|| Elizabethan Hair ||

One of the fashions during the Elizabethan era was the use of hats, scarves, and other things that would typically cover a portion of the hair. This was typical and was a great way of giving enough shade to the face to keep it pale white. Not all hair was covered. Usually it was very elaborate and would still be very visible. Royalty would almost always have large crowns or jewels composed into the hair. Even upper class would adorn their hair with such things. Lower classes of course could not afford such things. 

With time, the hairstyles of the middle and upper classes had become quite elaborate.  Led by their fashion-conscious queen, the ladies of England padded, curled, dyed, and ornamented their hair. The English women of the era were loyal to Elizabeth, and flame-red hair was the most popular colour for women. This was done even though the ingredients in the hair dyes were often very poisonous. 

Elizabeth herself seemed to have favoured curled hair, sometimes padded with "rats" (which were pads made of hair, shaped to help create the high styles).  They are called rats because they're roughly shaped like a rat - pointed on one end (the nose), high and rounded on the other (the haunches of the rat).  Though she wore wigs in her later years because of Pox that she went through, Elizabeth continued to wear the high curled style until her death.  

HATS

Queen Anne Boleyn wearing a french hood 

There was a number of hats people wore. One of the most famous was the French hood introduced by Anne Boleyn. These enhanced the gowns and emphasised the higher foreheads as they were always put at the end of the head and no where near the hairline. The edges were often adorned with pearls or glass jewels, called bilaments, and a veil covered the back of the hair. 

Example of a coif

The Coif was worn by the children. It was made out of plain white linen and it was a close fitting cap tied under the chin area. Coifs were often worn under other hats to keep the hair in place.

Mary Queen of Scots

The Atifet was very similar to the French hood but it consisted of a heart shaped crescent- favoured in white by Mary Queen of Scots (pictured on the right). 

Example of a hair net

The caul an Elizabethan style hair net. It was made of fabric and often decorated with for example pearls. 

The pillbox hat

The pillbox hat often had a veil attached to it. ->

*Reference:

Alchin, L.K.

 Elizabethan Erae.g. Retrieved May 16 2012 from www.elizabethan-era.org.uk

Men were equally as picky with their hairstyles. The era's fashion for men started out with very short hair, but towards the end you frequently saw longer hair on men. However, longer hair for men was always curly and had a short appearance. As well, beards were very popular among men throughout the era. They could be fixed a numerous amount of ways, but were often very long.

Source:http://www.elizabethanenglandlife.com/elizabethan-hairstyles.html