Nice to see you again, Ollave; and congratulations! 

The bun and braids combo sounds really nice. I think some people make sock buns to make their, er, buns larger and that might be an option for you. As for the rats, I'm not sure if they can be bought, but they seem rather simple to make. First you need to collect your shed hairs for at least a month. After you have the harvested hairs, you can put them into a hair net to make a rat. I haven't made any rats myself, but hopefully someone who has will chime in and give you better directions.

Good luck! Keep us posted about what happens. 

Thank you both!

Juri: Love your idea about collecting hair sheds, I shed so much that if I did that for a couple months I could probably make little braids out of it.

Khrome: Thanks for the links. Now my only question is once I’ve purchased the rat how does it work? I understand the general idea but am at a loss as to how the hair is wrapped around it.

As for a French twist, my hair is so fine/thin (think my ponytail measures about an inch and a half) that when I do a twist or a bun, even though it’s not pulled tight, it looks as though I’ve slicked my hair back as tight as can be. In fact I have a cowlick right on the back of my head that often looks like a bald spot- it’s not though, but I have to take care to make sure I comb that hair in the opposite direction. So no pouf for me!

Which is funny because when my hair is down it has just enough body to be very poufy, except I never wear it down.

Lately I’ve been trying an early 70s style in which I brush all my hair in the opposite direction that I usually part it (left to right) as though I were doing a side ponytail, stick two bobby pins along the back and then swoop the ponytail (just gathered in my hand) toward the back of my head and make a loose bun. That seems to be the only way I can get any lift on the top, and even then it doesn’t always work.

So my idea for that Audrey Hepburn-ish look is going to be difficult considering my hair.

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Unfortunately, I've never used one so I can't tell you for sure.  But if I were to guess - for the donut shaped ones, I think you make a ponytail, put it through the donut hole, then wrap your hair evenly over the sides (so you are kind of making a fountain shape.)  The end of your hair would end up between the donut and your head, where you can secure it with a hair tie or toy.  Not sure if you can use pins with rats.

Cynde

You're welcome, Ollave. I had no idea people could buy synthetic rats, though. I think they would be less weird-looking than the one I suggested (got that from a website on how to make Civil War-era hairstyles).

Oh, another place with lots of hairstyles is the Long Hair Loom's styling station.

I totally feel your pain, ollave. My hair is way thin too and behaves just like yours when I try to put it up. 

If your hair looks & feels thickest when you wear it down, then maybe you should wear it down for the wedding. Try a wide-ish headband that either compliments or matches your dress. Headbands are totally 60's mod.

I had my hair professionally styled for my wedding and...ugh! The updo was beautiful, but after all of the teasing, drying, curling, weaving, pinning and spraying...just to have it covered up by a veil? That was $75 that I could have easily saved. Plus, my hair was waist-length at the time & no one could tell. 

If I ever get married again (God willing), I'll be sure to wear my hair down so it can actually be seen.

The hair rat sounds like a good idea, though they can be tricky. You basically slide it down the length of your hair, almost to the ends, then just start rolling it up in your hair until you reach the scalp. Fasten the ends of the rat together, cover them and voilà! It takes a bit of practice, of course.

Hair pieces are available at most beauty supply stores. Just a simple braided piece that matches your own haircolour would look quite elegant around the bun. Just pin them discreetly in place.

Congrats Ollave!!!!!

You may find something at The Wedding Channel it's easy to register, and they help you to find a style that matches your veil, and dress.


Hope this helps

Ollave: I totally understand where you're coming from. My own hair tangles very easily when left down, as fine hair will.
    Still, if I ever remarry, I'll be wearing my hair down. I figure one day won't kill it!    I'll probably just end up haphazardly pinning pieces of it up with dead roses. I've even considered doing the hippie thing & just going with a half-up or a braided half-up with a small crown of white flowers around my head...no veil. 

Your hat sounds cute. Perhaps you could ask your mother or grandmother how they used to wear their hair up during that era. Just a thought.