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The Moustache

Philip IV Spain. (2010) [online image] Available from:http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-HE1lR1mlb8/TBXCz3qZ9HI/AAAAAAAACkY/UQWGHdpNwBI/s1600/Philip_IV_of_Spain.jpg [Accessed: November 25th 2014]

I feel like the moustache in this portrait is much more focused around the styling, rather than having and elaborate shape or direction. Knotting it wasn't particularly complex or time consuming although I was a little unsure about what to do in the middle of the moustache. Typically, in real life, there is a small gap, but in the portrait it looks like the two parts meet, but are slightly lighter. So I decided to diffuse the hairs slightly in the middle so it wasn't as dense as the rest of the moustache, but so there is still contact between the two sides. The shape of the moustache above the lip wasn't to difficult to create, it's styling it that concerns me, as its such a defined shape. I'm also worried about it staying so upright with the weight of it and making it still look volumous, as its not very flat, and when you pinch hair working with product, it can squash it flat. 

I added volume to the base of the moustache using marcel tongs which I think lifted it quite well. I then used a combination of moustache wax and freeze spray to style the moustache into the upright position. I actually found positioning the pins helped a lot with this, as stray hairs would come out when I'd try and pull the moustache taught. They also kept all the shorter hairs in place after I cut it which kept poking free at the sides. I tried not to use too much product, as in the portrait his moustache looks quite soft and gentle. I'm happy with the styling of it overall, but I still need to see how it fits my model.

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