Posted by Kathy_S on September 23, 2006 at 16:09:56 from 24.223.129.214 user kschmid.
In Reply to: Re: Girls' Hairstyles posted by Pam Adams on September 22, 2006 at 17:12:05:
I agree on the regionality front. Here one, two or even a few more braids count as pigtails or braids, while bunches of loose hair are ponytails regardless of number or position. I know, though, that the Chaletian Bulletin Board came to the conclusion that Elinor Brent-Dyer only counted it a ponytail -- shocking hairstyle to be discouraged -- if it was one tail high on the head. Tieing back at the nape of the neck was respectable in her eyes.
I think Fiona was spot on with her description of the two tails - one tail - hair up progression, though, during a period that began to end here in the 1920s.
A lot of people I know do regularly wear their hair in pigtails when camping. So much less likely to get impossible tangles or end up stuck in the pack straps than if loose or in ponytails.
Did AR ever give a name to the pigtails in all the illustrations of male Chinese in Missee Lee? The grasshopper catcher in the foreground of his picture has a particularly fine specimen. I tried skimming, but found lots of descriptions of hats and clothes and facial hair, and none of the pigtails.