• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
  • The Cut Shop
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • The State of the Uterus
  • Parenting
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Horoscopes
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
hair onscreen
January 18, 2017

A Tribute to Victoria’s Gloriously Over-the-top Updos

By Anna Silman

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet

One big problem with the era of peak TV: Everybody has the same hair. Thank God, then, for PBS’s Victoria. A historical drama about Queen Victoria (Jenna Coleman) and her ascent to the throne at 18 years old, Victoria is a rare oasis of interesting hair in a desert of identical bouncy blowouts.

Of course, one’s teenage years are always a rich period of hair experimentation (remember butterfly clips?), but it turns out that rich 19th-century teens, what with their regular ball-attendance and absence of blow-dryers, were even more ambitious than the rest. The first episode shows Queen V. developing her signature lewk — two braids looped around the ears to meet in the back — while hair-accessorizing like a mad genius and populating her court with a cornucopia of equally eclectic updos.

So next time you go to the hairdresser, don’t go for a blowout or slicked-back ponytail: Show up with a fistful of ribbons, flowers, and jewels and ask for one of these innovative Victorian-inspired dos instead.

View
1 / 20 Photos
The whole squad on point. Victorian etiquette 101: Squads that primp together, stay together. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Bangers-'N-Mash. As you'll soon see, interesting ear flourishes seem to be a popular Victorian hair trend. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Braid-y-in-Waiting. See? Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Westminster Pine Cone. The wider, the better. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Edible Arrangement. But if you can't go wide ... go high. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Prim-cess Leia. Victoria's governess favors a more traditional set of ear buns. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The 'Business in the Front, Party in the Back' Before Queen Victoria ascended to the throne, she kept her hair simple, at least by 19th-century s... The 'Business in the Front, Party in the Back' Before Queen Victoria ascended to the throne, she kept her hair simple, at least by 19th-century standards. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Classic Victoria. But upon becoming queen, she inaugurated her signature braid-around-the-ear look. (Much like empire-building and strict mor... The Classic Victoria. But upon becoming queen, she inaugurated her signature braid-around-the-ear look. (Much like empire-building and strict moral standards, exposed ears were kind of her thing).  Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Victoria as shot for the cover of Rolling Stone. Long before Kim Kardashian, Queen V was an early adopter of the wet-hair aesthetic. ... The Victoria as shot for the cover of Rolling Stone. Long before Kim Kardashian, Queen V was an early adopter of the wet-hair aesthetic. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
Fruity Victoria. A sprig of berries doubles as a convenient midday snack. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
Haute Victoria. Sparkly! Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Victoria, Boss Level. Don't try this look at home (or you'll get hanged for treason). Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Up-Hairs Down-Hairs. Victoria's dresser, Miss Skerrett, helped establish the Queen's signature look by constructing a fancier version of her ... The Up-Hairs Down-Hairs. Victoria's dresser, Miss Skerrett, helped establish the Queen's signature look by constructing a fancier version of her own hairstyle.  Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Windsor Twist. When it's too cold for exposed ears. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Works. A cardinal rule of Victorian updos: You can never have too many hair accessories. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Fusilli Alfredo. Dramatic curls were also a popular look. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Fusilli Bauble-naise. Shiny! Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Buckingham Frizz. Poofy! Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Blooming Orchid. This is a look that the Queen Mother wears to bed.  Photo: Courtesy of PBS
The Royal Bedhead. Because even teen royals need to give their scalps a rest sometimes. Photo: Courtesy of PBS
1 / 20

Tags:

  • cut homepage lede
  • victoria
  • pbs
  • hair onscreen
  • beauty
  • hairy situations
  • More

More Galleries

grammys 2023 Yesterday at 5:11 p.m.
Every Look From the 2023 Grammys Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Adele, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, and more.
By Brooke LaMantia
Jan. 10, 2023
All the Looks From the 2023 Golden Globes  Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jenna Ortega, Jessica Chastain, Julia Garner, Jeremy Allen White, Angela Bassett, and more. 
parties! Sept. 23, 2022
Katie Holmes, Chloë Sevigny, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Chanel, Mejuri, and more celebrate. 
parties! Sept. 16, 2022
Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Fendi, Frame, and Coach all celebrated NYFW. 
emmys 2022 Sept. 12, 2022
Emmys 2022: All the Red Carpet Looks  Updating: What Hollywood is wearing to the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. 
By Olivia Luppino
nyfw spring 2023 Sept. 9, 2022
Gigi Hadid, Chlöe Bailey, and More of the Bestest Party Pics of the Week  Saks Fifth Avenue, Longchamp, and more celebrate the beginning of NYFW. 
rip Sept. 9, 2022
The Queen Sure Did Love to Color-Coordinate  Monochrome for decades. 
red carpet Sept. 6, 2022
The Venice Film Festival Is a Major Fashion Event  Valentino and Gucci and Armani, oh my. 
red carpet June 5, 2022
All the Best Looks at the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards  Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Hudgens, Jay Ellis, and more! 
parties! May 20, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Harry Styles > everyone! 
parties! May 13, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Bury me in Dove Cameron’s Saint Sintra skirt. 
parties! May 6, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Cue the Met Gala after-party FOMO. 
met gala 2022 May 2, 2022
Met Gala 2022: All the Looks [Photos]  Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Yeoh, Hailey Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Blake Lively, and more. 
parties! Apr. 29, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  This one goes to Olivia Rodrigo and her sweater vest. 
parties! Apr. 22, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  “Fuck those Zoom tops.” 
celebrity style Apr. 18, 2022
The Best Looks From Coachella 2022  From Harry Styles’s sparkling Gucci set to Megan Thee Stallion’s metallic bodysuit. 
style Apr. 13, 2022
A Look Inside the New Museum’s Spring Gala  Featuring all the best looks. 
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
Grammy Awards 2022 Red Carpet: All the Looks  Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and more. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 28, 2022
How Were The Oscars After Party Looks Better Than The Actual Award Looks?  Finally, some fun. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 27, 2022
All the Looks From the 2022 Oscars Red Carpet  Zendaya, Regina Hall, Timothée Chalamet, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Ariana DeBose, and more. 
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • About The Cut
  • About New York Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.