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  1. #1

    Default historical hair care

    this video went viral some days ago and i want to know what are your opinions about it? the lady has beautiful long curly hair and she doesn't use shampoo or brush her hair. is this the real secret of the Victorian long haired ladies?


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-2YxqGiI54

  2. #2
    Member Pouncequick's Avatar
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    Default Re: historical hair care

    She does some things historically. I don't know that clay washes were as popular as egg washes in the Victorian era, but they may work better for her. I'm not sure if I agree that her routine is THE historical routine that will get everyone, everywhere long hair. When I read the classic to knee, knee length and beyond, and floor length and beyond threads I don't see anyone copying her precise routine and claiming it as the secret. When I read old hair journals it seems like long haired ladies largely did what they found worked best for themselves and the modern equivalents on this site seem to do the same. Some people wash their hair very infrequently while there was at least one user who washed her knee length hair every day.

    There are a slew of other historical hair care videos if you find that sort of thing interesting though.

    This video by Snappy Dragon covers long hair care in the medieval period in a large portion of Europe:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JZ33WuzPHI

    Then there is Pretty Shepherd who follows traditions inspired by folk hair care in Hungary:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mlAuM8KW3A

    Abby Cox used to do historical reenactment for the 18th century and she did a video covering pomade and powder which she used for over a year:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnBniAE2wiE

    V. Birchwood follows a Victorian inspired hair care routine:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnBniAE2wiE

    Then there are probably a million non Western channels covering historical hair care in a variety of other cultures and locations. The unifying threads seem to be find something that works well for your hair, fits in your life, uses things you can easily acquire, that is gentle enough for you while still cleansing your hair well and detangles it enough to keep it from turning into a giant nest that slowly eats you alive. I combine medieval hair combing with gently washing my hair a few times a week. I tried clay washes a long time ago and found they didn't play nicely with my hard water. ACV rinses aren't as effective for me as citric acid rinses. Finger detangling my hair misses tiny knots, but is really useful before actually combing out my hair. Boar bristle brushes seem to irritate and inflame my scalp while fine toothed combs help me remove build up. I learned these things through experimenting which it seems like she did as well. Combing her hair in the shower was damaging it so she uses her fingers. After she demonstrated brushing it with a boar bristle brush in her most recent video, I feel like I can see why she was getting damage. She is a bit rough with the brush on her hair but she was super gentle using her fingers.

    SL ~ APL ~ BSL ~ WL ~ HL~ BCL ~ TBL ~ CL ~ FTL ~ KL


  3. #3

    Default Re: historical hair care

    Quote Originally Posted by Pouncequick View Post
    She does some things historically. I don't know that clay washes were as popular as egg washes in the Victorian era, but they may work better for her. I'm not sure if I agree that her routine is THE historical routine that will get everyone, everywhere long hair. When I read the classic to knee, knee length and beyond, and floor length and beyond threads I don't see anyone copying her precise routine and claiming it as the secret. When I read old hair journals it seems like long haired ladies largely did what they found worked best for themselves and the modern equivalents on this site seem to do the same. Some people wash their hair very infrequently while there was at least one user who washed her knee length hair every day.

    There are a slew of other historical hair care videos if you find that sort of thing interesting though.

    This video by Snappy Dragon covers long hair care in the medieval period in a large portion of Europe:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JZ33WuzPHI

    Then there is Pretty Shepherd who follows traditions inspired by folk hair care in Hungary:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mlAuM8KW3A

    Abby Cox used to do historical reenactment for the 18th century and she did a video covering pomade and powder which she used for over a year:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnBniAE2wiE

    V. Birchwood follows a Victorian inspired hair care routine:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnBniAE2wiE

    Then there are probably a million non Western channels covering historical hair care in a variety of other cultures and locations. The unifying threads seem to be find something that works well for your hair, fits in your life, uses things you can easily acquire, that is gentle enough for you while still cleansing your hair well and detangles it enough to keep it from turning into a giant nest that slowly eats you alive. I combine medieval hair combing with gently washing my hair a few times a week. I tried clay washes a long time ago and found they didn't play nicely with my hard water. ACV rinses aren't as effective for me as citric acid rinses. Finger detangling my hair misses tiny knots, but is really useful before actually combing out my hair. Boar bristle brushes seem to irritate and inflame my scalp while fine toothed combs help me remove build up. I learned these things through experimenting which it seems like she did as well. Combing her hair in the shower was damaging it so she uses her fingers. After she demonstrated brushing it with a boar bristle brush in her most recent video, I feel like I can see why she was getting damage. She is a bit rough with the brush on her hair but she was super gentle using her fingers.
    i agree with you that there's no one way to grow long hair. everybody should experiment and find the best thing that works for them. what i take from the video is to be gentle with hair to minimize breakage since i have a similar hair type to hers.

