Many people find the idea of keeping “dead” hair faintly grisly. If you’re not perturbed by it, making a hair rat can be a fun way to achieve old-fashioned hairstyles and recycle your hair.
What is a Hair Rat?
Hair rats are used to give extra oomph to certain hairstyles. They are simply some form of padding incorporated into the hairstyles – usually by combing hair over the top or tucking the rat beneath the waves – to give the impression of bountiful, abundant hair. As thick hair has traditionally been a sign of great beauty, rats were popular with thinner-haired women as well as those wearing “poofy” styles which required extra padding.
Benefits of Making Your Own Hair Rat
Women who aim for historically authentic period costumes and hairstyles may appreciate the old-time nature of real hair rats. Although foam rats can be bought today, rats made of real hair have several advantages:
- They are historically accurate
- If made from the wearer’s own hair, the rats match the hairstyle in colour and texture, making the rat less noticeable should the hairstyle slip a little and reveal a peek of rat
- Hair rats are more permeable than foam rats, allowing them to be secured more easily with hairpins
- Hair rats can be molded and squished into different shapes for different hairstyles
- Real hair is free and more eco-friendly than foam rats
- Hair rats often look more realistic – foam rats can be too perfect in shape, resulting in unnaturally stiff-looking hairdos
How to Make Your Own Hair Rat
Making a hair rat takes time. Start by collecting shed hair – the easiest way to do this is to brush you hair thoroughly with a boar bristle brush after detangling, then use a comb to comb the shed hairs out from the brush. Store the hairs in a ziplock bag until you have enough – depending on the length and thickness of your hair and how much you shed, this could take weeks or months.
When you think you have enough hair, roll it between your palms until it forms a firm ball. Then tweak, squeeze and roll until the hair forms a short sausage shape. This is your hair rat.
Securing Your Hair Rat
The rat can be used as-is, but to prevent pieces of hair from flying out it can be contained. Sew a hairnet that matches your hair colour shut around the rat to make a rat that looks natural and is easily pinned. Alternatively an old stocking can be used to contain the hair – this will hold the hair more secure, but will not match your hair as well and may be difficult to penetrate with bobby pins. Some people like to simply stitch around and through the rat in several places to hold it together.
Washing a Hair Rat
Hair rats shouldn’t require washing too often, but should they become greasy they can be gently hand-washed with shampoo in a sink of warm water. Leave the rats to dry thoroughly before storing.
Supplementing a Hair Rat
If your hair doesn’t shed fast enough to create a rat the size you want, you can supplement the rat with fake hair, cotton batting or some similar “filler” substance. Fillers like fabric scraps or batting should be firmly secured inside an old stocking to prevent them from escaping, while fake hair can be incorporated into a hairnet-held rat if it sufficiently matches your hair colour.
Sarah Tennant - Sarah Tennant is a onetime English major who lives in New Zealand with her husband and two small children. Her interests range from ...
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