Fashions in hair during the Victorian era

Early Victorian (1837-1860)

Fig.247 Women's headdress and
hairstyles by Georgine de
Courtais p.115

The hair was normally worn very flat on the top of the head with a middle parting. It was popular to have the hair in a smooth up do normally in a knotted or bun style. Fig. 247 on the right shows a typical hairstyle like this.

Occasionally women would have ringlets around the sides of the face. Fig. 244 shown below, the main influence of this hairstyle was Charles I. Feathers, flowers, lace, artificial grapes were often used in the hair as evening wear. It was during this era that long hair became more fashionable.

Fig. 244 Women's headdress
and hairstyles by Georgine de
Courtais p.115

Braids in the hair became very popular but the positioning of the braids within the hair style changed.

Reference

Women's headdress and hairstyles by Georgine de Courtais p.114

Fig. 270 Women's headdress
and hairstyles by Georgine
de Courtais p.125

Mid Victorian (1860-1880)

During the mid Victorian era middle partings were still the most popular for women. ‘Chignons’ were very fashionable, this was where the hair was loosely braided or rolled on the head. Fig. 270 on the right shows a very elegant, typical chignon style.

Shown in fig.274 below is a hairstyle which had a wave to it. Hair wavers were invented that were advertised to wave the hair within 3 minutes. Women with light hair dyed their hair to a darker colour if they could afford to. Dark hair was extremely popular and this continued long after the Victorian era.

Fig. 274 Women's headdress 
and hairstyles by Georgine 
de Courtais p.125

‘’Such a large quantity of false hair is necessary for the formation of modern coiffures that we think it well to inform our lady readers into the secrets of the ficitious curls, cows, plaits and chignons to be used for each of them’’ This was printed in an article in The English women’s Domestic Magazine in 1866.

Fig. 273 Women's headdress 
and hairstyles by Georgine 
de Courtais p.125

False hair began being used to create ringlets in the hair at the top of the head like show in fig. 273 on the right. It was also fashionable to have flowers in the hair for evening wear with ringlets hanging down the side.

Reference

Women's headdress and hairstyles by Georgine de Courtais p.124

Late Victorian era (1880-1901)

Towards the end of the Victorian era fashionable hairstyles needed thick long hair to be achievable. Knots on the top of the head were still extremely popular. Soft waves at the side of the face were still also very popular.

Fig. 296 Women's headdress
and hairstyles by Georgine
de Courtais p.135

Fig. 296 on the left shows a very fashionable hairstyle that was worn during this time. The height of the back of this hairstyle was a desired style to have, with the curls at the top section of the hairstyle makes the hairstyle interesting.

Women desired to have full but still soft looking hair yet women often tried to enhance their natural hair by fluffing, frizzing or curling their hair. Fig. 298 on below shows a Victorian woman with fluffed hair all around the head with a knot at the top of the head. Knots were normally made by twisting the hair into a bun shape.

Fig. 298 Women's headdress 
and hairstyles by Georgine 
de Courtais p.135

Reference

Women's headdress and hairstyles 
by Georgine de Courtais p.134

All throughout the Victorian era women dyed their hair although they were advised not to as it had health risks. Many women also wore hats and bonnets through the Victorian era as they were fashionable to use as decoration and accessories in the hair.