Unit Introduction

Project Title: Wig Wonderland

Hair styling/design and postiches are the two of the most important tools a make-up artist can work with because they can radically transform a person’s appearance.  This unit is designed to introduce the essential skills and techniques for hair styling and postiche application, including studio safety, health & hygiene. Students will be introduced to the technical and creative processes involved in the styling of hair and the application of postiches. Students will also learn about the historical contexts and cultural value relevant to the fashions in period and contemporary hair and wig styling.  Students will develop an awareness of research as the basis of creative design development and establish the relationship between research, design and realisation required for a successful project outcome.

AREAS OF STUDY

• Introduction to the basic principles wigmaking, styling and maintenance.
• Health and hygiene and safe working practice within the studio:
• Introduction to wig making
• Introduction to the use of wigs and the versatility of postiche with a background of period hair and wig styling
• Introduction to textual and visual research sources for wigs and postiche.
• Design development and realisation

Creative Wigs

Directors, designers and stylists often choose to change a persons image using wigs and postiche.
In this project we are going to explore how and why wigs and postiche are used to transform a modal or performer into the character that they are playing. Often an individual may need to change their appearance several times during a performance or catwalk show or photo shoot and we will look at how wigs and postiche make this possible. You are to document your findings and ideas through sketch blogs.

You are to choose a decade from the last 100 years. Research that decade, what social and cultural influences reflected on how people wore their hair at that time.
For the first part of the project you must create a historically accurate hairstyle using the acrylic wig that you have purchased to change your modals appearance and transform them into another decade. Think about the character of your modal, who are they and why have you chosen to style them in this way? For example are they a 1950's housewife, or a 70's hippy, or are they a punk rebel? You can use costume and make-up to support your final look.

The second part of your project is to create a modern, fashion hairstyle based on the decade that you have chosen. This image can be for the cover of of a high fashion magazine or to be used at a catwalk show. You might want to go extreme and create an over the top version of the historical hair style that you created. Or you may just want to use some subtle hints that reflect the essence of your decade. Again you can use make-up and props to support your final image.

Your sketch blogs must record your journey through this project. Document and critique your ideas, what worked? and what didn't? and why? it should contain a mixture of drawings, imagery, cultural and historical research and an exploration of your ideas. Include hair charts of your designs and ideas.