Today we did crimping and the difference between backcombing and using a prop/rat to give the hair the shape. Today we were trying to create the 'heart shape' hair style that was common in Elizabethan upper class women.

We started off by crimping both sides and then backcombing 1 side to compare the difference. When we brushed out the hair after crimping it the hair expanded anyway, so adding back comb to it made the hair extremely volumised. I found that it was easier to mould the hair  that was backcombed to the shape i wanted and to pin it in place using the pinning technique we learned with the buns. It had a lot more volume that the opposite side and a softer overall effect on the hair. (Middle picture: Left hand side)

The opposite side we used a prop / rat to create the shape in the hair by rolling it down the hair. The prop we used was a pair of tights rolled up, you can change the shape and size to whatever you need for the hairstyle you are doing. Pinning it in place again using the pinning technique we learnt with buns.
Another way to secure the prop into place is to create a french plait (as shown in the right hand side picture) and pin the prop to the french plait and then secure the hair in position over it. This gave a very harsh effect to the hair but more of a structured shape. However, because i didn't crimp close enough to the root of the hair you can see where the straight hair stops and the crimp begins. That is where i can improve next time.