Victorian Hairstyles

 The elegant and elaborate hairstyles fashionable
in Victorian times are famous for their beauty.

 The expression, "a woman’s crowning glory" had its origins
dating back to the Victorian Period. But ironically,
women's hair during this era of romance and feminine mystery was often severely
damaged from the relentless use of hot irons.
Hair became scorched and often had an unpleasant odour that had to be masked with
heavy perfumes. It was not uncommon to have ones hair reduced to a wool-like texture. 

 Hair was never cut except in cases of serious illness. 

 The simplicity of the smooth, center-parted styles worn by women in the 

Victorian era lasted until the 1870s, when the Parisian hairdresser 

M. Marcel Grateau created a new, natural-looking wave 

by turning a curling iron upside down.

In 1872, Marcel had introduced his famous
Marcel wave using a heated iron that imitated the natural curl of the hair.
 Hot tongs were applied to produce a curl rather than a crimp.
 Done at intervals over the head, the hair would assume the look of moiré.
It revolutionized the art of hairdressing all over the world.

 The Marcel wave remained popular for almost half a century
and helped usher in a new era of women's waved and curled hairpieces,
 which were mixed with the natural hair.

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Curly hair was meant to indicate a sweeter temperament, 

while straight-haired girls were considered reserved or even awkward. 

A woman's hair was profoundly important to the overall 

effect she was able to make. Reaching the age when the hair could be put up 

was a rite of passage in her life, and often there were several interim stages, 

where a plait would be loosely put up with a ribbon, 

to signify the coming event.  

 

Victorian hair jewellery

source for 4 above pictures 

During the Victorian Period,
the hair receiver was commonly found on a woman’s vanity.
 After brushing her hair, she would remove the hair from the brush and place it through
the opening of the receiver for storage. Once enough hair had accumulated,
it could be used to construct rats, or could be woven or plaited
and put into lockets, left visible through cut-glass windows of a brooch
or even made into watch chains, bracelets or jewelry.
Hair receivers were usually made from ceramic, bronze or crystal.
 Hand-painted ceramic receivers are commonly found in antique stores.

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