Victorian Hair Care by Abagail Eldan

As I previously mentioned in "Coming Clean," people in the 1800s took this Bible verse seriously: But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering (I Corinthians 11:15). Thus, most women never cut their hair. Some had hair over six feet in length. 

Hair down to there...

Or even to the floor! (Pics from Pinterest)

Even today, with our modern conveniences, caring for such long hair is difficult. Imagine what it must have been like in the 1800s. So, again, washing hair was not something done lightly. Brushing was the way hair was cleaned. Thus, hairbrushes were important to the ladies of the Victorian era.

Here are a few examples (again, from Pinterest):

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) 

A brush consists ‘of a collection of hairs or bristles, fastened in a frame of wood, bone, or ivory; with, or without a handle’ (Domestic Encyclopedia Or A Dictionary Of Facts, And Useful Knowledge, 1802)

Hairbrushes in the Victorian and Edwardian era were often made of ivory, ebony, silver, or alpacca (German silver). Usually horsehair bristles were used for softer, and boar bristles for stiffer brushes. White and yellow boar bristles were imported from Russia and Siberia, whereas dark grey and black were imported from India and China (The Brushmaker, And The Secrets Of His Craft And Romance, 1870s). Hairbrushes were handmade: A wooden brush-back was drilled, bristles ‘drawn’ through each hole with thin wire and secured with a knot.

Interestingly enough, today many hair experts now agree that excessive washing strips hair of its natural oils and can be damaging. Many women brushed their hair for 100 strokes in the morning and before retiring at night. This helped distribute the natural oils to the ends of the hair. All that brushing dirtied the brushes. Some women washed brushes daily while others washed them at least once a week. And yes, there was a correct way to do so.

‘Never use soap. Take a piece of soda, dissolve it in warm water, stand the brush in it, taking care that the water only covers the bristles; it will almost immediately become white and clean; stand it to dry in the open air with the bristles downwards, and it will be found to be as firm as a new brush.’ (The Corner Cupboard; Or, Facts For Everybody, 1859)

‘The best mode is to use soda, dissolved in cold water, instead of soap and hot water; the latter very soon softens the hairs of the brush, and the rubbing completes their destruction. Soda having an affinity for grease, cleans the brush with very little friction.’ (The Workwoman’s Guide, 1840)

Caring for such long hair was a long, tiring business and yet a glorious one.

Darlin', give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair

Shining, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen

Give me down to there hair, shoulder length or longer

Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair

Flow it, show it, long as God can grow it. 

(Lyric to the song, Hair)

Abagail Eldan received a B.S. in Education from Troy University, with a major in biology and a minor in psychology. She continued her graduate work at Columbus State University, Troy University, and Auburn University, becoming certified to teach English, all mathematics, and all sciences. After teaching for nineteen years, she retired and lives in south Alabama with her husband. Look for her next book, Brokken Promises, coming soon.