Over the course of the Victorian Era, hats got smaller, and hairstyles got bigger. Advancements in artificial hair were made and the market for hair was booming. In 1872 French hairdresser Francois Marcel created the "Marcel Wave" by strategically using heated curling irons to produce a more natural effect than crimping, and it revolutionized the art of hairdressing all over the world. It also sparked demand for curly hairpieces, and "scalpettes" and "frizettes" were in such demand that at one point they were being manufactured at a rate of two tons per week. But hairpieces made with real human hair continued to be the ultimate coiffure accessory for those women wealthy enough to afford them. Selling one's hair was an honest, albeit drastic method for a woman to earn some quick cash.
Dora Deane highlights another popular custom of the time, that of giving locks of hair as tokens of love and remembrance. There was a time when some considered gifting a lock of hair to be the most personal and meaningful form of sentiment, and the gifted locks were treated as cherished keepsakes, as is the case in one of the more poignant aspects of Dora's story.
Yes, hair was very important to the Victorians, and though many, many styles have come and gone between then and now, one thing hasn't changed: we women are still pretty serious about our hair!
Check out the great images of vintage 'dos and contemporary vintage-inspired styles on our Pinterest Boards!