victorian hair

Victorian hair

When Queen Victoria took to the throne in 1837-1901, morals were very strict particularly on women, who had to portray themselves as fragile feminine natural beauties, this meant women were not allowed to wear makeup although majority of them discreetly wore homemade products, and hair had to be long and tidy.

Early Victorian hairstyles- the 1830s

During the early part of the Victorian era, womens hairstyles were styled into a centre parting which incorporated buns and plaits , which were many techniques which were also incorporated into the Elizabethans hairstyles. A typical women of the 1830's hairstyle also incorporated ringlets either side of the head which fell just above the chin . women who played in theatre were also known to wear bonnets to complete their hairstyles.

The trend of the 1830 which was also known as the romantic part of the era  was for a Victorian women to wear a large oversized hat which would accompany a women's hairstyle. The large oversized hats were known to have been decorated with white feathers ribbons and bows. This trend however was forgotten about by the 1940s. Bonnets were another style of hat which were popular for a Victorian women to wear, the coal scuttle bonnet in particular were suitable to wear for those who's hair was styled into an Apollo knot.

During the romantic era the Apollo knot was a popular hairstyle for Victorian women. The 'Madonna' an evening hairstyle for women  which was a section of ringlets situated around the crown and sides of the face was another hairstyle which was considered as a little elaborate but however, became popular towards the en of the 1830s and into the 1840's.

Pauline-Weston Thomas . (unknown). Romntic era 1825-1845. Available: http://www.fashion-era.com/romantic_era.htm. Last accessed 02/02/15.


Majority of the Victorian women were known to have has lovely long locks which was mainly tied back , women would rarely cut or washed their hair sometimes a Victorian womens hair wouldn't be washed for a long period of time therefore during the era, nightcaps became a common necessity in order to prevent dirt perfumed scents would sometimes be applied to the hair in order to prevent smell. The only circumstance in which a Victorian women would cut their hair was if hey became severely ill.
Victoria Sherrow (2006). encylopedia of hair : a cultural history. Westport: Greenwood Publishing group. 323.

anonymous. (2009-2015). photo Jane Bigby. Available: http://gallery.fansshare.com/community/uploads16/20927/jane_bigby/. Last accessed 03/02/15.

The portrait of Jane Bigby  highlights a clear indication of the 1830s hairstyle. Her hair is sleeked back into a plaited bun and several sculpted ringlets are situated around the face.

Mens hair in the 1830's

A Victorian mans locks usually dangled upon their foreheads. Some men wore a soft side parting or had their hair brushed slightly back off their faces. In the 1830's it was also common for a man to have their hair curled . Majority of men in the early Victorian era were known to have their hairstyles accompanied with sideburns or moustache. A hairstyle which was popular with both women and hair was ear looks which was a section of hair situated in front of the ear.  Many Victorian men would secure their hair in place especially if their hair was swept back of their faces by using oils on their hair.
Victoria Sherrow (2006). encylopedia of hair : a cultural history. Westport: Greenwood Publishing group. 323.

anonymous. (unknown). men portrait 19c. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/irinachiara/men-portrait-19-c/. Last accessed 02/02/15.

The portrait of a Victorian man from the 1830's conveys curls and a soft side parting.

1840s-1850s Victorian hair

During the mid Victorian era , plaits which were twisted into bun shapes became a popular Victorian hairstyle for women, which also can be considered as the development towards the Apollo knot. Decoration such as combs and flowers also started to become incorporated into women's hairstyles. Another element of a Victorian womens hairstyle was to ensure it was sleek and smooth as a result a product which became popular in many womens households was Vaseline which would act as an oil to smooth out the hair. Hats which were situated on top of the head became a common accessory for women to wear during the mid Victorian era.

anonymous. (2014). history of fashion 1840-1900. Available: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/history-of-fashion-1840-1900/. Last accessed 03/02/15.

The portrait conveys the hair being situated into a centre partin and the hair been sleeked back into a plaited bun shape.
Bartos J. (unknown). civil was era. Available: http://www.bartoscollection.com/hairstylesbyera/hairstylescivilwar.html. Last accessed 03/02/15.

Mens Hair in the 1840s-1850s

A Victorian mans hair in the mid Victorian era became slightly longer, which was situated over the ears. Towards the 1850s the wave situated at the front of the hair became a popular male hairstyle. Facial hair played a huge part in the mid Victorian era, heavy mostaches started to become popular, and older Victorian men started to support heavy beards. Eve nthough facial hair was still hugely popular during the mid Victorian era, some men were starting to become clean shaven.

anonymous. (unknown). mens portrait gallery 1840. Available: http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/1840-victorian-photo-gallery.php. Last accessed 02/02/15.

anonymous. (2014). history of fashion 1840-1900. Available: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/history-of-fashion-1840-1900/. Last accessed 03/02/15.

