hair length

[privstull]

Hello Pards,

My question is over the hair length during the war. I know men shaved their heads to keep the lice off of their heads, but in many of the photos, men have hair in a considerable length. I am not talking about pony tails, or having the hippy look, but hair long enough to hang out from under your hat. I know hair would be longer and shorter at different parts in the war, but for the most part, would it be more authentic to shave the head, have some sticking out of the hat, or would both be authentic? Any comments would be appreciated.

[dusty27]

Re: hair length

Ryan,

You may have answered your own question. What do the period pictures show?

[privstull]

Re: hair length

The pictures show both short and longer hair. I just wanted to see if anyone had any sources of information showing if it the majority was long or short, because pictures were only of a handfull of men out of thousands.

[Old Reb]

Re: hair length

This is from the revised US Army regulations of 1861:

"The hair is to be short, the beard to be worn at the pleasaure of the individual, when worn, to be kept short and neatly trimmed."

Of course this would have been by the book, and as photos of the period show, the book was not always followed.

[kent-tax]

Re: hair length

This is clearly a case of "it depends". It depends on who, what where and when. I think you need to find photos and descriptions closes to your event.

Clearly hair styles changed from home to camp to the field. I know modern men are use to getting one hair style and keeping for most of their lives. During the Civil War soldiers did not have that luxury. Some styles are more common than others - the wet look seems to have been in every theater, all years.

I do union and have a beard. For some units, I can keep it on the long side - just the way I like it. However, when an event calls for it, I will shave it down to a few days growth and keep the moustach. Most AOP photos of soldiers after combat show very few soldiers with beards.

Hope that helps,

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: hair length

Most period photos from the 1850s to 1870s that I have seen show men with rather shaggy hair parted on either side and treated with liberal amounts of hair greese. Many of these men have various forms of facial hair. I have never seen any evidence of men having longer or shorter hair or beards before or after campaign due in fact that the photgraphical evidence of indiviuals of this nature to my mind doesnt exsist.

[Linneus Ahearn]

Hair Oil?

Here's another thing noted from viewing thousands of period photos (studio, camp and field), when hair is long it's not fluffy as our modern hair would be after a shampoo. Hair seems to be contained either by hair oil, sweat or water and reflects the style of the times. I have rarely seen shaved or very short hair photos and question whether that might have been through sickness as well as for possible lice treatment and not necessarily normal or average.

[Clark Badgett]

Re: hair length

You will find a little of everything and a lot of some. I believe it was Geoff Walden once did a photographic study of Confederates and most were clean shaven or with just a little bit of facial hair, and most did not have overly long hair. Long hair was on the way out with the younger generation, that fought the war. On a similar subject, I can off the top of my head state that of the western Federals I've found pix of, at least half were obviously clean shaven, and the hair not too long. Let's face it, summertime down south is the last place in the world you want extra hair, when you live in the elements.

[1stMaine]

Re: hair length

Comrades,
Another thing to keep in mind is that a couple day's stubble is what normally passes for "clean shaven' in this period. The reason is that men had to shave with straight razors, and they require a bit of stubble to use efficiently. The norm was to shave every other day, as unless you had rapid hair growth, it took that long to get sufficient stubble for the razor to catch on.
Additionally, men didn't often shave themselves. The ease with which you could cut yourself was well known, and a skilled barber was vastly preferred. Any man who could deftly weild a staright razor could make a tidy little sum on the side in camp.
Add to that the difficulty in procuring hot water and time to shave. The first priority was water for coffee and/or drinling. After that came cooking. Shaving and laundry were further down the list on the "hierarchy of dirt" as it were.
The single greatest reason for beards is the difficulty of shaving in the field. those who had to shave themselves, or were bereft of a skilled barber most likely opted for the goatee, as it was at least possible to shave the sides of the face where it has mostly flat, wide, areas and few curves. Less chance for knicks and cuts, and thus less chance for disease and infection.
Stroping the razor wouldn't be a problem, as you could always use the issue belt, or even the cartridge box sling if needed. Soap, though, IS another matter, and it would be a mite difficult to procure it in the field.
As for wild haircuts, at the start of the war the 5th New York (Duryea's Zouaves) sported some nifty do's. One fellow had his head shaved into an eagle, another had the numer "5" on each side of his head, and many had their hair shaved down into mohawks. Sort of a CW Zouave Punk/Goth look, I reckon. Those images are floating around somewhere. perhaps Brian Pohanka or Troiani knows where they are these days.
Men also suffered greatly from "hat hair", as you can see in so many images. greased down and slicked up and back, it was easy to shape when the hat/cap pressed down upon it. Just grab a small tin of pomade at the barber shop or shaving/haircare section of your drug store and go to town.
respects,

