hair accessories

[motozulli]

Re: hair accessories

I was so excited to find this yesterday:


It is from Fantasy and Fashion: Essays on the History of Costume Bryn Mawr College Library, 1996
"perfect little ladies: Fashion Dolls, the Feminine Ideal, and the art of Dress in the Gilded Age." by H. Kristina Haughland

It is from a doll's collection. Look at that little hairnet! And Betty, this answers your question a little bit- you can see a little hair-bristle brush, and a comb, and one of those two-sided combs. I've heard those were for lice but I question that- it seems funny to me that a doll would have a lice brush. and if you look closely, there is what looks like a long, curved bobby-pin. Could this be the elusive hairclip?

Just a note- she doesn't specify which doll this is from, but all the dolls she looked at were from c. 1865-1870s.

[KATE1880]

Re: hair accessories

Hello Ladies,
well i must say that reading this has definitely given me some things to think about. my first thought was what kind of woman would have been visiting troops if this was not a upper military hut? My only answer could have been a traveling nurse, a local women looking to help soldiers, or a soiled dove looking to make a buck. Either way I am intensely interested in seeing the back of this. A CW barette will totally open up a new bucket of worms for us researchers to start digging and I look forward to that day!

But here's a new part to this thread, I love the look of period tortoise shell combs for the hair, where do you ladies get your? I cannot seem to find any reputable dealers who sell ones that don't look plasticy and cheap. Any help would be appreciated.

[celtfiddler]

Re: hair accessories

Try checking import shops for the tortoiseshell combs. Sometimes you can find them also at reasonable prices at flea markets and estate sales

[Spinster]

Re: hair accessories

But here's a new part to this thread, I love the look of period tortoise shell combs for the hair, where do you ladies get your? I cannot seem to find any reputable dealers who sell ones that don't look plasticy and cheap. Any help would be appreciated.

While plastic combs simply won't hold my hair, I can offer a way to improve the looks of the modern plastic tortoise shell imitation ones---knock the shine off them. Use a fine grade of sandpaper to roughen the texture.

And, like so many things, this is simply the 'best available'--a real tortoise shell comb will stay in my hair, but I'd be terrifield to wear it anywhere with the possible exception of a formal seated dinner.

[LindaTrent]

Re: hair accessories

Hello Ladies,
my first thought was what kind of woman would have been visiting troops if this was not a upper military hut? My only answer could have been a traveling nurse, a local women looking to help soldiers, or a soiled dove looking to make a buck.

I have letters that my gg grandfather in Ohio sent to my g grandfather (his son in Covington, KY) that talk about different families from Ohio going to visit the troops while stationed in Covington (in forts) 155 miles away. It just blows my mind that families just went down and visited with their kin folk pretty much whenever they wanted.

Of course, what also blows my mind is the apparent freedom that the boys had to visit home, as he's often talking about how he sent various items with soldiers returning to their regiment. In one place he even talks about how maybe my g grandfather & gg uncle can come home over a Sabbath just to hear the new preacher! Um, excuse me, anyone know there's a war going on here? :sarcastic

Now this item was found in a winter quarters hut? Is it possible that family or friends visited more than we might otherwise think during the long encampments in the not so deep south? Fredericksburg isn't that far from Washington.

Just something to think about.

Linda.

[motozulli]

Re: hair accessories

Here is a hairpin that shows up in a basic Googe patent search: (significantly, it's the only one, though I didn't go through every hit)


Improvement in hairpins, 1864

and later hairpins:

improved hairpain, 1870
Design for a hairpin, 1870
Design for Hairpins, 1871
Improvement in hair pins, 1876

and some other interesting hair-related contraptions:

Improvement in rolls for ladies' hair, 1863
Hair Crimper, 1861

Hair Crimper, 1859

Holding Ladies' Hair in Curl, 1858
Instrument for Curling Hair, 1857
Improvement in hair Crimpers, 1863

[SouthernMag]

Re: hair accessories

"The fact that the piece came from deep in the hut along with I know at least one US plate, several bottles and other relics pretty much confirms it time period."