The portrait supports the clean shaven look. The hair is situated above the ears and also conveys the wave situated at the front of the hair.

anonymous. (unknown). victorian mens fashion. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/bornin1808/victorian-mens-fashion/. Last accessed 03/02/15

 

The Apollo knot

The Apollo knot was a popular hairstyle for Victorian women during the 1830's to the 1850's. The hairstyle was separated into three elements which were a centre partin a bun situated on top of the head and several ringlets either side of the head which fell just amongst the chin. women sometimes used hairpieces in order to create the bun element of the Apollo knot hairstyle, in order to make their hair seem fuller. In the 1840's and 1850's it became known that women would use hot metal tongs in order to style their hair , over  a period of time this would cause a Victorian womens hair to become corse and break off, which can be considered another reason as to why hair pieces became popular particularly with the Apollo knot hairstyle.

Anonymous. (unknown). apollo knot. Available: http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/fashion_costume_culture/European-Culture-19th-Century/Apollo-Knot.html. Last accessed 02/02/15.

Hila Shachar. (03/01/12). the allure of the bun. Available: http://www.behindballet.com/the-allure-of-the-bun/. Last accessed 03/02/15.

The portrait highlights a clear Victorian Apollo knot hairstyle . The plaited bun is situated on top of the head. The curls are situated either side of the head and the hair is styled as a centre partin.

Victorian hair in the 1870s

During the 1870s the hairstyles particularly the style of buns became more elaborate and complicated hair was braided and then tied back into a bun  . long loose locks became popular as an eveningwear hairstyle for women and they sides of the hair started to become more sleek whereas at the beginning of the Victorian era ringlets were situated at the sides of the head and the rest of the hair was portrayed as sleek. Fringes also started to become more popular with Victorian women towards the later part of the Victorian era.

anonymous. (2011). victorian era fashion. Available: http://victorianeracnr.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/fashion.html. Last accessed 03/02/15.

anonymous. (2014). victorian era project. Available: http://rodriguez9-3.pbworks.com/w/page/10300417/Fashion. Last accessed 03/02/15.

The sketch highlights how complicated Victorian hairstyles became towards the end f the era. fringes became popular and as well as loose curls.

Mens hair in the 1870s

During the 1870s Victorian mens hair became significantly short, and oil became a popular product to sleek back the hair . Oil was also used on heavy moustaches. . Facial hair during the later Victorian era, became more varied , beards and full moustaches were still very popular.

The portrait highlights the variety of facial hair an the short sleeked back hairstyle.

anonymous. (unknown). mens portrait gallery 1870. Available: http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/1870-victorian-photo-gallery.php. Last accessed 03/02/15.

Victorian hair in 1880s to 1890s

Towards the end of the Victorian era hair become more curly and elaborate and fringes became een more popular during the 1880s however towards the end of the era fringes were styled in a centre prating a grown out to become long fringes, some women even wore false fringes in order to follow the trend. Victorian women started to also use hot metal tongs in order to create waves in their hair which was created by marshelle in 1872 and was commonly known as the 'Gibson Girl' style.

Miranda sinclair. (unknown). hairstyles 1880 -1890. Available: http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8507544_hairstyles-18801890.html. Last accessed 03/02/15.

kenneth. (08/03/2014). JC leyendecker and the arrow collar man. Available: http://americanamercantile.com/. Last accessed 03/02/15

The image of the Gibson girl a black and white pin up highlights the relaxed fringes and curls during the later part of the Victorian era.

mens hair in the 1880s and 1890s

Mens hair still remained short and sleeked back with a centre parting as they did in the 1870s, the clean shaven look and the walrus moustache still remained popular and the long sideburns were also supported in a Victorian mans hairstyle

Miranda sinclair. (unknown). hairstyles 1880 -1890. Available: http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8507544_hairstyles-18801890.html. Last accessed 03/02/15.

Anonymous. (unknown). victorian era fan guide. Available: http://victorianfanguide.tumblr.com/post/37305659285/fortunately-mens-fashion-didnt-evolve-as-much-as. Last accessed 03/02/15.

The photograph of the Victorian man highlights the hair short and sleeked back using oil, accompanied with long side burns . The photograph also convey a Victorian man supporting a walrus mostache.

The Gibson Girl

In the 1890s the Gibson girl which was an iconic black and white pin up girl was created by illustrator Charles Gibson, the pin up had a massive impact on the 1890s particularly on the Victorian womens hairstyles. From the end of the Victorian era to the first world war the Gibson Girl was commonly known as the ideal women during the Victorian era .

Anonymous. (2013). The Gibson girls America. Available: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/gibson-girls-america/. Last accessed 03/02/15.

kenneth. (08/03/2014). JC leyendecker and the arrow collar man. Available: http://americanamercantile.com/. Last accessed 03/02/15

Homemade hair products

A popular  product during the Victorian era which acted as an alternative to shampoo was toilet soap or castile soap or toilet soap which was applied to the hair once a week. Vinegar was another product in which women would use on their hair the product would be applied to the roots in order to make the hair soft and shiny. Victorian men and women applied oil and Vaseline to their hair in order to sleek their hair back .