[JCbluegrassrifles]

Re: hair length

Hello Pards,

My question is over the hair length during the war. I know men shaved their heads to keep the lice off of their heads, but in many of the photos, men have hair in a considerable length. I am not talking about pony tails, or having the hippy look, but hair long enough to hang out from under your hat. I know hair would be longer and shorter at different parts in the war, but for the most part, would it be more authentic to shave the head, have some sticking out of the hat, or would both be authentic? Any comments would be appreciated.

Ryan,
Both short and longer hair has its place, authentically. To me, it would seem that during the summer months soldiers would have their hair shortened or shaved due to the climate, thickness of lice, and any other uncomfortable pests they would harbor on their head. But at the same time, the summer months staged the most fighting and campaigning, so they may not have had too much of a chance to attend to hair. There cannot be one style of hair that would comply with both extremes you are describing, but a median can be found. You can't go wrong, authentically speaking, with a hair style that is of medium legnth. In the field, it would be growing back after you shaved it most recently, and it gives a jump start on growing it out for the cold fall and winter campaigns. But I wanted to answer your question because I have often wondered the same. Not particularly legnth, but what styles would be acceptable for both the 19th and 21st centuries?
- Jim Conley
Bluegrass Rifles

[privstull]

Re: hair length

Thankyou all for your suggestions and comments. They will all help me decide what haircut to get for the season.

[Jim of The SRR]

Re: hair length

In reviewing period photos I would say that hair would not be relatively long. How does one define long? Custer would be the extreme end of long hair...being about shoulder length. So, my opinion is that any longer would be incorrect.

Regards,
Jim Butler
The SRR

[Livingston Guards]

Re: hair length

Below is an excerpt of personal letter published in the New York Times which mentions something about hair length and relevant to this discussion.

NEW YORK TIMES [New York, NY] May 14, 1862, p.1, c.5

BEYOND WEST POINT
Near West Point, Va., Friday, May 9

...Several of our wounded men were found in a house in the neighborhood, to-day, and brought in. Geo. S. Ganong, tells me that when his company was pressed back at one time, he was shot in the leg and fell. Soon some long-haired troops rushed upon him with threatening gestures. He begged them for quarter, but was answered, "No quarter." "I expect humane treatment from Texans," he said. You shall have it," said one of them. "No one ever asked hospitality of a Texan in vain." He was carried through the lines, and into the presence of their General who questioned him closely as to our strength, and to the extent of the woodland between him and the river. On learning that there was an extensive clearing within, he was anxious to find a guide. Ganong estimates their force at 15,000 while ours was about 10,000. He was carried to a house which was full of the dead and wounded of the rebels, then to another with a like suite, then to a third and to a fourth. Here he found a place amidst crowds of their wounded. He thinks their loss was very great...

[ThehosGendar]

Re: hair length

Buzz:



Short:



Somewhat long:



Long, but tastefully styled:

[Mountain Guerilla]

Re: hair length

Just joined this forum but have heard this question oft repeated for the past 10 years.
I'd have to agree with most of the responses already given.
The best advice: research, research, research!
What unit do you belong to? Are there any avaliable journals (etc) for this unit?
Any biographical histories written on this unit or the campaigns they were involved in?
Somewhere in all these you should find some information.
I started out with the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Morgan's Raiders) & researched a treasure trove of info the unit could use (from journals / letters & period newspaper accounts). One thing we found was (with Morgan's Men) they saw themselves as "cavaliers" and most affected long hair &/or beards (being that the average age was late teens - early twenties, it was a source of pride to grow a full beard).
For the past 10 yrs I've been in the persona as Capt. Champ Ferguson, and base my appearance on eyewitness accounts from his post-war trial & Basil Duke's books.
The issue of "long hair" seems to be a hot button issue, and I cannot speak for all impressions, but for Morgan's Raiders & the guerillas of Eastern Kentucky this seems to be more common.
Even Quantrill's partisans affected "guerilla curls" that hung down to their shoulders (again, a source of pride it seems).
Anyhow, good luck in your research.