Thursday, June 27, 2013

Chat About Hair

Illustrated Advertisement from Arthur's Magazine 1857


"Hair Wash - A young lady friend of mine, says a writer in the London Field, was recommended by a coiffeur to use sage-water. She was obliged to discontinue its daily use,, as it made her hair too thick. Pour boiling water on the sage leaves, and let them remain some time in the oven or near a stove; then strain and apply to the root of the hair daily. If any pomade is needed, an equal mixture of cocoa and olive oils, with a little perfume, is very efficacious."

"Hair Dye in Four Different Colors - The most perfect article of this kind, manufactured by the celebrated Berger, of Paris, is now for sale in this city by Fouladoux, in Chestnut Street above Fourth. It will color the hair black, brown, light brown, or of a very light almost flaxen color. There is no deception in this, for we have seen the article tried, and pronounce it, without any exception, the very best hair dye we have ever seen. Those who order will please specify what kind they want - as one case only contains one particular dye. In addition to the above, Mr. Fouladoux manufactures wigs and fronts, and furnishes every article in the hair line."

"If the hair be closely dressed by others, those who have round or broad faces should nevertheless continue to wear drooping clusters of curls; and, although it be customary to part the hair in the centre, the division should be made on one side if it grow low on the forehead and beautifully high on the temples; but, If the hair be too distant from the eyebrows, it should be parted only in the middle, where it is generally lower than at the sides, whatever temptation fashion may offer to the contrary. We might multiply instances ad libitum, but the foregoing cases will, we doubt not, satisfactorily elucidate our proposition. It is our object to press on our readers the propriety of complying with the ordinances of fashion when their observance is not forbidden by individual peculiarities, and the necessity of fearlessly setting them at defiance, or offering only a partial obedience, when a compliance with them would be positively detrimental to personal grace."

"I was not lovely to look upon at that moment - my hair, naturally of a mud color, was covered with an old silk handkerchief, my sleeves were rolled up, the skirt of my dress was pinned up, for I had performed Herculean feats with the broom and dust-pan."

"Hair Grease - Melt half a pound of lard and six ounces of olive oil in a jar placed in hot water; when nearly cool add about two drachms of essence of lemon, oil of lavender, or any other perfume, and then pour it into glass bottles, or earthen pots."

From Godey's Magazine 1861
 
"Toilet Curl Clasps - A new article, to take the place of curl papers. A most ingenious and useful article; one that will entirely supersede the ungraceful paper. These clasps are manufactured by the celebrated firm of Gibbud, lvins & Co. They also make thirty-four different styles of shawl and scarf pins; also hair pins, belt clasps, fancy dress buttons, etc.; but the toilet curl clasp is a new invention. We will give the directions how to produce a most luxuriant set of curls: -
Directions for using the Toilet Curl Clasps - Moisten the hair with cold water, comb and part it; then unhook the clasps and commence at the small end. Roll the hair around them tight and smoothly, with the large end of the clasp up. Hook them, and let them remain so for a few hours; then unhook them, and place the thumb and forefinger on the curl and draw out the clasp without unwinding it in the least, and your ringlet will be smooth and perfect.
They will form curls in less time if the clasps are heated in the oven of the stove just so warm that they can be handled, before the hair is rolled on to them. There are three sizes, Nos. 1, 2, 3.. No 3 being the largest."
 
"... and it has the air of a very nice old maid in morning gown and curl papers ...."
 
"The door opened and a large, immensely fat woman, in a faded calico wrapper very much soiled, her hair in curl-papers, and a broom in her hand, came in."
 
"Somebody said wittily: "You rarely, if ever, see a politician with smooth hair, a great scholar with fine hair, an artist with red hair, a musician with short hair, a fop with coarse hair, a minister with long hair, or an editor whose hair is carefully adjusted." This is no less true than funny; yet, although this may be an indication of the active operation of the mind in several cases here mentioned, rendering the adornment of the hair a matter of indifference, by far the largest proportion of the world acknowledge the beauty of this ornament and its wondrous influence, where carefully tended, in adding beauty to the face it luxuriantly surrounds."
 
"Or, let us imagine the young lady in the early morning, with her hair screwed up in papers - a bad practice - and observe her in the ball-room, with her head fresh from the hands of an accomplished hair-dresser."
 
"Hair of Children - It is a great mistake to plait the hair of children under eleven or twelve years of age. The process of plaiting more or less strains the hairs in their roots by pulling them tight, tends to deprive them of the requisite supply of nutriment, and checks their growth. The hair of girls should be cut rather short, and allowed to curl freely. When they are about eleven or twelve, the hair should be twisted into a coil not too tight, nor tied at the end with thin thread, but with a piece of ribbon."
 
"Godey's Curl Clasps. Twelve in a box. No. 1, 2, and 3. Price 75 cents, which covers the postage except to California or Oregon.
Godey's Hair Crimpers. Each box contains twelve, of various sizes. Price 75 cents a box, which covers the postage, except to California or Oregon."
 
From Godey's Magazine 1859