Posted by Elaine A. on July 24, 1997 at 20:42:00:
In reply to hair styles posted by Katrina on July 24, 1997 at 19:12:21
] What were the common hairstyles of the Regency? Are the styles in P&P2 true to the era?
Here is my trusty dusty source again! I hope it is of help.
"Classical dress styles demanded a head of hair that followed the Greak and Roman mode too. The fantastic bizarre coiffures on the enormous heads of the eighteenth century were replaced with smaller, neater styles.
From 1800 to 1810, short hair, a la Titus, was very popular. The cropped cut had many variations. The hair could be cut short just in front, or front and sides with the back length left longer.
Many women regretted cutting their hair so short, and they kept wigmakers flourishing as they bought long wigs a la Sappho.
Hair was simply worn for daytime, often just ornamented with a riband entwined through curls. Full dress required more elaborate decoration.
If a lady couldn't bear to cut her hair, she had the option of pulling her long locks to the back of her head and tying them into a bunch of curly tendrils or arranging a bun.
All sorts of false hair, braids, jeweled combs, flowers, plumes, and even ropes of pearls were used to decorate the hair.
Hair styles were given names that alluded to their classical inspiration like a la Venus, but as clothes became more elaborate so did hair styles. The simpler skimpy cuts went out of favor.
From 1810 to 1820, the wispy curls delicately arranged around the face gave way to longer more elaborate curls and fantastical ringlets all around the hairline. The rest of the hair was dressed on the crown in a top knot. The top knot could consist of braids, curls, or a large bun alone or in any combination."
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