Victorian women had their hair so long, it would put Rapunzel to shame

Victorian women had their hair so long, it would put Rapunzel to shame

In the Victorian era, a woman’s hair was considered an important part of her appearance, marking her status and femininity.

Women in that era were often expected to grow their hair to great lengths, and it was common knowledge that a woman’s crowning glory was her hair.

Growing long hair was done so that elaborate up~dos could be created using your own hair.
This was opposed to using rats, pads, or the Victorian versions of hair extensions.

Many women, even if they had extremely long hair, would use rats made from their own hair, when a hairstyle called for lots of excess volume.

Today, “letting your hair down” is an idiom for relaxing or having fun, but in Victorian times it wasn’t just an idiom – it was an act that only occurred in the bedroom.

This was where a woman took all the hairpins out, and brushed her long hair.

Only her husband (or her maid) was permitted to see her that way.

An important rite of passage for a young girl during this time, was the moment she began to wear her hair up, around the age of 15 or 16.

Previously it would have been worn loose, or in plaits and tied up with a ribbon.

The girl was considered a young lady, as soon as the hair pins came out, and her hair went up.

‘Loose hair’ wasn’t something that respectable women would wear in public, and was mostly a style used for the sake of art.

More often than not, the women with long, cascading hair were models and actresses intended to depict intimacy and romanticism.

To a Victorian observer, photographs of women with long, flowing, loose hair would be particularly titillating.

Among the fashionable middle and upper classes of Victorian society, a lady’s hair became the focal point of sexual interest – the primary expression of her femininity.

For the poorer classes, maintaining long tresses amid the disease and poor hygiene of the time, was highly impractical.

Many women resorted to selling their hair for cash.

One of the most important aspects of Victorian hair was neatness.
Regardless of the style, hair had to be kept clean and shiny.

The focus behind the hairstyles during this period, was on the overall silhouette of the human body.

Hair was meant to be styled in a way that complemented your outfit, and made the body appear balanced.

All that hair would do my swede in, i’m glad i keep it short!