Renaissance Hair Style Basics

• Bathing was not the kind of activity you could perform every day during the Renaissance. It wasn't abnormal for the average person to wash their hair once every few weeks or months. Most Renaissance hairstyles work best with dirty hair. The styles are elaborate and meant to last for days or weeks at a time. The most popular looks during this period almost always involved intricate braiding. Women also dressed up the various styles by adding ribbons and/or beads.
  
  

Braided Side-Buns

• Creating a braided bun on each side of the head was another popular hairstyle during the renaissance. In modern times, the style is usually referred to as the "Princess Leia," look. To create the style, your hair needs to be split into right and left sections. Each side should be tightly braided. The braid is then coiled around into a disk shape against the side of the head and pinned into place. This look was usually paired with a set of beaded, silk hair nets that slipped over each bun.
  
  

Italian Hair Taping

• Italian hair taping can be done in a few different ways. Whatever the exact method, the style involves twisting strands of hair around long pieces of ribbon. The hair is always twisted for hair taping, never braided. The hair is either left long to look like a fancy braid, wrapped around the top of the head to look like a crown or wrapped in a low oval at the back of the head to look like a bun.
  
  

Multiple Braids

• Multiple braids and multiple braiding techniques can be used to create a huge variety of Renaissance hair styles. For example, you could split your hair into six sections, French braiding each one separately. Take three sections on the left and create a simple braid. Repeat the process with the three braids on the right. Take the left and right braids and loop them together into a bun at the base of the neck. Secure the bun in place with pins.
  
  

Wrap-Around Braid

• The wrap-around braid hairstyle only works with very long hair. Your hair should be split into two sections, one on the right and the other on the left. Each section should be pulled back and braided tightly. The left braid should pull towards the back of your head and wrap around to the right side. The right braid should wrap around to the left side. The ends of the braids should be tucked under and pinned in place. Additional pins may be required to keep the hair secure.