly simple technique but just requires the time which I find an amusing coincidence because in my experience getting a child to sit still while you do their hair can be an absolute nightmare.
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| Anon n.d |
Just when you think you can't find any contemporary hair that includes rounded or heart shaped, you remember Lady Gaga. This woman is an absolute wig junky and it only took looking through her 'hair catalogue' that has been documented online by one of her many 'monsters' you can find something.
 |
| Anon n.d |
This is probably my favourite Lady Gaga hairstyle that I can reference to Elizabethan hairstyles. I mentioned earlier that in some of the Elizabethan portraits, there was normally something adorning the top of the hair to give the illusion of a heart shape. I think this does the exact same. Upon close inspection you can see that it is in actual fact, a crown. The hair is styled around the crown.
 |
| Anon n.d |
A slightly tamer look that just has a rounded overall shape. I like how there is volume added to the roots. I think that is important to make the top look rounded. It's nice how the curls and waves have been teased out and this makes the sides look rounder too.
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