Page:Fancy dresses described, or, What to wear at fancy balls (1887).djvu/18

 the peasantry sell their hair, a close-fitting cap hides all deficiencies. In Norway, the women wear the hair plaited and pinned close to the head, or allow the plaits to hang down. The Swedes turn it over a cushion, and let it fall in curls. The Poles dress it in two long plaits, the Russians braid it round the head. Marguerite, in Faust, wears two pendant plaits tied with ribbon. A Vivandière has hers rolled in a coil, or in plaits: Britannia, floating on the shoulders, like Undine, Winter, Snow, Fairies, &c., but in their case it should be powdered with frosting, applied by shaking the powder well over, after damping with thin white starch. A Normandy Peasant should have the hair flat on the forehead, and in broad looped-up plaits at the back. A Puritan has a close coiffure, and a coil or short chignon is best beneath the cap. For Ophelia, it should float on the shoulders, entwined with flowers. The hair is worn hanging down the back for Berengaria, Gipsy, Druidess, Elaine, Fairy, Fenella, Peace, République Française, &c.

With regard to Historical Characters, up to Queen Elizabeth's time the hair was parted in the middle, and either allowed to float on the shoulders or was bound up under a coif; Elizabeth introduced frizzing and padding. For Marie Stuart it should be turned over side-rolls, so as to fill the vacuum beneath the velvet head-dress. During the time of the Stuarts, a crop of curls was worn over the forehead, and long ringlets at the back. As people desire to look their best at fancy balls, it is advisable to adapt the style required as much as possible to the usual method of dressing the front hair, leaving the more marked change for the back.

With regard to Powdering, it is best, if possible, not to have recourse to wigs, they are heavy and unbecoming. It is far better to powder the hair itself, using violet powder, and plenty of pomatum before applying it; it entails, however, a great deal of trouble in subsequently removing the powder. The head may be covered with a thick soap lather. The powder