Dear Swank Betty,

My accessory is my hair. It's about two inches below my waist and I do not want to cut it, but I can't find directions on any old styles for long hair. Plus I'd like to find something that will last through more than five minutes of dancing. I love swing but I haven't been successful in this search. Please help!

Charlene,
Rialto, CA

The two things off the top of my head I can think of are rats and snoods.  Snoods are sold in beauty supply shops under the guise of hair nets.  They should look like heavy crochet nets.  When worn the right way, they become a snood.  Tease very well the top of your hair towards the back of your head.    Also tease the sides and the underneath, as the bobby pins will need something to hold on to.  Then tuck all of your hair into the net, folding it under so as to make it neat.  Use a lot of very secure pins!  Sweat may make the hair teasing less effective as the night rolls along, so do more than you think you need.   The other suggestion is a "rat:" bought in beauty supply stores, it looks like a long, styrofoam tube.  Made yourself, it can look like anything.  Women used to make them out of knee high stockings and poly fill.  Roll your hair around the rat at the ends, then roll it all the way up the back to your head and secure with pins.  Save some of the front hair for design, if you wish.  You can get ideas from pictures still - you'll just have a fatter "sausage" roll at the back of your head.   Check out the web for some vintage hair sites.

Good Luck!
XOXO,
S. Betty