Gothic Haircuts for Warmer Months

Welcome to the third issue of Goth Style Tips Newsletter. In this issue are tips about gothic haircuts whether your hair is long or short for warm weather and how to incorporate Gothic elements in an office environment as well as caring for PVC garments from gothic designer of Decadent Designs.

Olga Lipnipski of Decadent Designs – www.decadentdesigns.ca

1. When did you get started as a Gothic designer?

I began designing and sewing clothes about eight years ago. I was residing in
South Africa at the time and there were not really any stores to purchase the kind of garments I wanted to wear. So I decided that I was going to learn how to make them myself and that is how I started. Later I made custom-made garments for others in our Gothic community.

Olga Lipnipski in PVC dress, Gothic Designer

2. What drew you to create gothic and vintage-inspired designs for women?

I was involved in the Goth scene and frequently attended Goth and alternative theme events in my city. I was absolutely in love with the style of clothing the girls wore to the clubs, as there were so many diverse outfits and styles to be inspired by. But I think my passion for alternative clothing began much earlier than that. As I child I was fascinated by the Victorian era and the lavish dresses of that time. A couple of years ago, I also spent some time selecting vintage clothes and found a lot of inspiration from that too.

3. What is your advice in making gothic elements as a personal expression fit into an office environment?

Even though some places of work are very conservative, you can still express your personal style when dressing for work. I would suggest choosing well-cut fitted jackets, made from velvety fabrics or brocades and knee-length pencil skirts that are embellished with some kind of trim. There are actually quite a number of ways to look appropriate for the office. Just stay true to your individual style and be creative!

4. Many Decadent Design pieces are made of PVC. How do you care for this type of fabric?

About half of the Decadent Designs collection is made from PVC. There is just something about that fabric that our customers love and it is both suitable for the Goth and the fetish market. PVC cannot be machine-washed. It must be hand washed in lukewarm water and then drip-dried.

5. There are quite a few corset-styled tops in your catalog. Are they suitable for all body types?

All of the corset-styled tops, as well as the corsets are great for any body type. It depends on your personal taste whether you prefer a more flexible bustier-type garment or a more stringent and heavily boned corset. All of our garments can be ordered to be custom-made for no extra charge. (Details are on the "Custom Page".)

6. What do you see are the upcoming trends in gothic fashion?

Gothic fashion has changed and evolved quite a lot over the years, from the Victorian-inspired look to Cybergoth. In my opinion it will continue to change, becoming more functional for every day life. I also predict a more sophisticated, high fashion trend emerging in the near future, catering not only to the Gothic subculture, but also to celebrities and musicians who are seeking a unique look.

Olga Lipnipski in PVC corset top, Gothic Designer

Gothic haircuts

Goth hair is usually not one tone unless it is black. It includes colors like red, purple, and even blond. It is best to chose a gothic haircut that suits your face and one that you can play around with for different looks. One style is long flowing hair with strands going anywhere they want. The second is high and poofy hair that floats around the head. Other styles include wild ones that are made into different shapes such has horns and liberty spikes with firm hair product.

Depending on the specific style, hairstyles in the big hair categories may require styling, cutting, or treatment techniques. Big gothic hairstyles often requires backcombing or teasing and the liberal application of styling aids such as moulding mud, hair spray and hair gel, often in combination with the use of hair dryers. Crimping irons, curling irons, perms, hair rollers or other techniques may also be required for longer hair to help it stay big.

If your hair is longer, the weight may make it difficult to achieve the desired volume in warm weather. You’ll need to go to a salon and have your hair thinned or textured. With texturizing, your hairstylist is cutting fine wisps of hair at an angle into a variety of fine layers to remove the excessive weight. You will be amazed at how much of a difference it can make. Also, styling products such as a molding mud can provide volume for gothic hairstyles, but beware of build-up as it takes away bounce and shine. Use a clarifying shampoo once a month to remove the product residue. And longer hair must be trimmed regularly (every six weeks) to stay healthy and to prevent split ends from traveling up the hair shaft.

If your hair is longer and really heavy, even with texturizing, a metal hair band can lift the hair from behind into a messy updo. You can conceal the hairpiece by styling hair around the hair band. This will give the illusion of added volume in the back as well as creating uneven lengths around for that classic Goth do.

There are also sleek gothic haircuts for those who are on the other end of the spectrum, but still want a gothic hairstyle. For this version, the hair is sleek and usually presented in a more lighter type setting. As it can also be shorter, you can skip the crimping or curling and just utilize backcombing with firm hold sprays, gels or other styling products to enhance a spiky style for a variety of gothic looks and styles.

Gothic haircuts

For more information on gothic haircuts and goth, read “Step-by-Step Essential Guide to that Elusive Gothic Look & Style”.

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