Tutorial for a classic chignon

I love to play around with my hair, and has been attempting to create a classic chignon. I made an attempt in October, based on a tutorial from Brittany at Va-Voom vintage. I wasn't 100% happy with it though, and has been working on altering it to work with hair of different lengths and thicknesses. Now, just in time for Valentine's day, here's a version of the classic chignon! (Disclaimer: By no means the definitive or perfect version, just a version =) ).

If the text ends here, click on the blog title to continue reading... If the text continues, you're on the right page =)

Starting point: Hair a bit curly by your favorite method that works with your hair. I prefer hot rolls or 2nd/3rd day pin curls when I'm doing an up-do, but that very much differs from person to person. Here my hair is in 3rd day pin curls, my ultimate starting point.

The front is done as you like, here I've done a bang-roll and two small rolls at the sides. One can also do a pompadour, or victory rolls, or basically anything that gathers up all hair from the front of the head.

Start by sectioning off the upper half of the hair that's loose. Secure with an elastic into a ponytail, not too tight.

Using your fingers or a loop, pull the tail through it self.

Looks like this when done. Make sure it's not too high up on the head!

Roll just the pony-tail around a hair-rat, stop just below the elastic. My rat's are approx 2-3 cm in diameter and maybe 8 cm long, but both smaller and bigger rats can be used! All according to preference =)

Secure the rat. I like to use one long bobby pin and secure the ends of the rat to the head with a horizonthal movement.

Then I use hair pins diagonally both from above and beneth to make sure it stays in place. Apply hairspray (this will be the only chance to do so on this section).

So far, I've mainly kept to Brittany's tutorial, but from here on it's all my method! On both sides, section off a small piece from just behind the ears. Clip them out of the way.

Take all the hair that's left (should be peaking out from beneth the rat). Roll it up on a second rat, keeping the angle horizontal to the neck, or even angled more upwards (hard to do on one's own).

Aim the second rat to land just above the first, so it covers the twist-y "V". Hold in place, and secure with long bobby pins and with hair pins, like with the first rat.

If needed, carefully use fingers or a comb to spread the hair so it covers the entire length of the rat. It does not need to cover the sides of the rat! Hairspray the sides.

Now there's only a strand of hair behind each ear left. For each strand, roll it into a pin curl. It works best if the hair ir pulled straight back and rolled "up".

Aim the roll to land just next to the two rats, covering the sides of the rats. Secure the roll with small bobby pins. Hairspray all the way around, smooth stray hair into place.

And it's done!

There's a ton of good tutorials out there, so many that I almost didn't post this... However, what's nice about this method is that it's fairly easy on the hair, there's no teasing needed. Also, it works on fine "scandinavian" hair (my hair is thick and takes curls really well, but it's still hard to pin in an up-do). I've tested the 'do on a friend with superfine, thin, silky, hiplong hair, and it worked!

This hair-do is great as a background for decorative pieces!

It's certainly do-able for the beginners, but would take a bit of practice. The equipment is rather basic, some different pins and an elastic. The rats may not be on everyone's dressing table, but they are super easy to make! From Brittany I got the tip to use a "dougnut-roll" to make a bunch of smaller, more useful hair-rats. As the dougnut roll is super-popular right now (at least here in Sweden) they can be found anywhere, in different colours and sizes. I haven't even bothered to sew mine shut, I just let the hair-pins hold them together. The loop I don't know where to buy internationally, but for swedish readers: "Glitter" carries them.

There you go! A fairly quick up-do that looks much more complicated than it is, and that can be done on those days when the curls no longer look their best but you're not ready to wash them out =) Have fun with it, and if you test the how'to, I'd love it if you'd let me know how it worked and what you thought of the result!

And last, a warm thank you to my sister Kajsa who helped me take all the photo's for this post!

Love, Erika