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

Short hair may seem too plain, too minimalist to be harmonious with an elaborate costume, especially if the dancer is tall. Still, there aren't any rules, and I've seen a few dancers go pixie with some long earrings and artful makeup and look very cute.

But for a dramatic change in appearance, try any of these:

• A hairpiece or wig (if you find it comfortable): straight Cleopatra styles, curly ones, or braids and ponytails.
• Turban (for tribal style dancers) with or without veil or artificial braids hanging down.
• Beaded, chain or coin headpiece (see below): a beautiful Egyptian look. These can be from ear length to shoulder length. If you're clever with your hands, you could make your own version, using chains, beads or pearls by the yard attached to a headband. Fasten this with lots of bobby pins and practice dancing with it. Spins and backbends may not be a good idea.
• Simple beaded or padded headband, with a small veil tucked the back/sides to cover short hair; or tied scarf with long ends that fall over shoulders. See my headdresses article for more ideas. You might add a beaded or veil drape under chin, or tassels at sides; but practice spins, make sure tassels don't strike eyes.
• A tiara-style headpiece or a padded Ghawazee-style headpiece.
• Drape a veil over your head and anchor it with a ropy knotted cord or padded or twisted headband, keffiyeh style. If the cord and veil are sparkly, it will appear less tribal, more nightclub.
• Tie a beaded scarf around head.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Headdresses. Suggestions for headdresses to accessorize belly dance costumes.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Hair Styles For Long Hair. Ideas for long-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 that would look cute with short hair.

• How To Make A Rectangular Head Scarf. Shira describes how to make a small rectangular scarf.
• How to Make a Triangular Head Scarf. For folkloric styles of dance.
• 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.