  4. #4

    Default Re: historical hair care

    I think it's great that methods like rarely washing her hair and not using shampoo worked for her, but as with anything when it comes to hair, YMMV. (I would hate for anyone watching that video to think that is absolutely the way that works for all hair, or that they have to use it for their hair even if other things work better for their hair. By all means it's something to try if a person is interested, but if they find it doesn't work for their hair or lifestyle, it's fine to not use it.)
    Putting it in my signature because I have to say it so often:
    Do what works for your hair, not what other people say is "right" or "wrong." If it works for you, it's not wrong. If it doesn't work for you, it's not right.

  5. #5
    🌸🌷🌸🌷🌸🌷🌸🌷🌸🌷🌸🌷 Glitch's Avatar
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    Default Re: historical hair care

    Interesting stuff - I also remember someone here shared some ancient book about historical hair care and it was so neat seeing what used to be done back then!

    Quote Originally Posted by Kat View Post
    I think it's great that methods like rarely washing her hair and not using shampoo worked for her, but as with anything when it comes to hair, YMMV. (I would hate for anyone watching that video to think that is absolutely the way that works for all hair, or that they have to use it for their hair even if other things work better for their hair. By all means it's something to try if a person is interested, but if they find it doesn't work for their hair or lifestyle, it's fine to not use it.)
    Yep! If I personally followed that route, all of my hair would soon fall out

  6. #6
    Member Pouncequick's Avatar
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    Default Re: historical hair care

    Quote Originally Posted by Glitch View Post
    Yep! If I personally followed that route, all of my hair would soon fall out
    I went through an all herbal all the time phase and clay washes gave me the most horrifying waxy build up. I had to wash my hair with dawn to get it clean. I think I'll stick with shampoo and conditioner that smells herbal but actually cleans my hair.

    SL ~ APL ~ BSL ~ WL ~ HL~ BCL ~ TBL ~ CL ~ FTL ~ KL


  7. #7
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    Default Re: historical hair care

    Quote Originally Posted by Pouncequick View Post
    I went through an all herbal all the time phase and clay washes gave me the most horrifying waxy build up. I had to wash my hair with dawn to get it clean. I think I'll stick with shampoo and conditioner that smells herbal but actually cleans my hair.
    Omg, Dawn?! I can't imagine how much build up there was! It probably would have happened to me too Nothing like a good shampoo and conditioner for me as well

  8. #8
    Member BVU's Avatar
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    Default Re: historical hair care

    It depends on a few factors. I follow medieval hair routines and most are just SO and headscarfs It varies on culture, hairtypes, materials, class, and eras. Classes are a big thing, wealthier people who generally put many things in their hair in later eras (1600s-1900s) had a lot of free time to mess with it and see what works, while lower classed people often went pure SO with WO twice a year, eggs masks, clay, combing, and other things that required little effort and money. Won't say too much here unless asked, but in a nutshell, do what works for your hair.
    Last edited by BVU; December 4th, 2022 at 08:38 PM.
    Material Girling my way to longer hair.

    Lady Nakime, Keeper of the Haired-Companions. Order of the Long Haired Knights.

  9. #9

    Default Re: historical hair care

    Quote Originally Posted by BVU View Post
    It depends on a few factors. I follow medieval hair routines and most are just SO and headscarfs It varies on culture, hairtypes, materials, class, and eras. Classes are a big thing, wealthier people who generally put many things in their hair in later eras (1600s-1900s) had a lot of free time to mess with it and see what works, while lower classed people often went pure SO with WO twice a year, eggs masks, clay, combing, and other things that required little effort and money. Won't say too much here unless asked, but in a nutshell, do what works for your hair.

    i'm so interested in medieval hair routines right now so thank you so much for your information and i would like to know more.

  10. #10

    Default Re: historical hair care

    Quote Originally Posted by Amiraaa View Post
    i'm so interested in medieval hair routines right now so thank you so much for your information and i would like to know more.
    also, hair washing methods specifically differ from one culture to another. in my culture, people washed their hair with sidr powder mixed with water and a little bit of oil. I don't see many people talking about this method of washing but i use at times when i don't feel like using shampoo and it works well for me

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