Stop SOPA and PIPA!

So this is an unusual post for this blog, but we all feel very strongly that SOPA and PIPA (which will be voted on soon) will spell doom for freedom on the internet. If you have an extra 2 minutes, please visit here and express your displeasure with the bills. If you don't know what they are, please do read up on them. They are scary. Very, very, very scary.

Make your voice heard!

New Blog

If you love this blog, you will probably also love my new blog, "The Lonely Alchemist." It is a little bit of everything I love. Here is the short blog description:

"A blog for Steampunk, Gothic, Victoriana, etc... "The Lonely Alchemist" explores perfumes, fashion, green-living, films, and literature. Combining a love for historical elegance with insightful reviews and consumer commentary, "The Lonely Alchemist" gives you everything you ever wanted to know about the Dark Side."

Be sure to follow so you can get notifications every time I have a giveaway (I will be hosting plenty of giveaways for everything from perfume to books of poetry).

I will still post hairstyles here occasionally, though I just don't seem to have time for them anymore.

Because it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Feeling Charitable?

No woman deserves to get breast cancer, but 1 in 7 do get it. Please help make a difference.

Etsy Shop: Miss Violet Lace

Here is my interview with Krista of the Fabulous Etsy shop "Miss Violet Lace." I just bought some clip-in colored hair extensions from here and I'm so excited to try them out!


Ups & Downs: What got you started making wigs? What was your initial inspiration?

Krista: I have always been a frequent hair dye-er, and after so many chemical processes, my hair was left fragile and fried. I didn't have the thousands of dollars it would cost to have extensions installed, so I started searching for other options.

As both my mom and I got involved in reconstructing, redesigning and hand-altering wigs, we started to think outside the box- what else could we do with different colors and styles?

The main key for us wig-wise is not only presenting a unique product, but to reflect how realistic synthetic wigs can be. They are a lot of fun, and don't have to be just for dress-up any longer!


U&D: What does your workspace look like?

K: Our workspace initially started out as being a studio in my bedroom, but we soon found we were cramped for space, and have since taken over the entire dining room and computer area. (We don't actually dine in the dining room, thank goodness, otherwise we'd most likely find wig hair on our plates)

It can be pretty messy at times, though I do my best to keep things in order. At our busiest, there are dozens of boxes, envelopes, and storage bins filled to the brim with our materials at any given place in the house.

We are pretty excited to have our own room for our new studio which we worked on in the past few months, though we still need to apply trim and lay down carpeting. We plan to move in to our new studio by the fall.

U&D: What is your first thought when you wake up?

K: My first thought every day is disbelief. I have dreamed of having my own business for 7 years, and this for me is a true dream come true. I am so grateful and thankful to all of the supportive people that have been here with us each step of the way in this new adventure.

U&D: What is your favorite item on Etsy?

K: It would be impossible for me to choose only one item from so many amazing sellers on Etsy, but I will say that when I get a craving to purchase something from Etsy, my go-to shops are For Strange Women: www.etsy.com/shop/forstrangewomen and Mungo Crafts: www.etsy.com/shop/mungocrafts


U&D: Is there one wig that you haven't made that you are dying to make (if you had unlimited funds/supplies)?

K: I have always loved those brave enough to dye their hair in rainbow colors, so that would definitely be the top of my list as far as wigs go. I've actually recently been commissioned to do a rainbow colored wig, so I will finally get a chance to concoct some magical hair!


To find out more about Miss Violet Lace:
Shop: missvioletlace.etsy.com
Facebook Fan Page- www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Violet-Lace/155556851164819
Twitter: twitter.com/HerOceanEyes

My New Blog (don't worry followers, I will still post hairstyles here...)

I have a new blog of Etsy promotions and organic/sustainable/"green"/fair trade factoids and do-dads. http://greenmansgrotto.blogspot.com/

I will still post everything related to hair here, when I get a chance, but if you are interested in great handmade stuff and DIY projects, please check out the other blog and support the great Etsy sellers I will feature there.

Braids, oh so underappreciated... until now...

I felt very vindicated [in my love for braids] when I was reading a style article the other day about how braids are very in this season. I had read so many fashion articles on how braids are dowdy, braids are old, braids are plain, braids are unflattering that I had almost given up hope for my favorite go-to hairstyle. And though this article did only praise loose over-the-shoulder braids (combined with long bangs), I am hopeful that braids really are making a comeback. I feel that their old-fashioned look isn't dowdy, it is elegant, and remininscent of vikings and medieval princesses. And who wouldn't want to be a viking warrior woman or a medieval princess? Really. And guys like them to. Guys like no-nonsense styles that flatter a woman's face and figure and, yes, look a little bit romantic! I feel that modern stylists get too caught up in using hairspray and pins and making sure every hair is in place. But messy hair is sexy. What man wants to mess with stiff sprayed hair or pins during a makeout session? And what girl want to have a guy touch her hair and say, "It's so... stiff." Again, really. Hairstylists of the world: make it simple.

Etsy Shop Promotion: Ruby and Jane!

For those of you who like to adorn your hair, here is a unique shop full of timeless hair accessories and other delicious tidbits at amazingly reasonable prices! Check it out and enjoy!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/rubyandjane

A Little Bit of Whimsy...

A few years back my mother (in the pink) and I (in the orange) were in the chorus of the opera version of Cinderella. It was to be an outrageous production with bright zany costumes, picture book sets, and the world's weirdest hairdos! Here are some pictures of our crazy hairstyles, which are lightly based on hairstyles from the mid 1800's (this Jane Eyre's era), as are the costumes. If you put me in a traditional dress from that era, my hairstyle would be completely acceptable.

