Category Archives: Historical Natural Hair Care

Historical natural hair care: how to make your hair grow, night-time hair routine, 30+ homemade natural shampoo recipes …

Heat, Hair & Hair Color – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

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Daytime hairdressing

It’s restful for the scalp if the hair isn’t all the time dressed in the same way: ‘In the early part of the day, when simple frocks are worn, it may be twisted or braided at the back, making an elaborate coiffure for afternoon. This insures the head being cool in all places at different times.’ (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910)

‘It is a good thing, about noon, to take out one’s hairpins and to toss the hair loose. It looks pretty and it does the hair a world of good […] letting the air circulate through it.’ After washing and drying the hair, ‘leave the hair hang loose for two hours. […] The girl with the prettiest hair in the world makes it her pleasure to let her hair hang down the day it is shampooed. She braids it loosely and she ties it with a picturesque bow of ribbon. Then she puts on a lovely afternoon gown and is at home to her friend. Her coiffure, or the lack of it, is put down to novelty. Certainly it is becoming.’ (Chicago Tribune, 1907)

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Pomade And Hairspray – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

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Pomade And Hairspray - Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

Hair pomade

Pomade and oil is used for cleansing and healing the scalp, making the hair glossy and smooth. ‘In using oil, the animal and vegetable oils should always be preferred, as mineral oils, especially the petroleum products, have a very poor affinity for animal tissues. Pomatum is largely used by many in place of oil, as it remains on the surface and gives a full appearance to the hairs, thus hiding, sometimes, the thinness of the hair. Continue reading Pomade And Hairspray – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care →

30+ Homemade Shampoo Recipes – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

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30+ Homemade natural shampoo recipes – wash your hair like a Victorian lady!

30+ Homemade Shampoo Recipes - Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care
Washing the hair, 1908

‘The necessity of cleansing the hair is imperative from every point of view; as much for health as for cleanliness, since the hair and scalp cannot be healthy, any more than the skin, unless they are thoroughly cleansed of impurities.

The oily glands of the scalp become choked and they are irritated to over-secretion, making the hair oily, or dandruff is caused. The hair follicles also become unhealthy, so that the hair grows poorly or falls out.’ (The Fountain Of Youth, 1905)

Shampoo was usually homemade in the Victorian and Edwardian era. So there were many homemade shampoo recipes: Some use castile soap as basis, some use natural cleansers, such as egg, wheat bran or salt, and some use saponin-containing plants, such as quillaia bark.

I’ve tried some of the shampoo recipes (you find a link “-> tried” under the recipes). If you try one of these historical shampoo recipes, I’d love to hear your experiences. 😀 Continue reading 30+ Homemade Shampoo Recipes – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care →

Night-Time Hair Routine – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

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To get beautiful and luxuriant hair, Victorian and Edwardian ladies followed a night-time hair routine: After brushing out tangles and massaging the scalp with oil or hair tonic, they braided their long hair to protect it at night.

Night-Time Hair Routine - Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

‘I believe it is impossible for a woman who does not brush and braid her tresses every night to have as luxuriant locks as one who regards this routine’ (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910, p. 14).

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About Brushing The Hair – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

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How To Brush Your Hair – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

‘The comb and brush are […] agents of the toilet by which the hair is kept clean, vigorous, and healthy.’ (Scientific American Supplement Volumes, 1883) ‘Much washing of the hair with water is bad […] it is possible by much brushing to avoid any excessive use of water.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)

Combing and brushing the hair thoroughly once or twice a day was recommended in the Victorian and Edwardian era to keep the hair and scalp healthy and clean. Continue reading About Brushing The Hair – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care →

Cutting Vs. Singeing The Hair – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

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In the Victorian and Edwardian era, hair was sometimes singed instead of cut to trim split ends. A lighted taper (candle) was used to burn off split ends.

Cutting Vs. Singeing The Hair - Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care

While Victorian women grew their hair as long as possible, even if the hair was thin, Edwardian women favored short and thick hair which was easier to put up into a pompadour hairstyle. To keep the hair healthy and beautiful, it was necessary to trim split ends from time to time. But should the hair be cut or singed to trim split ends? Continue reading Cutting Vs. Singeing The Hair – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care →