Hair Arsenal

As we all know, great hair does not come by itself, and depending on the hairstyle you want, a certain amount of product, time, and effort is needed to reach the results you want. For example- if you want to achieve the deathhawk, a good hour or two is need to tease and accessorize, unlike achieving a ponytail,

which takes a few minutes. For whatever style you want, here is a list of must-have products to help you get the Goth hair you want---

Hairspray (and A LOT of it!)- Hairspray is a must have for keeping curls intact the majority of the day, to keep teased hear voluminous, or to keep newly-straightened hair from frizzing up. 

Leave-in Conditioner- This product is good for the days when you really do not have the time to blow dry or style. Leave in conditioner also helps manage angled tresses, moisturize dry and damaged hair, and prevent frizzing. I like to use a leave-in conditioner that helps define my curls (I recommend this product to those of you who have wavy, curly, or inbetween hair), as for it does all of the things I listed above AND gives me cute little ringlet curls~

Handbook for Horrifying Hair

For those of you who are babybats, you may be wondering what to do with your tresses of hair. Well, let me tell you, there is no one type of "Goth hair". In fact, there are numberless amount of styles to choose from, depending on your taste, amount of time you have to style your hair, and what would work best for you in the long one (a.k.a. what is acceptable for your job or what is accepted by your family, if they are still unsure on how they like Goth).

Baby Bangs

The Goth look is all about individuality and being creative, and Goth hair is certainly not an exception, but Goths tend to share styles and looks. Some looks are unisex and worn by both genders, such as colorful hair, shaved heads, and long hair.

V-Fringe Bangs

V-fringe and other styles of Interesting bangs- V-fringe, or V shaped bangs, however you want to call it, is a style of bangs in which the point is between the brows, forming a "V" shape. Other styles similar to this would be "U" shape bangs, which are similar to V fringe, only without the point (Forming a "U" shape). Other bangs are blunt and heavy, short and tiny, or in the middle.

Deathhawk- Similar to the punk Mohawk- This deathhawk is heavily teased and hair is shaved on the sides. This hairstyle is also heavily accessorized with fake spider webs and other creepy-cool accessories.

Victory Rolls

Fantasy Locks- Inspired by the supernatural, faeries, and folklore, fantasy locks is a hairstyle in which hair is grown VERY, VERY long (floor-length hair can be spotted at many Goth festivals!) and can be dyed any imaginable color. Long hair can be accessorized, but doesn't need much to make a statement.

Gothabilly Retro- Many Goths are going Retro with Victory Rolls and beehives, as for the Gothabilly look is experiencing a flash of popularity.

For those of us who are unwilling to either dye or cut our hair (which I completely understand-- The only unnatural part of my hair is the burgundy color of my bangs, and even that is fading), here are some alternatives for really "Gothing" up our hair~

Hair Extensions- Hair extensions can add length to hair, or add a little flash of color. Clip-in extensions are sold in almost any beauty store and are sensible for those of us who must dress modestly for work or school. Other extensions that are available are glue-in extensions, which are expensive yet last a long time, or extensions that are braided in. Another widely popular set of extensions are hair falls, which can be clipped on over buns and ponytails. These are popularly found among the cybergoths, as these hair falls can be found in neon colors, tubing, etc., but are also found in other styles to accommodate to other Goths, as well.

Wigs- Wigs are another option for a temporary new look, and are great for themed outfits such as a beehive for a Gregorian ball. However, proper wigs are expensive- much, much more expensive than extensions or hair falls.

Good Day!

Melancholia Malady, at your service! I am VERY new to blogging (in fact, this is my first blog~), and would love to introduce myself and my blog. My name is Melancholia Malady, a proud Goth, Cat Owner, and Otaku~ I hope to spread the (correct and righteous) knowledge of the Gothic subculture to not only

discriminators online who would normally stereotype and bully any black-clad person on the street, but to help strengthen that "Goth" bond between you and the inner workings of your soul (*w*) Goth, as said by many, is what you make it. It is not only a way of dressing, it's a way of living. It's not only a 70's movement. It's the loving of the beauty in the darker things in life.

The first time I was introduced to Goth was when I started watching an anime called Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler. The story took place in Victorian London, and the mood was dark and very gloomy (how could a story about a 12-year-boy summoning a demon to get revenge on his parents' killer sound sunny and happy to you??). There was definitely a Gothic vibe to the anime- from the way of dress to the furnishings and EVERYTHING. After finishing the series, I vowed to research the Gothic subculture and submerge myself in the beautiful life of the Goths (by no way do I mean that the average Gothic life is glamorous compared to any other-- Each individual experience with Goth is different, but so far, the Gothic influence in my life has helped me control my life.) I looked at many Goth blogs, and learned what Goth REALLY was- not the stereotypes (but, yet again, I was never one for the stereotypes.) I fell in love. Ever since then, I have done much more research and listened to the music and, and grew accustomed to the Gothic way of living. I eventually found my very own Goth style, and was able to fully express my emotions through my clothing and art. The only thing that ever bothered me was I knew no Goth individuals. My friends were not into it, nor was my sister or parents. I still suffer through this "eating away at the soul", because I have no one to share the love with. No one to read Edgar Allan Poe or Emily Dickinson with. No one to listen to Depeche Mode with. No one to really share my joys with. For all of you in my similar circumstance, it is really, really hard to get by (to put it that way!). That is why I made this blog, to not only inform, but to find people to talk to.

Please, feel free to post comments about what I can improve on, what you liked about my blog, or just friendly conversation. I would really appreciate any help to improve my blog! Thanks~

-Melancholia Malady

What is Goth?

If you ask, "what is goth", the answers you will mostly get is that it was something that was born out of the Punk movement in the 1970's and that the Goths wear a lot of black and are depressed, mundane people. I disagree. Goth isn't only something that was created in the 70’s , nor is it about how one dresses. Goths don’t always wear black and won’t all listen to the same bands. They do not worship Satan and are not members of a cult. In fact, Goths can be found around the globe and come from many different backgrounds and ethnicities. Like every group, what one likes and does changes from individual to individual. Having said that, Goths all have one thing in common…that they find beauty in what others consider dark. 

In general, Goths all share a love for mythology, the mysterious, the supernatural, culture, tradition, romanticism, and basically hold on to things in society that they feel are important and dying out. They are influenced by fashion, music, and mythology from the pre-Medieval eras to the Edwardian eras and also by various cultures around the world. Goth people are generally creative and of high intellect…some might go so far as to say they were a bit geeky!