New take on Chinese bun

I can't do this style because my hair is too long and heavy, but this is perfect for mid length hair that is not too full. I applaud anyone who can make this look really good and I'm jealous.

Submissions, Please

With 21 credits on my plate this semester, I barely have time to brush my hair, let alone style it. If any readers have hairstyles they would like to display, please post them in the comments section of this post (with pictures if you can). Thanks and have a brilliant weekend!

Tornado of Twists!

This is a style my friend Sarah made by pinning up a lot of little twists. Her hair is very curly so this is easier for her to do than me, as my hair is only wavy. My twists failed a little bit when I tried this.

All she used to hold the twists were bobby pins (and a little hairspray, I think). This would make a beautiful wedding style whether you are the bride or just attending, and it wouldn't be amiss for a fancy evening out or ball.

Greek braid: "Gaia the Earth Goddess"

Here is a style my friend Kate made. I can't do it on myself, but it is really lovely and much like styles on Greek and Roman statues. It would also be great for a Renaissance Faire. I think Kate even looks like the pictures of Gaia in my elementary school history textbooks...

Regency French Twist

My version of a French Twist with curls is a bit sloppy, but you can get the general idea from the pictures.























I think the making of it had something to do with making a loose bun and then turning it on its end and rolling it into itself (leaving the curls out of course). Check out my second ever post ("Timeless Twist: "A La Parisienne"") for French-Twist-making instructions. These will give you at least a skeleton of an idea on how to make this, but I say: "trial and error, my friends!"

Cinnamon Roll Buns

The first style here was made by my friend Sarah and I have no idea how she did it.












The second is a pretty simple bun I wore at Christmas that got lots of comments (positive). You basically make it the opposite way you usually make a bun. Instead of spiraling from the inside to the outside, you twist the hair and make the big outside spiral first. Then you go in until the last bit of hair is in the very inside of the bun.

Goddess Braid

Here is my favorite new do. It does require a trip to Claire's or Icing, but is well worth the nominal amount of money. It gives you a mature earth-mother-like feel and a sweet sprightliness all at once. And so I call it the Goddess Braid, or perhaps plait would be more appropriate. Anywhoo, what you need from Claires are some small fabric flowers (you could use feather flowers I guess, or a different color of them) and some little spirally things that have a jewel in the center. these you can twist into your hair and I have never seen them anywhere but Claire's. If you know where else to get them please comment and tell me. I currently only have diamond and red ones and am looking for pearl ones (which were discontinued at Claire's boo hoo). If there is no Claire's near you try a Fuego; they have some pretty sweet hair stuff too. The flowers should cost no more than $5 total and the hair spirals are usually about $12.50 (though they are always on sale). Good luck with this simple style and enjoy!

Christmas Figure Eight

This is the style I wore to our Christmas choir concert. It is really simple: just a regular figure eight with an extra curl. Caroline Bingley wears something like it in "Pride and Prejudice." This is perfect for a semi-formal Christmas party. Don't use a ponytail holder because it will show.

Flowers cover up any bobby-pinning mistakes. These flowers are clips from Claire's Icing (great hair accessory and earring source!) that were extremely cheap and look really cute. I recommend taking a trip to that store soon. It is in almost every mall.

1940's/Victorian/ Edwardian do

This is the classic "rolled" style seen in every WWII movie ever made. Women used rolls of cloth (or today, styrofoam or foam) under their hair to make the sausage-like rolls. I didn't use anything because my hair is think, but you might want to consider rollers if you have thin hair. This style was stolen from the mid to late Victorian era and the Edwardian era (1901-1910). In the 1800's, it would have been an easy home-day do, not a party do. Towards the turn of the century it became more popular out of the home, but still not at parties, unless you left a few curls hanging out and attached some flowers and diamonds. Diamonds make everything better.

I cheated and used octopus clips to hold the bun at the bottom because my hair was too heavy to be held by hair pins. If you have thin or short hair this will not be a problem. If you have long thick hair and will be wearing this do to a party, you could cover the clips with flowers or ribbons.

Lovely French Braid

Here is a great style Sami from my Freshman Foundations Course made. She said it doesn't take long to make, but I know it would take me hours. I thought it was just beautiful and could work for any occasion, especially a Renaissance Faire or toga party. It would also work with any length of hair.


(Photos by Sami.)

Twist for very long straight hair

This is a style my friend Anna made that is perfect for long straight hair. I don't know exactly how she made it, but the pictures should be pretty self-explanatory. It looks to me like a figure eight with the extra hair hanging out at the bottom but I have a feeling that it is more complicated. It may be a figure eight wrapped into itself.

Embellished Turban

Here is a turban made of a coral silk scrap found in the remnants section of the fabric store. The fabric was less than three dollars for an amazing iridescent quality Dupiani silk. For little extras like turbans, never buy fabric from a bolt. You can always find a cute cheap remnant.

I added a long strand of black and blue pearls, two peacock feather earrings, and the abalone pendant from a necklace for trimmings, and held everything in place with bobby pins. The fabric was basically wrapped around my head twice and pinned closed in back under the bun. Some rose glass earrings and curls completed the look.

Basically, you can use any old jewelry, brooches, feathers, and ribbons to embellish a turban. You never have to buy anything special. You could even pin on a clump of fake grapes or a fake bird for a more early Victorian touch.