We’re taking a bit of a detour from our discussion of cleanliness to talk about hair—who knew it would turn into such an interesting topic?So we already know that washing your hair meant using regular soap, which tends to strip away too much oil and leave hair dry and straw-like. And since creme rinse/conditioner hadn't made it on the scene either, our young ladies turned to a number of products to improve their hair. Like, say, bear grease:
H. LITTLE, Perfumer, No.1 Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, acquaints the public, that he has killed a remarkable fine RUSSIAN BEAR the fat of which is matured by time to a proper state. He begs leave to solicit their attention to this Animal, which, for its fatness and size, is a real curiousity. He is now selling the fat, cut from the Animal, in boxes at 2s. 6p. and 5s. each, or rendered down in pots, from One Shilling to One Guinea each.
Yes, I know--pretty horrible. But bear grease had long been used as a hair improver, and its use lasted late into the century--in an 1879 publication for young ladies, either salad oil (plain vegetable oil) or bear grease are recommended. The procedure seems to have been brushing a small amount through the hair (or rubbing it on with the hands) and using a flannel to remove excess. Sort of a precursor to our leave-in conditioners, in a way.
If bears were a little too much for you, you could always turn to any of the elegantly named oils or pomades on the market, supposed to encourage hair growth as well as health. Note that no ingredients are listed: this is long before law required such a thing, and each product's components were jealously guarded secrets--many of the ads include warnings against imitators:
The unexampled success of Stiracia's Italian Oil has met with for upwards of twenty five years, in making the Hair grow, both thick and long, and preventing its fall off,(which it will do in twenty-four hours after illness,) continues to be the most Fashionable Pomade with Ladies of high rank, since powder is out of use; by keeping the head and hair perfectly clean; and making the hardest hair soft as silk, at the same time gives it a most beautiful natural appearance, prevents its turning grey, and even if on the change, will return the hair to its natural colour. The Dowager Lady Smith, of Sything House, near Dorchester, has done the proprietor the high honour of giving him the liberty to say [celebrity endorsement!], that Lady Smith has found great benefit from the use of Oils, both in lengthening and thickening the hair, and in keeping the head and hair perfectly clean, as to render the use of a small-tooth comb unnecessary.
Gulp--are they implying it repels lice?!
USED BY THE ROYAL FAMILY AND LADIES OF THE FIRST CIRCLE. Russia Oil, for promoting the Growth of Hair, and is so great a nourisher as to prevent its turning grey, becoming shaded, or falling off; restores Hair on bald places, if the least roots remain; several Gentlemen that were bald have declared, after using the Russia Oil for three Months, the bald places became covered with Hair. It is superior to any Article for moistening the Hair when dressing, as it prevents the ill effects occasioned by the heat of dressing-irons.
N.B. The Russia Oil will be found infinitely serviceable in restoring the loss of hair on horses, which often proves a great disfigurement to those valuable animals.
I like a good multi-use product! I wonder if Russia Oil contained any bear by-products?
And if these hair products aren't available, there's always home-made hair-care treatments, like this one from 1811 in The Mirror of Graces:
[This is a cleanser and brightener of the head and hair, and should be applied in the morning.]
Beat up the whites of six eggs into a froth, and with that anoint the head close to the roots of the hair. Leave it to dry on; then wash the head and hair thoroughly with a mixture of rum and rose-water in equal quantities.
I remember reading somewhere about a beauty salon that used mayonnaise as a hair treatment--not surprising, as the main ingredients of mayonnaise are oil and eggs. So maybe some of these 19th century hair treatments aren't so far-fetched after all.
Do you know any old-fashioned hair care treatments (preferably not bear-based)?
I don't think I could ever bring myself to use that bear grease! But for those annoying frizzies, I just spray a little hairspray onto my brush, and that usually takes care of them! It works beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try that, Addie. Definitely beats bear grease! :)
ReplyDeleteThe book An Illustrated History of Hairstyles 1830-1930 by Marian I. Doyle Schiffer Publishing (June 2003)
ReplyDeletecontains advertisements for 19th century hair products including images if the hair models who claimed to have used the products.
Oh, a new research book! think I need to track that down--thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, isn't it funny that what we might think of as modern advertising techniques might not be so modern after all?
My grandmothers (b 1903 and 1910) swore by egg yolk shampoo.
ReplyDeleteI am not entirely sure how it was made, but they made it themselves. My maternal grandmother had auburn hair and she would rinse it with lemon juice then sit in the sun to dry it...she said the lemon juice intensified the red. I'm a blonde and she said if I did the same, it would make my hair lighter. I prefer the hairdresser and Clairol, thank you!
My grandfathers (b. 1899 and 1901) used a fragrant oil on their hair. My grandmothers both used doilies ("antimacassars") on the backs of sofas and upholsters chairs to keep the hair oil off the furniture. My grandfathers were not much on moving into the modern era and stayed with their old ways. I even have one grandfather's razor strop---he shaved with a cutthroat razor his entire life!