Wonderful, pretty, HAIR! No outfit is complete without it.
In Korea your rank and social standing was reflected in your dress and hair. Just as Medieval Europe had sumptuary law so did Korea. Much of Korean society was based on Confucianism. By understanding Confucianism we can better understand Korea.
There were 13? levels to the social structure of Medieval Korea. I do not know them all but a good overall view is as follows:
Royalty
Yangban - Nobility and high ranking military
Joong-in - Middle people
Sang-min - Common
In the SCA we all start out as lesser Lords and Ladys. As we have fun, we earn rank, something that did not really happen in Medieval society. How does this relate to our hair? Your rank in the SCA can be reflected in your Korean dress and hair. After all the SCA also has sumptuary laws.
You can be any class you wish but I recommend the Joong-in or Yangban class. I would not dress as the Royalty unless you or your significant other is a Royal Peer. My significant other is Count Yoan Moon Yang which is the only reason why I wore the Wonsam (ceremonial top coat) and Gache (wig) that is in my profile picture.
I am going to outline the hair style by rank as would reflect SCA rank. This is just a recommendation and you do not have to do this. After all the idea is to look FABULOUS!
Men
Simple - Until they were married they wore their hair in a simple braid. When they marry, they wore their hair in a top knot. Done!
Women
Little girls and unmarried ladys**. [I have just read in Korean Heritage Vol II by Hollym that a girls hair would be rolled into a chignon and pinned with a pinyo or Binyeo when she turned 15 as a right of passage. Was this true in period? Maybe after all young ladies were usually married by 16. :) will update as I learn more.] Also wore a simple braid tied with a Daenggi (red ribbon). I have my daughters do this along with a Baetssi - hair ornament on top of the head. I do not know whether the Baetssi is period but it is such a nice touch that is SO Korean.
For these next hair styles I recommend getting pony tail extensions if your hair is no long enough.
For Women who do not want little girl hair and Non-AOA hoders. A simple hair style would work such as this one. My own hair is in a simple bun with the hair extension wrap around my head with a red ribbon.
AOA level holders
I braid my hair into a pony tail then add my pony tail extension and then wrap my own hair around the extension.
I then add my cheopji (a hair ornament for ladys) securing it to the sides and back of my pony tail. I also do not know if this is period but is also a nicevery Korean touch. There are simple ones and very pretty ones. The one shown is much more ornate and best for a GOA holders or higher.
I then wrap the extension around my pony tail pinning it as I go.
And there is a basic hair style. At this point for AOA holders I would add a simple Binyeo (hair stick)
GOA Holders
Once you receive your grant level award you can add more BLING like these to your hair.
Peerage and Royalty
Lots more BLING! I joke with my friends that if I do not have 10 pounds of BLING in my hair then I am under-dressed. :) Arrange your pretties until you are happy and enjoy the day.
Now keep in mind this is all just a recommendation and you can make your hair as pretty as you like. :) The most important element is the bun and in my opinion the Binyeo.
