Renaissance Style Hairpiece

We are heading out of summer in Australia at the moment, and SCA events can be uncomfortable in Renaissance garb. I would normally dress my hair and skip the headcovering, but I cut my hair much shorter late last year. It seemed like a good idea to make a decision about what to do with the synthetic hair braid I purchased last year and which has been sitting around in it's packet since.

If my hair was longer, I would put it in a bun and hair tape it. So I decided to try and make a fake bun inspired by these ladies in Vincento Campi's 'Cucina', c. 1580s.

Vincenco Campi-Cucina - Vincenzo Campi - Wikipedia 

To start with, I re-braided the synthetic hair, tying the ends off securely with thread. Then I started to wind the fake hair into a 'wheel'. Using sewing pins to secure didn't work particularly well, so I sewed the hair into itself with brown thread as I went. When all the braid was in the wheel, I went back and sewed it all together, hiding the stitches as much as possible.

Next I wove some purple ribbon through with a blunt needle, which helped to secure the hairpiece even more. 

Finally I sewed in a comb and a couple of wig clips. The hairpiece stayed in my hair fairly securely. I am quite pleased with the result, but won't be wearing it any time soon because my hair is currently a more natural shade, and the synthetic hair does not match at all! (I imagine I will dye it again sooner or later though.) I might spend a bit more to get a more realistic braid next time.

While very satisfying, this project did eliminate my immediate hair woes. I decided on a style I wear mundanely, with hair rolled in front and with two braids pinned up at the back, secured a la The Borgias with a pretty clip. I used some stash velvet ribbon and a costume jewellery pendant. I measured enough ribbon (with hem) to cover a mundane barette. I found the halfway point on the ribbon, marked it with a pin and then centred the pendant on it horizontally, sewing it down with yellow thread. I then hot glued the ribbon hems down and hot glued the whole thing to the barette. Super fast and easy (and not at all period, although it is not inconceivable that this hairstyle could be achieved with the help of maids, hair tape and some pretty hairpins.) I don't like using hot glue (not authentic, it's messy, I'm bad at it, I always burn myself) but it is fast and satisfying. I'm happy with how this hair adventure turned out.