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 natural shampoo recipes – wash your hair like a Victorian lady!
‘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’ at the bottom of 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→
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.
‘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).
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.
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→
Today, it’s often thought that hair was washed less frequently in the past. But this wasn’t always the case. In the Victorian and Edwardian era, it was recommended to wash the hair between twice a week and once a month. Besides washing the hair, frequent hair brushing was used to keep the hair clean and healthy.
‘Washing the hair is imperative, as a matter of personal cleanliness. The frequency of a shampoo depends upon two conditions, the necessity arising from the surroundings and individual peculiarities. Some persons’ hair becomes more oily in a given time than others, from the nature of their glands; others perspire more freely naturally, or are made to do so because of their occupations.’ (The Fountain Of Youth, 1905) Continue reading How Often To Wash The Hair – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care→