I can address this since my degree is in anthropology (archaeology being my sub specialty with two years of grad school under my belt and several digs). If this barette was found at the same level as the plate, bottles and other relics, that is, the same floor at the same depth below ground level, then archaeologically speaking it is said to be in "context" with the known war era artifacts and the premise of "if it is found together, it dates together" would come into play--usually. The whole ideology of stratification hinges on this premise. However, there are factors that could account for the barette being there but, not belonging there, such as prior disturbance of the site by digging or plowing, or bioturbation (digging critters moving stuff around underground, think moles and earthworms, etc). Mostly, though, in archaeology, the working theory is if it looks like a duck, smells like a duck, quacks like a duck and resides at the same level as the rest of the ducks, it is a duck. I would still, however, hestitate to hinge a statement of "period correct" upon the use of barettes since this is such an isolated find.

Maggie Reese

[cw_girl83]

Re: hair accessories

This thread has been quite interesting to read. I have always wondered about proper hairstyles and techniques used. Another thought that came to mind as I read this, I was about my short brown, highlighted hair. I know that obviously hair was not highlighted back then. So my question is, is there a proper hairstyle I could use and also find a way to hide as much of this as possible? I do not want to base my current hairstyle or color around my reenacting events but when I do attend them, I would like to be as accurate as possible. Is there a way for me to have my highlights now, and still be correct when I go to a reenactment? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

[KATE1880]

Re: hair accessories

Terre,
Thanks for the heads up on how to make a plastic shell comb better, I NEVER would have thought of that! Amazing what I can learn when I only stop to ask for help. THANKS!

[Spinster]

Re: hair accessories

So my question is, is there a proper hairstyle I could use and also find a way to hide as much of this as possible? I do not want to base my current hairstyle or color around my reenacting events but when I do attend them, I would like to be as accurate as possible. Is there a way for me to have my highlights now, and still be correct when I go to a reenactment? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

In my 'emergency' box there are several items useful in remedying those things that are simply not period correct and cannot be fixed. Foremost amoung them is a shawl and a slat bonnet---a great deal of sin can be concealed by either one.

Truely, there is little to be done for hair that is too short to center part and pummel into submission with a great deal of pommade. Same thing goes for obviously modern highlights that cannot be chalked up to a natural hair color.

But put that hair deep inside a slat bonnet and never take it off until donning a nightdress and going to sleep, and many will be none the wiser. One of my favorite ladies actually has a short punky cut, and I did not know it for years, for I had never seen her without a slat bonnet on her head.

[bizzilizzit]

Re: hair accessories

I have a pair of hair barrettes dated 1865 - they are gold and are quite small - perhaps for a child - with the name LIZZIE engraved on them.
Elizabeth Topping

[bizzilizzit]

Re: hair accessories

Barretts are approx 1.375 inches
14 K gold
Stamped inside: Pat'd June 24, '62
Engraved inside: Elizabeth Olive Berry April 25, 1866
Engraved on top: Lizzie

I think the upload vehicle here hates my MAC - anyone wanting images, please PM me and I will send to your email adddress.

Elizabeth Topping

[bizzilizzit]

Re: hair accessories

Elizabeth Topping

[bizzilizzit]

Re: hair accessories

This thread has been quite interesting to read. I have always wondered about proper hairstyles and techniques used. Another thought that came to mind as I read this, I was about my short brown, highlighted hair. I know that obviously hair was not highlighted back then. So my question is, is there a proper hairstyle I could use and also find a way to hide as much of this as possible? I do not want to base my current hairstyle or color around my reenacting events but when I do attend them, I would like to be as accurate as possible. Is there a way for me to have my highlights now, and still be correct when I go to a reenactment? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

Try a hair rinse darker than your own - it will wash out with your first shampoo - just don't get caught in the rain! Comes in either a liquid or foam - my personal choice would be the foam.
Also, for ladies with those dreaded grey roots - try a hair crayon close to your hair color. Works the same way as a rinse, only you can touch up during the event, if needed.
Elizabeth Topping

[Miss Elodie]

Re: hair accessories

Greetings!

One thing to clarify is whether your highlights are on top or do they "run through" all your hair and are they of an obviously different color? You might be able to get away with wetting down and slicking back your bangs (with a center part, of course) and covering your highlights with false braids on top and false knots in back. This may only be practical in the evening. (but beware of vigorous dancing with hairpieces--I learned this the hard way at my last re-enactment ball!) During the day, if you don't want to mess with an elaborate hairstyle, I vote the bonnet option.

Best of luck!