Hairstyle???

[508preach]

For someone who has a job like myself where I have to keep my hair in current military regulations what is an option for a period hair style?

[rebpvt1864]

Re: Hairstyle???

People did shave their heads back then. It was fairly uncommon, but it was done. Also many U.S. zouaves shaved their heads to emulate their French counterparts.

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Hairstyle???

shaved heads happened then. Many a soldier shaved their heads to rid them selves of head lice. It would be entirely in character to shave your head.

Here is a picture of General Stephen Dodson Ramseur of NC w/his head recently shaven but facial hair is still inplace

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Hairstyle???

Kirby,
If you get aholt of Brassey's American Civil War: Confederate Army by Ron Field, on page 100, there is a picture of Andrew Jackson Daniel of the 61st NC. He is not wearing a hat and you can see that he is wearing a close cropped hear cut similar to a modern "buzz cut".

BR

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: Hairstyle???

People did shave their heads back then. It was fairly uncommon, but it was done.

This was not as uncommon as you might think, particularly amongst soldiers on campaign.

[10TnVI]

Re: Hairstyle???

This ia a citation from a letter written by Mitchell Thompson of the 83rd Ill. while at Cairo on Sept. 2, 1862

"here we are called the hairy regiment as every man almost has hair on his face although most of them have their hair clipped pretty close to there heads-some so short that the scalps can be seen all over the head"

Note this had nothing to do with a lice infestation or such. The unit had left training camp several days before and were on their way to Ft. Henry.

[nrandolph]

Re: Hairstyle???

In Bill Watson's book about How to Camp, I believe they refer to something that would look like a current military cut as a "fighting cut".

Neil Randolph
1st WV

[Gallinipper]

Re: Hairstyle???

Kirby,
If you get aholt of Brassey's American Civil War: Confederate Army by Ron Field, on page 100, there is a picture of Andrew Jackson Daniel of the 61st NC. He is not wearing a hat and you can see that he is wearing a close cropped hear cut similar to a modern "buzz cut".

BR

Bryant, if I recall another really interesting feature of that particular image is the type of shell jacket he is wearing. Perhaps somebody has access to that photograph and can post it here, thanks.

I'm not sure about Dod's hair; don't know if he ever had too much to begin with!

Rich Croxton

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Hairstyle???

Bryant, if I recall another really interesting feature of that particular image is the type of shell jacket he is wearing. Perhaps somebody has access to that photograph and can post it here, thanks.

I'm not sure about Dod's hair; don't know if he ever had too much to begin with!

Rich Croxton

Brother Croxton,
The image strikes me as interesting in that when I first saw it, i thought it was a 20th Century image. You know how some of the images we strike don't quite have that intangible quality that makes it look real?? Your gear can be the best, a period pose, etc etc, but when it turns out, it still looks like a 21st C person wearing Ole Timey clothes? The AJ Daniel image looks kinda like that to me (it is a period image). Maybe it is the lack of a hat, or the"buzz cut" that does it.

However, you asked about the jacket. It is a 7 button NC shell from what I can gather. He is wearing a roller buckle belt, cartridge box on a rather narrow sling and has a p53 Enfield. i don't have a scanner, or I'd post it.

Anyone have Brasseys and a scanner?? page 100.

BR

[world_warrior]

Re: Hairstyle???

Check out the pics on the page of southern guidelines for the Bummers event!

That kid up from looks like that banjo-playing young fella from Deliverance! Shaved head and all. As posted before, probably done for bug-control. Not only that, as I'm sure you're familiar with, it tends to dissipate the heat a lot better too. It's a haircut that has many advantages.

RJ

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Hairstyle???

How to you suppose they were able to achieve those cuts? Did they cut them that short with scissors or just shave their heads with straight razors? oouch!

[Gallinipper]

Re: Hairstyle???

I've often thought David Herrold should get some sort of "Civil War hair" recognition, or honorable mention. We certainly can't give him an award for anything else.....

[PogueMahone]

Re: Hairstyle???

Voted Best CW Hair of all time?

Hiram B. Granbury.

[lojafan]

Re: Hairstyle???

Peter,

they may have used something similar to an electric trimmer, but is handpowered. I've seen these before, but I'm not sure how far they go back. But they may have just used sissors! I'm going to keep looking to find out, since I also have to have short hair for work.

[D.W. Scalf]

Re: Hairstyle???

Have you ever seen an antique pair of sheep shearing shears? Man, those shearers could get right down to the skin, with what amounted to a very efficient pair of big scissors. And Andrew, I know what you mean about the hand held clippers, my great uncle still uses a pair of those( he was a barber), and I imagine they were using something similar in the 1860's. Maybe someone with more knowledge of period barbering could expand on that. I do know that at Camp Sumter(Andersonville), a man with barbering tools and skills could make a good prison living(See "Dancing on the Deadline", "John Ransome's Diary", etc). And I'm sure it was that way in most prison's North and South.

D.W. Scalf