I wear a bumper bang most days because it’s quick and easy and cute (yes, it really is 5 min hair!). When I’m out and about I get asked about my hair ALL the time! People seem really interested in the bumper bang and I get loads of compliments. So instead of trying to explain on the fly, I decided I’d share the secrets hidden in my hair! In this post I am going to show you how I make the filler or hair rat I use to form my hair and I’ll follow up with a second post (it’s right here!) where I show you how I use it to do my do!
These days we are completely comfortable with hair extensions and other hair pieces and I guess in a way, it seems rather modern. But let me tell you, ladies have been faking that volume through history! Many would use their own hair, saved from brushes in a hair receiver and wrapped in a stocking or hair net. But dyed wool or other fibres were used too. This quaint article on dyeing wool roving explains just how to do it. I’m lucky to have mostly black hair (I have a natural white/grey streak in my fringe) so it’s easy to colour match. I’m pretty sure that war time gals used whatever they thought would work. Here in modern day, we have lots of choices, there are all sorts of fillers (in loads of colours) that I have watched other people use to create awesome rolls. This is just about what I’ve found that works for me.
I am terrible at hair styling! I get bored if things take too long and I have no real commitment. I also refuse to tease my hair (well, only on special occasions) and I hate having to take out a bunch of pins at the end of the day. So, when I was trying to make the bumper bang work for me, I watched loads of YouTube tutorials and then tried pretty much every kind filler out. At first, I favoured a French roll filler but because it’s wider at the ends, it kinda made a funky shape in my roll. I loved it because the metal inside was position-able and that was easy. Those girls who can just pin the roll into position are clearly magic because I rely on that metal/wire part to make a nice shape. If you can make one, easily purchased thing work for you, you have all my respect. In the end, I put two separate hair things together to form my personal ultimate hair roll!
Let’s make this! I start out with a fairly large hair donut and one of those French roll things. Both can be found super cheap on eBay or in cheapy shops, this lot cost me the whopping sum of $4.50. We are going to go in for destruction but trust me it will come together in the end. Good scissors and a needle and thread are the only other things you’ll need. I prefer fat embroidery floss over regular thread but both with work just fine.
First, we peel the foam away from the French roll thing, we just want the metal inside it. Pick it completely clean. Then we cut into that donut! Shove the metal bit into the hair donut. Sometimes you can go down the middle, sometimes only under the first layer, do what you can. Make sure the metal bit is centred along the length as best you can. Now stitch up the cut ends of the hair donut. I sort of secure the edges first and then pinch the end in and sew it down.
The best things about this hair roll are:
- even width of roll
- posable wire
- less hairpins but still able to be pinned through/down.
- I love this hair roll so much!
This filler and a couple of clips are all the hardware I need for my vintage 5 minute hair. I have a few of these hair rat/fillers and they make it so easy to get ready every day. My hair can go from fluffy mess to polished so quickly! I never knew that hair could be this cute and easy. Bumper bangs make me so hair happy because I just can’t cut a short fringe, it’s not how my hair works. But I can have bumper bangs everyday with not teasing or damage. If you want to see how I use this hair filler/rat to do my signature do, just stay tuned because I have a tutorial post coming right up right here! If you have a super easy vintage do, please tell me all about it in the comments. Oh and please tell me if you struggle with vintage hair, I want support lol xxx
4 Comments
Can’t wait to see exactly how you use this!@!!
It’s coming very soon!
This is a great idea! I’ve tried using pipe cleaners but they arnt sturdy – I’m going to give that metal thing a try (thankyou!)
It’s the only thing that I can make work! I hope it works just as well for you xx