Lori Elliot. (10/04/2013). victorian shampoo alternatives. Available: http://ourheritageofhealth.com/victorian-shampoo-alternatives/. Last accessed 03/02/15.

Here are some photos from the Victorian Panarama book clearly displaying early Victorian hairstyles.

P.Quennel (unknown). Victorian Panarama. England: Unknown. 91-97

recreation of Victorian hairstyles

I created a rough sketch of the popular Victorian hairstyle the Apollo knot in order to convey my understanding or the different victorian hairstyles throughout he era.

In order to convey my understanding of a late Victorian era hairstyle I firstly took a section of hair which I slightly back combed an pulled back of the face then I create a bun at mid height which I then secured two simple plaits too, I found creating a Victorian hairstyle quite difficult due to the length of hair on my dolls hair in order o create a reasonable sized bun which was secure I had to slightly back comb the hair.

Anonymous. (unknown). victorian womens hair 1870s. Available: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=victorian+era+1890s+hair&biw=1188&bih=559&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vVfRVIaTLM-xadOpgrAJ&ved=0CCAQsAQ#tbm=isch&q=victorian+womens+hair+1870s&imgdii=_&imgrc=x. Last accessed 03/02/15.

The sketch in the top left hand corner was my inspiration for a late Victorian era hairstyle it highlights how hair has become more sleek at the sides whereas at the beginning of the Victorian era sculptured ringlets were situated at the sides of the hair.

I created a mid Victorian hairstyle by firstly sectioning the hair into a centre partin, then by creating a high bun on top of the hair. The remaining section of hair I created loose ringlets using hair tongs.

Rockwood New York photography . (unknown). Hot cross buns. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/gabbygerty/hot-cross-buns/. Last accessed 08/03/15.

The photograph of a Victorian women was the inspiration or my recreation of an 1850s -1860s hairstyle, majority of the hair is styled as loose sculpted curls , the top section of hair is pulled back off of the face and styled into a bun.

Next I created an early Victorian hairstyle by using a small section or hair at the front of the head to create several sculpted ringlets which fell jut below the ear on either side of the head. With the remaining section of hair I created a bun. Most buns in the Victorian era were plaited however due to the amount of hair on the dolls head I struggled to created a bun, in order to create a secure bun I slightly back combed the hair and secured it in place using a few hair pins.

The photograph shows a front view of my early 1830s Victorian hairstyle

Pippa Bear. (09/02/13). art deco. Available: http://pippatreevintage.com/page/7/?s=art+deco. Last accessed 08/02/15.

The photograph was my inspiration towards creating an 1830s Victorian hairstyle. The photograph shows the sculpted ringlets on either side of the head falling just below the ear.

This was my first attempt at creating ringlets for an early Victorian hairstyle, In order to create sculpted ringlets which fell above the hair I firstly  created a centre partin thensectioned the hair using my pin tail comb and then using the hair tongs I wound the hair up the curlers ,  in order to avoid any loose ends when curling the hair I tucked the ends under the hair tongs using my pin tail comb.

Once I created the sculpted ringlets I created a plaited bun with the remaining section of hair which I found quite difficult due tot the length of the dolls hair.

In my own time I sketched a late Victorian hairstyle . The sketch shows how fringes became popular in the late victorian era and hairstyles become more elaborate

contemporary Victorian hair

anonymous. (unknown). victorian hair . Available: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/victorian-hair/. Last accessed 08/03/15.

The hairstyle in this photograph was inspired by the late Victorian era, due to the hair being much more complicated to the early Victorian era. The top section of hair I styled into a modern bun and the remaining section of hair has been styled into loose curls.

anonymous. (unknown). victorian hair . Available: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/victorian-hair/. Last accessed 08/03/15.

The hairstyle in this photograph was inspired by a mid Victorian hairstyle around the 1850s , majority of the hair has been smoothed back off the face into a bun and the remaining section of hair has been sculpted into ringlets.

hair and the civil war

In 1860 the Civil war was a major event which effected Victorian women appearance, majority of women were known to have worn hairnets one which was made from ribbon or either one which would match the womens haircolour and be made simply from netting. During the civil war women would also cover their hair by wearing a bonnet which was a popular style of hat throughout the Victorian era. A Victorian women would also style their hair in a secure bun however towards the end of the civil war hair pieces were included in Victorian womens hair in order to create larger and more complicated hairstyles.

anonymous. (14/10/06). civil war ladies hairstyles and accessories . Available: http://somethingvictorianblog.blogspot.co.uk/2006/09/civil-war-ladies-hairstyles-and-hair.html. Last accessed 08/02/15.

anonymous. (unknown). victorian and edwardian hairstyles. Available: http://bartoscollection.com/vehairstylesbyera.html. Last accessed 08/02/15.

the photograph shows a Victorian women supporting a hair net matching her hair colour in order to cover her hair.

Penny Zeller. (unknown). hairstyles for my characters. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/zellerpenny/hairstyles-for-my-characters/. Last accessed 08/02/15.