Creating the 'Moderate' Wig Design - Week 2/3 Assessment

For my 'Moderate' wig style, I needed to create more 'frizzed' hair around the hairline as the entire head of hair is to be just this one texture. The padding is larger than the 'extreme' wig, and therefore more hair is needed to cover this. Here are some photos of how I set and and steamed part of wig to get the desired texture of hair:

My 'Moderate' Wig Design:

To create this design, I used a large hoop shaped piece of padding which I created using a large stocking padded out with wadding. This was secured off centre and on a slant on the wig using grips. The outer hair was then positioned over the padding and secured into place. The remaining hair was tied into a ponytail. The birdcage was then secured into the centre of the padding using multiple pins. This was then firmly secured with the remaining hair wrapped around the birdcage's base and secured firmly with pins. Again, Hayley's natural hairline was brought up into the wig once it was secured onto her head. This was then sprayed with colour and the additional flowers and feathers were later added. A complimentary pastel turquoise makeup was applied, similar to the first one, but differing in colour.  

Steaming and Setting the Nylon Wig

For my ‘Extreme’ wig design, my design has contrasting textures. This meant that there needed to be different settings. For the outer section of the hair, my design has very frizzed and texured hair. To create this, I wrapped small sections of hair around large pins and secured with grips. For the inner section, I used rollers in a variety of sizes, which were rolled in a central direction.

Once the entire wig is set, it is ready to be steamed. Using the steamer, hold over each section until the hair is visibly wet and has a slight change, almost looking melted. Once completed, leave to set for at least three days before taking out the equipment.

For my ‘moderate’ wig design, the wig required more of the ‘fizzed’ textured hair. This meant that I have used more of the inner section of hair and set the hair in the pins. This is then steamed. The inner section of hair is not necessary for this design, so I have just wrapped this around to keep out of the way.

Creating the 'Extreme' Wig Design - Week 1/3 Assessment

Setting and steaming for my 'Extreme' Wig Design:

Creating the design:

1.

Here is the padding which I used for each section of hair. The larger one creates the base structure. The padding was wrapped in crepe hair to hide any unusual colourings and to secure to the wig.

2.

Here, we can see how the first padding is positioned onto the wig. This was secure using pins. The inner section of the hair is the curls tied into a ponytail.

3.

The crimped hair is then secured over the top on the padding, making sure all areas of the padding are hidden.

4.

Here, we can see how the second smaller padding is fitted on top, again with the curls pulled through the centre.

5.

Using wefts of straight hair, I completely covered the padding, still with the curls pulled through the centre.

6.

In the centre of the curls, I placed an additional small piece of padding for the boat to rest on when being secured. You can also see how the curls have been separated in the centre so they are evenly distributed around the boat.

7.

Here you can see how I have wrapped crepe hair around the base of the boat to help with securing.

8.

The boat is then attached to the padding and secured to the wig.

9.

Once the main structure of the wig has been created, I added additional wefts of curled hair into positions to add more volume.

Prepping The Model's Hair (Hayley):

The Make-up Look:

My 'Extreme' Wig Design:

Once the wig had been secured to the head, I wrapped mesh around the boat and added flowers and feathers. Hayley's natural hairline has been crimped and brought into the wig and secured with hairspray and pins. The hair was then sprayed using pastel colours. I then added some beading that I had made and bought, and brought it over the front of the wig, then secured with pins.

Testing My ‘Extreme’ Wig Design

For my ‘Extreme’ wig design, there was a lot of structure planning needed to form the shape. I also had a boat to attach into the hair. It was very important for the boat to be secure in the hair. The hair surrounding the boat had to be complimentary in shape and texture to the bottom section of the hair. These images show how practising on a dolls head helped me work out how to set the nylon wig and how to section and position the hair.

After placing the boat onto the dolls head, I realised that I would need lots of padding as a base, crepe hair around the base of the boat and cleverly positioned grips to secure this into place.  

Final Designs + 'Wig Story'

Simple Design:

Moderate Design:

Extreme Design:

My 'Wig Story':

For my three wig designs I have chosen to develop my ideas from the influence of 18th Century hair and Marie Antoinette in particular. During this period, The 'pouf' was a traditional style with great height and structure. With this influence, I am going to be creating a contemporary 18th Century influenced set of designs. With this in mind, I shall be focusing on the symbolism of hair during Marie Antoinette's reign to the thrown. 

The three of my designs have been heavily influenced by the design Pouf 'Jolie Femme', which had masses of height and was elaborately decorated with feathers and flowers. I have also taken the inspiration from the hairstyle The Ques-A-Co, which sports three feathers which slightly resembles a question mark. My most obvious influence comes from The Coiffure a la Belle-Poule. This famous design holds a large ship in the hair with curled hair underneath to imitate the movement of waves. The designing of this style was just after the victory of La Belle-Poule in the naval battle, and Marie Antoinette's reign was at its peak. This was also the largest and more eccentric style of hair that she wore. But eventually, the court condemned Marie Antoinette to death, and the first to go was her famous head of hair. Not long before this did she start to loose her hair. 

The significance of the reduction of hair throughout the extremity of designs is to show Marie Antoinette's connection and importance of hairstyle. The measure of impact her hair made was had some sort of relation to the amount of power she had. 

In my designs I have shown how the impact of hair can have on the impression of the person wearing it. With this in mind, I have taken this influence and have turned it into something more contemporary in colour, texture and alteration in shape. I have also been inspired by Wildfox's AW14 lookbook and have taken onboard how to make this look more current.

Mood Board:

Hammer Horror Inspired Hair

Equipment:

·      Paddle brush

·      Pintail comb

·      Medium tongs

·      Grips

Directions:

·      Brush hair through and create a centre parting.

·      Section the hair from the crown to the ears.

·      In the front section of the hair, tong the hair in a downward direction in smaller brickwork sections and secure. Do this for about 3 rows, making sure there is room for another row underneath.

·      In the back section of the hair, tong the hair in a downward direction in smaller brickwork sections and secure, again approximately 3 rows down.

·      Using the hair underneath the front section’s curls, tong vertically, alternating the direction and secure. I tonged the first section away from the face then alternated after that.

·      To do the entire head, continue to tong in alternating directions vertically around the back.

·      Allow the curls to cool set.

·      Once the curls have cooled, release the grips.

·      Brush each curl through individually and position in place.

·      Brush through any obvious gaps in the curls and position for the desired look.