• Ringlets were popular during the Romantic period.Porcelain doll image by ta_samaya from Fotolia.com
  
  Women of the Romantic Era often went to great lengths to create elaborate hairstyles as a way to express themselves. During this period, from the late 18th century to the middle of the 19th century, many women looked to the hair fashions of classical antiquity or the Middle Ages for their inspiration. Others, in the late 18th century especially, chose a more contemporary motif and adorned their heads with models of ships and other objects relating to the events of the day.
  
  

Extreme Styles

• In the late 18th century, women often wore wigs to increase the size of their hair. They also used frames or pads to create additional volume. The largest and most elaborate hairstyles were those with bird cages or miniature gardens resting on top of the head. Marie Antoinette, who used wigs to add three feet to her hair, famously adorned her hair with a replica of a French battleship.
  
  

Ringlets

• During the early 19th century, ringlets were the rage. Women worked their hair into elaborate updos that consisted of a part in the center with ringlets on the sides and top of the head. Buns with loose sausage curls at the temples also were popular. Another popular hairstyle was the Apollo knot, which featured a bun on top of a woman's head and ringlets framing her face. According to the Fashion Encyclopedia, some women used hairpieces to create volume at their crowns for the Apollo knot.
  
  

Accessories

• Many women of the Romantic period reproduced the hairstyles of ancient Greece and the Middle Ages. One medieval-influenced trend was wearing a ribbon around the head with a single jewel hanging over the forehead. Women also imitated ancient styles by wearing wreaths on their heads or using combs to decorate their Apollo knots. Many wore bows and feathers for a more dramatic look, especially in the 18th century.