marteau

plural marteaux

1. A postiche curl.

   Swathes: Made from two marteaux, sewn end to end. They are used for encircling the head.

   2003, Penny Delamar, The Complete Make-up Artist, page 163

   3 more examples

   A wreath of wild roses, without foliage, crosses the top of the head in front and under the roll of the first marteau;

   1886 April 1, “Fashionable Coiffures, and the Care of the Hair”, in Myra's threepenny (mid-monthly) journal (and childrens bazaar)., page 120

   An easy mode of dressing the hair for powder is to part it across the head from ear to ear, turning the front over a high cusion, making the back into a long, loose chignon, with a few marteaux or rolled curls behind the cushion. Sometimes the roll in front is replaced by a series of marteaux placed diagonally .

   1891, R. Barry Blackburn, Art, Society, and Accomplishments, page 162

   Long hanging ringlets were popular and were made using switches, pin curls and marteaux (postiche hair pieces).

   2012, Patricia Baker, Wigs and Make-up for Theatre, TV and Film, page 211