Introduction to Project Brief

Charlotte Logue, 19, first year BA Hons Makeup and Hair Design student at Southampton Solent.

I personally have no experience in dealing with hair design, my own hair is a very short pixie crop so the concept of curling, teasing, backcombing and crimping is very unfamiliar to me. Of corse I have like most women attempted to curl hair for friends but with minimal success, however because of my lack of knowledge within this area of design I look forward to the challenge of completing a contemporary example of a historical hair design greatly. Through my previous studies of Fine Art and History I am personal very familiar with Elizabethan portraiture and therefore have previously evaluated the importance of hairstyles, makeup and costume within a historical painting. Perhaps most famous of all being the portraits of Elizabeth I whose hairstyles and wigs are iconic symbolisms of virginal feminine beauty and power depicted through the choice of elaborate wigs which were coloured using dyes of saffron to enhance the association of beauty and red toned hair. Despite my background in History and Fine Art I understand that the ability to study hairstyles and physically recreate them poses rather difficult, for this reason I look forward to learning both modern and historical methods to recreate the intricate designs of Elizabethan hairstyles and wigs. 
From the brief I am hoping to challenge myself both mentally and physically to think outside of my creative boundaries and push myself to create unique modern interpretations of Elizabethan design. However due to my lack of experience I am concerned with the concept that my hair skills will be inadequate of what I hope to achieve, however as I am a determined to push my weakness into strengths and work to achieve the high standards that I set myself. None the less I look forward to collaborating my historical and fine art knowledge with new hair skills to produce a unique interpretation of Elizabethan design.