Fashion in Middle-earth - Hairstyles

A little reminder to myself; never promise anything regarding how often I'm to do blog posts. Right after I did my last blog post our internet disappeared (OK, I had used up all data) and until now, when I got home (I was in Lappland), I've been without any internet.
 
Anyways, I thought that I would do a mini-series which I've decided to call "Fashion in Middle-earth". I am extremely intrested in fashion and makeup and hairstyles so I thought that why not take it to the next level and put a Tolkien-touch to my intrest? This first episode will be about hairstyles.
 
Hobbit-hair

As we all know Hobbits have big curly hair. I have straight, long, thick hair which takes forever to curl with a curling iron and those kind of curls rarely last longer than it takes for me to get outside of my house. I much rather prefer to curl my hair without any heat (and it doesn't damage the hair!). Whenever I want Hobbit-hair (which isn't too often, I prefer my Elven-self) I go with his curling technique shown below.
 
I take a section of hair and twist it. If the section is small the curls will be tighter and smaller. The hair shoul be a little damp but not much since the buns shown below are very tight and the hair doesn't dry very easily in them. I would say perhaps 10-20 % dampness.

 I bun the twist (alternatively I bun and twist at the same time) and secure it with either a hair tie, a close bobbypin or an open bobbypin. Make sure the end of the hair is in place or it is very likely it will unravel. As said, I've got quite thick hair but around five buns per side is sufficient. You can either now go to sleep or wear them for some 8 hours when doing some indoor stuff. I have tried many curling techniques over night but I got to say that this one is one of the most uncomfortable ones to sleep with so if you're sensitive to that kind of thingsI wouldn't recommend you to sleep with these buns.
 
I go to sleep and in the morning take out the buns. This is the result. Since I have very long hair I don't really get the same hairstyle as the Hobbits in the movie got, but if you have shorter hair the result will be very similar.
 
Elven Hair
 
Braided Updo
When it comes to elvish hairstyles there are much more to do than with Hobbit hairstyles. Think the Middle ages, think fantastic braided updos, think anything extravagant, but elegant. The updo I wore at the premiere last December is perfect for anyone who is a beginner to intermediate with braiding. This hairstyle consists of two lace french braidswhich goes from around the temple to the back of my hair. There it is gathered in a bun. I added a round four-strand braid to give it more volume. I also did two english accent braids. Then I took small white flowers bought at a local craftstore and inserted them into the braids. To finish the hairstyle I took an inherited necklace and fastned it to the braid with bobbypins. The hairstyle in this picture is a bit messy (I had slept in it after the premiere since we had a Hobbit-day in school the day after so I have some fly-aways and the bun is not so quite nice as it was at the premiere) but you get the idea.
 
 

Galadriel Hair
Braiding requires some skills and training and these updos can sometimes be very frustrating to do for anyone who's a beginner. Luckily enough fantastic Cate Blanchett wears one of the most beautiful and yet simple hairstyles when she portraits Galadriel.
 
To do this hairstyle all you need to do is to take a section of hair right beside your parting and place it behind your ear. Leave the front hair so the ear is visable. If wanted you can braid your hair the previous day and then take out the braids when doing the haristyle so your hair gets a bit wavy as Galadriel's (if you don't have naturally wavy hair).
 
Tauriel Hairstyle
I have had my doubt about Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel, and Tauriel as a character for that matter. But I got to say that I love her hairstyle. I didn't have a computer when I did this hairstyle so I had only my memory to go on, therefore the finished hairstyle isn't exactly as Evangeline Lillys, but at least it's a Tauriel inspired hairstyle.
 
I make a parting from about my crone straight to my ear and tie the rest of my hair away. Then I take a piece of hair right beside my ear and divide it into three pieces.
 
 
I then make a lace french braid going from my ear upwards to my crown. I repeat it on the other side. When I get to the top of my head I continue to do a english braid for a couple of inches. Then I combine the two braids by placing the strands ontop of each other.
Continue to braid for an inch or two and tie the hair with an elastic. I then take a small piece of hair behind the ear.
 
 
I make a rope braid on each side and then combine it with the english braid which I'd recently tied away. Then I continue to braid all the way down.
 
 
This is the finished result. Unfortunately I don't have a picture from the front (I don't know what I was thinking of) and the back picture is truly bad, sorry for that. Anyways, I really like this hairstyle and I think it would be lovely with a dress or a more Ranger-like outfit like the one Tauriel is wearing.
 
 
 
*Off-topic*
Tomorrow I am going to London with a couple of friends, I'm truly super-excited :D Hopefully I'll get my hands on some Hobbit merchandise (although I think I'm gonna spend most of my money on clothes and makeup...)!
 
Love,
Erunyauvë