V201: How To Make a Hedgehog Hairstyle With Your Own Hair

The late 18th century “hedgehog” hairstyle is one of the easiest coifs to create, though is can seem daunting at first.  You can create this style on wigs or hairpiece, but also on your very own hair, and here’s how:

You will need:

• Chin-length or longer hair  (if you are using your real hair)
• Setting lotion (like Lotta Body)
• Curlers
• A variety of brushes
• Teasing comb or brush
• Hairspray
• Hair extension

Curl

1) First, curl your hair.  I find that a wet-set works the best because you want a very strong, tight curl.  Wrap your hair in the smallest curlers you have, then let it dry – sleep on it, or sit under a hood dryer until completely dry all the way through the curl.

Brush

2) Brush out the curls – I start with a regular brush with plastic brushy-bits, but then to go super fluffy, I use a bristle brush.

3) Next, start teasing/back combing your hair.  I like to use either a teasing bristle brush, or a rat-tail comb.  The goal here is to tease the base of the hair, and leave the curly ends in tact.  You are forming a matted, full rat over your scalp, upon which the curls will rest.

For big-ass volume, you can use rats, bump-its, or any height-inducing device, and work your hair over it.   Be sure to spray the heck out your hedgehog – upside down works great, to maintain height.

Tease, and add an extension

4) Lastly, pin or clip in an extension piece, for the long tail ladies often wore with hedgehog styles.  I like to use hanks of ponytail hair, or braid hair, found at Sally Beauty Supply (any local beauty supply will have them).  You can go for a single curl, a double curl on each side, a cadogan loop (you need very long braid hair for this), two straight hanks on each side, a straight hank down the back – lots of possibilities and opportunities to customize your ‘hog.

The Finished Look

5) Now add your hat, head wrap, flowers, giant bow, whatever you like, and you’re done!