Panamanian Hair Styles
Panama's traditional holiday costume for women, which is called a "pollara," consists of a fancy ruffled, tiered, off-the-shoulder blouse paired with a multi-layered, tiered long skirt. The pollara is worn for a variety of special occasions, including weddings; historians believe that its origins go back hundreds of years and may reflect the influence of Spanish fashion. Elaborate Panamanian hairpieces complement these festive outfits, including jeweled ornaments consisting of a tortoise-shell comb connected to gold and silver plaques, embellished with spun wire, pearls and gemstones forming an ethereal crown. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Part your hair down the middle from your front hairline to the back of your neck.
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2
Braid each side of your hair into two fat braids; tie off the ends with a small rubber band and ribbons.
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3
Take each of the two braided sections of hair, called "cocas" in Panama, and twist them into "pelotas," or buns, and mound them on either side of your head behind your ears.
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4
Secure the pelotas with bobby pins; hide them in strands of your hair.
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5
Add traditional adornments called "peinetas de balcon," or gold-encrusted combs made of tortoise shell, to complete your hairstyle. Place the peineta de balcon on top of your head toward the back so it sits up high. Attach it by sliding the long teeth of the comb into your hair near the skull.
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Place a "delores," an elongated, gold-encrusted hair ornament, over the side of your hair near your temples. Attach it with the comb portion by sliding the teeth into the hair over and behind your temples, and secure it with a few bobby pins.
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Attach a "tembleque de balcon" around the back and sides of your head with hair pins or bobby pins. This beautiful hair ornament is usually made from intricately worked gold and gems and wraps around the back and sides of the head, resembling a halo.
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Tips & Warnings
When the delores and the peinetas de balcon are both in place, the overall look is as if you are wearing a tiara or a crown of gold encrusted with gemstones and pearls.
Today, the peinetas de balcon might be made of faux tortoise shell; in most countries, it is illegal to kill tortoises because they are endangered. Collectors are often forbidden from importing items made from genuine tortoise shell into the United States.
