Incorporating Ideas for Hair

In the novel Great Expectations Dickens doesn't go in to great detail about the way Miss Havisham's hair appears, we can only assume that it is typical to that of early victorians styles. What we can establish is that it was decorated in some manner with flowers, which makes sense as it was her wedding day, which have over time have withered and most probably died. We also know she wore a veil, which appeared 'dependant' from her hair connoting to us that her hair was perhaps a bit disheveled and had lost its original styling. 

"she had a long white veil dependant from her hair, she had bridal flowers in her hair but her hair was white”
“I saw that the bride within the bridal dress had withered like the dress, and like the flowers,

The way I imagine Miss Havishams hair to be is quite traditional victorian style - so a lot of volume at the sides, with the rest of the pulled in to a low bun at the back of the head. I also in visage a veil and dead flowers, perhaps even the spiders that Dickens mentions devouring the bride cake.

Here are some initial idea Ive drawn to help develop a style that will coincide with the face chart I have designed to give a look of self neglect. 

My two initial designs are based on the two early victorian styles I studied and practised. Ive taken these and tried to incorporate Miss Havisham and ideas of 'self neglect' in to them.

My initial idea features a volume of hair at the side in traditional ringlets which will look like they've fallen out over time and lost their bounce. the rest of the hair is swept in to the twisted bun at the back of the head, partially covered by a veil. Ive adorned this style with pretend spiders, which I thought would make a cunning effect as we know the room in which Miss Havisham stayed was infested with spiders which attack the bride cake.

“seeming to grow, like a black fungus, I saw speckled-legged spiders…”

I like this idea, but i feel adornment of spiders could either look really good or look incredibly and would need some research on my part to see what result I could get.

My second design idea is also based around a traditional early victorian hairstyle. The front section of the hair is flat to the scalp and plaited from the ears which then joins the twist at the back of the head. Ive adorned the front section of hair and plaits with flowers, as described in the book. My intention is for these flowers to look dead and withered so give the overall impression of 'neglect'. 

My concerns with this design are that its quite safe and a bit dull.. I feel the placement of the flowers would have to be quite clever otherwise they could quite random. I also feel that this hairstyle would be quite difficult to make it looks disheveled or messy due it quite structured nature. 

Overall, Im feeling that I might collaborate elements from both these designs in to my final design to create a very 'dishevelled' look which connoted that Miss Havisham hasn't touched or groomed her hair is a severely long time.

Ive also since decided against the spider idea, as the only fake spiders I could find were very tacky and I personally couldn't bear to include them in my work.