PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

On the other hand, it gets hot and sweaty during a long performance. And it hides a lot of your face and body. When a dancer turns her back to me and all I can see is a curtain of hair, I'm frustrated because I want to see her costume and her moves.

You're right that hip-length hair will bring the eyes of the audience to your hip level, which you might not want if you are short and/or hippy.

A beautiful headdress will get you even more attention and admiration than long hair unadorned, and show off your costume originality.

I like what Yemaya does with her long hair. She makes a single braid in the back, sometimes entwined with a string of pearls or silk flowers.

With her hair out of the way, the beautiful back view of this costume with its ropes of draped pearls is displayed. She transfers attention to her face by wearing a headpiece with pendants and looped strands of pearls at the sides, and long earrings.

You might also make several tiny braids on each side and tie the rest back or wear it loose, as in this picture of Jazmine from Angelique's web site. (Used with permission by both Jazmine and Angelique.) If your hair is very long, the tiny braids could be looped or brought to the back.

Click on the image to the right to see Jazmine's hair style in more detail.

• For The Nightclub Look. Try this idea from Morocco, one of the leaders in the worldwide Oriental dance community. Braid your hair into a single long braid in the back. Coil it into a bun and secure it to the nape of your neck. Then put on a glittery snood. Morocco's hair reaches the bottom of her hips, so she often wears one of these to prevent her fine hair from tangling in the sequins and beadwork of her costumes.
• For Either Tribal Or Nightclub. Purchase a glitter scarf (or use a piece of any fabric that coordinates with your costume). Place it over your head, then anchor it in place with a pretty fabric headband worn over your forehead. This look was inspired by the keffiyeh worn by Arabic men. You can either let your hair hang loose under the scarf, or braid it and put it up in a bun to keep the back of your neck cool, whichever you prefer.
• For American Tribal Style. Put your hair up, then cover everything with a turban. Although female nightclub dancers in the Middle East wouldn't wear a turban, it has become widely accepted as part of the "tribal" look that originated in the U.S.

Click on the photo of the dancer Morocco to the right to see her costume and snood in more detail.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Headdresses. Suggestions for headdresses to accessorize belly dance costumes.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Hair Styles For Short Hair. Ideas for short-haired dancers.
• Costuming for Your Hair. Shira provides ideas for hair styles and headdresses.
• Making an Egyptian Pharaonic Costume. By Arabella. Includes instructions for making a beaded headband.

• How To Make A Rectangular Head Scarf. Shira describes how to make a small rectangular scarf.
• How to Make a Cleopatra Headdress. Shira provides crochet instructions.
• The Costume Goddess Tells All: Headpieces for Bellydancers. Review of book by Dina Lydia.

Dina has been sewing for more than twenty-five years (yes, she started as a toddler!)

She's also an artist (Maryland Institute of Art) and perfected her sewing techniques apprenticed to various designers, freelancing for small theaters, restyling vintage garments, and altering wedding gowns.

Dina fell in love with belly dancing costumes upon her very first lesson. Now the pleasure of wearing her own designs, and seeing others wear them, offers as much pleasure as dancing. She's become expert as well in altering those troublesome ready-made Egyptian costumes, and modifying designs to flatter individual figures.

She holds workshops in Seattle to teach design and construction of cabaret costumes, and analysis of figure characteristics. She will also give private lessons, or resize or repair a secondhand costume. She's thus earned her Costume Goddess title.

The Costume Goddess Tells All Costuming Books

Dina has published six books of her own on belly dance costuming as well as writing nearly all the costuming section for The Belly Dance Book. For information on her series of books, The Costume Goddess Tells All, see her web site at www.costumegoddess.com. For reviews here on Shira.net of some of her books, see:

• Volume 1: Flattering Costume for Bellydancers. Advice on designing a belly dance costume that will look flattering for your figure type.
• Volume 2: Easy Costume for Bellydancers. Explains how to create easy-to-make costume items if you have very little sewing experience.
• Volume 3: Cabaret Belt and Bra for Bellydancers. Detailed instructions for making your own bra/belt set. Emphasis on the beaded/sequined look, but some coin information too.
• Volume 4: Arm Costume for Bellydancers. Creative ideas for sleeves, armbands, gauntlets, and drapes.
• Volume 5: Tribal Toppings for Bellydancers. Cholis, vests, and other tops suitable for U.S. Tribal costuming.
• Volume 6: Thrifty Chic for Bellydancers. Transforming thrift shop bargains into belly dance costume pieces.
• Volume 7: Headpieces for Bellydancers. Many simple, inexpensive ideas for costuming from the neck up.