Before the Beehive

November 6, 2014 3:18 PM

Hairdresser Janet Stephens recreates historic hairstyles, such as those worn by vestal virgins and Queen Cleopatra.
posted by chrchr (8 comments total)

Ah, Seni Crines, we meet again! Previously, also about Stephens's wonderful and offbeat forensic hairdressing.
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:39 PM on November 6, 2014

Needs more images!
posted by monospace at 3:43 PM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

She's so great! She did a presentation for an organization I volunteered with, and she was just fantastic and full of really excellent ideas and enthusiasm. So many museum visitors left with empress hairstyles!
posted by jetlagaddict at 4:39 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

After the last thread on her, I attempted a few of the hairdos she shows that work on women with mid-length hair, and they have been big hits. This classical Greek hairdo is easy to do with modern elastic around-the-head headbands and/or decorative scarves and I got a lot of comments on how attractive it was.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:56 PM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

Sewn in braids are a thing for sure, people still do them on horses and I've seen in braids in my own hair with yarn before to make an up do stay tidy (damn curls). I use a crochet hook thing and yarn though, not a needle and thread.
posted by fshgrl at 4:59 PM on November 6, 2014

In 2005, she had a breakthrough. Studying translations of Roman literature, Ms. Stephens says, she realized the Latin term "acus" was probably being misunderstood in the context of hairdressing. Acus has several meanings including a "single-prong hairpin" or "needle and thread," she says. Translators generally went with "hairpin."
[…]
He showed it to an expert, who found the needle-and-thread theory "entirely original," says Mr. Humphrey, whose own scholarly work has examined arenas for Roman chariot racing.

Kinda sounds like someone should just give her a master's - or at least a bachelor's - degree right there and then.
posted by pmv at 6:16 PM on November 6, 2014 [3 favorites]

Sewn in braids are a thing for sure, people still do them on horses

Also on people. Like, a lot.
posted by SassHat at 10:43 AM on November 7, 2014

Do they still sew in braids on people? I only had one friend who did it and she's gone to some glue stuff instead. Years ago she sewed in a French Twist like braided thing in my hair for a dance and it was the best hairdo I've ever had. My hair scoffs at clips, pins and other confinement. I wish I could find someone who would do updos for me when I need to look grown-up
posted by fshgrl at 8:52 PM on November 7, 2014