Glitterspray
4 years ago
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A Hairy Tale.
I’ve been curious about how (white) Victorian women maintained their hair when:
It was de rigeur never to cut it (knee-length or longer; “a woman’s hair is her glory” 🙄).
Tools and products were practically non-existent — no shampoos, conditioners, blow dryers, etc. (Mom says this stuff wasn’t generally available until after WW II.) 👇🏼
Glitterspray
4 years agoSanitary facilities were limited (haul your own water) — as a result, it was an hours-long effort that was undertaken only about once a month.
Here’s what I learned.
Regular soap was (is) extremely harsh, so Victorian women used a variety of home preparations made with beaten egg whites, honey, etc. for hair washing, and grains, talcs, etc. for “dry-shampooing.” (When “Castile soap” became widely available, its relatively low alkaline level was a godsend.) 👇🏼
Glitterspray
4 years agoVictorian women brushed their hair regularly. “100 strokes a night” was actually a thing — imagine the biceps you’d develop with thick, waist-length hair 💪🏼
A boar’s-bristle brush was the preferred tool. (I learned boar bristle creates static in fine dry hair, which explains why I’ve never liked it.) 👇🏼
Glitterspray
4 years agoAND ... many of their techniques are worth trying today.
The theory is that the less gunk in your hair, the more volume it will have, the less styling product you’ll need, and the less often you’ll need to wash it.
So I went online and bought a suggested product: J.R. Blodgett’s shampoo, which comes in bar form. I applied it by wetting it and my hair and rubbing it on. It works up to a good lather. 👇🏼
Glitterspray
4 years agoThe wrapper says, “... doesn’t strip natural oils ... most will not need to condition.” Maybe. 🤷🏼♀️ After I rinsed my hair it felt like it had been completely stripped and I’d need a gallon of conditioner to comb it out.
HOWEVER — I proceeded to step 2: a vinegar and water rinse. 🍎 💧
It was amazing. The acid in the vinegar neutralized the alkalinity of the soap. My hair was soft and combed out easily. 👇🏼
Glitterspray
4 years agoI still need a little conditioner and some styling product, but pretty sure I won’t need enough to require daily shampoos to strip it all back out again.
Thinking over time I’ll have healthier hair. 🙂
P.S. This pic is of either Lavinia Stockwell Day or Lillian Moller Gilbrith. Or both. I couldn’t decide. (Google!!!)
P.PS. I think Recolor should let me have a bigger character limit! 😂😂😂
Jenny Tsch....🤗🇦🇺🌺
4 years agoYou’ve done a terrific job 🤗💜💜💜
spade
4 years agoBeautiful !
Glitterspray
4 years agoThanks @Jenny Tsc 🤗🇦🇺🌺 !!! 🙂❤️
Glitterspray
4 years agoThank you @spade !
Lids (Lidia)🇵🇪🇺🇸❤🌹❤
4 years ago@Glitterspray wow! All you have to do for a fabulous hair 😆☺️😊 Thanks for history.. can’t imagine not having shampoo and other hair supplies.. Marvelous coloring 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Tee H 🐾 🐶 🐾
4 years agoOh the hassle of all that hair through history! It’s no wonder women cut it short when they were becoming ‘liberated’. Love the whole history lesson, I’m sure it kept ladies warm in winter but can you imagine the weight and heat of all that on your head in the summer?? Ug!
However I adore her raven locks, I just know it must be a gorgeous Gibson Girl style ♥️♥️♥️
Raven?? Really autocorrector, hmmmfff! Adore her red locks 🥰
Glitterspray
4 years ago@Lids (Lidia)🇵🇪🇺🇸❤🌹❤ IKR???
Imagine being able to wash your hair only once a month — you’d have to get pretty inventive!
Glitterspray
4 years ago@Tee H
Raven Red is the new fashion statement 😂
Not so warm in winter. If you didn’t braid it before bed you’d never be able to deal with it in the morning.
And summer? Ugh indeed!!!
Plus the weight of it constantly bundled on your head. Because god forbid anyone but your husband see you with your hair down.
Really makes me think about how revolutionary and liberating it was for women to chop their hair off in the 20’s.
I mean the 1920’s of course 😂
Tee H 🐾 🐶 🐾
4 years agoI knew 😂😂
Sajeda🦋Marisa
4 years agoWhen I was younger my grandmother who was born in 1903 would brush my hair 100 times every night. I even had a boar hairs brush. I want to thank you for the history on hair and yes Recolormneeds to give you mor characters. Let me ask you since you really like doing all the history and to be honest I can’t look up things like I used too. My head begins to hurt and my eyes are blurred. It’s from my autoimmune disease could you please help me with finding the best items to use on my hair👇🏻
Sajeda🦋Marisa
4 years agoI have very fine straight hair. Completely Gray with a lot of silver and white towards the front of my face. What should I use on my hair? Thank you darling 😘😘😘😘
sweetpea
4 years agoABSOLUTELY STUNNING PICTURE.....BEAUTIFULLY COLORED 👍🤗 boy 😳never thought about not having shampoos ...etc....back then.....I felt for them ....that monthly time....and long dresses....hot...yuk..😫. no female products or cramp pills.... Ahhhhhhh !!! Oh....yes....me...my son....daughter ....hubby visited Grand Canyon when he was 5.....beautiful !!! Ty for sweet comment.....and daw'ling you look ma'va'lous 🙆♀️ as Steve Martin said 👍😁🤗
Riverbank
4 years agoAmazing history lesson! I understand why Egyptian queens and French aristocrats shaved their heads and wore wigs 😍 Thanks for sharing 💖💖
Glitterspray
4 years ago@Sajeda🦋Marisa absolutely a fun project for me!
Right now I’m into old-fashioned solutions, but you know me, I’m likely to bust out in any direction without notice 😂
My fine straight hair is liking what I did today a lot.
I’m especially amazed at how the vinegar rinse immediately made everything soft and manageable with zero conditioner.
Still a tad flyaway (especially in this cold dry weather with the heat going) so I’m spritzing with “no more tangles” baby spray.
Glitterspray
4 years ago