Belly Dancer Hairstyles

You can vary your hairstyle to suit your costume and mood.

Add a touch of pizzazz to your belly dance ensemble with a spectacular hairstyle. Wear your hair up or down as the mood strikes. Your hairstyle choices are limited only by your imagination -- there are endless ways to keep your hair out of your eyes while enchanting your audience. There are a few basic hairstyles to start with that you can personalize for each performance.

The Bun

Embellish buns with flowers, clips or scarves.

Wet your hair and hands with a spray bottle. Brush the hair to get rid of knots. Pull all the hair back and hold it in one hand. Brush from root to tip. When all the hair is gathered and brushed, tie it into a tight pony tail. The pony should be in the position where you want the bun to be. Twist the pony tail while coiling it around the hair elastic. Insert bobby pins around the bun to hold it in place. Use gel to smooth down errant strands. If you have short hair, opt for a low bun or two buns on either side of your head.

Half Updo

Keep your hair off your face by securing it with a barrette.

This hairstyle is perfect for the belly dancer who wants to keep her hair off her face while showing off her locks. Use a comb to part your hair from one ear, over the crown to the other. Brush the bottom hair down. Gather the top hair in one hand. Use a comb or brush to comb it backward until it is free of knots. Use a barrette to secure the hair at the crown. Curl or straighten the bottom hair, and embellish the look with scarves, beads, flowers or feathers. If you have short hair, use bobby pins to secure the sides and prevent loose strands from escaping. Gel can also be used to keep hair in place.

Leave it Loose

Leave most of your hair down if you like to swish it around when you dance. Brush it out and make sure it is freshly shampooed and in good condition. You can straighten it with a flat iron or curl it with curlers or a curling iron. Secure your locks with hair spray. You'll still want to keep your hair off your face, so tie a scarf around your head to keep your hair back. Roll the scarf into a long, thin roll. Lay it over the crown and tie it under your hair at the hairline. You can also use a headband to keep your hair back.

Wear a Snood

A snood will cover your hair and is usually lavishly adorned.

A snood is a kind of ornate hairnet. These work well on days when you don't have time to do your hair or if you have very short hair. A snood is a hairnet that fits over your whole head and hides your hair. Usually brightly colored and adorned with beads, sequins or other embellishments, snoods make a fine addition to any belly dancing costume. If you have long hair, make a bun or braid at the back of your head along your hairline. Place the snood over your head. It should lie along your hairline. Secure it with bobby pins.

References

• Shira: Costuming for Yoru Hair
• Peabody: How to Make a Ballet Bun
• Hairstyle Teacher: Half Updo

Resources

• Meta Cafe: Belly Dancer Costumes, Hair Styles and Make Up
• Hair Styles All: Dance Hairstyles