Page 29 - All About History 58 - 2017 UK

4 FAMOUS…
How not to… maintain personal hygiene
In 1768, a letter appeared in The As the hair was being combed PARISIAN
London Magazine in which a young out, swarms of little bugs could be
man expressed his concern for seen frantically running around in HAIRSTYLES
the health of women after having different directions. The hairdresser
witnessed the undressing of his assured the gentleman that the bugs
elderly aunt’s hair. When the hair couldn’t spread to different parts of
dresser “opened her head”, as he the body, for they were unable to
called it, the gentleman was met by break through the barrier of powder
an incredible stench caused by layers and pomade.
of pomade, powder and sweat, which The greatly disturbed gentleman
had been confined in the coiffure published this graphic description in
for nine weeks. The smell was bad an attempt to restore ladies’ former
enough but there was more. cleanliness — it had no effect.
À LA BELLE POULE

PARIS, 18TH CENTURY
The victorious French battleship
La Belle Poule was commemorated
by adorning the hair with a (rather
large) miniature.

À LA POMPADOUR

PARIS, 18TH CENTURY
PIN CUSHION STYLE YOUR STRANDS Madame de Pompadour, mistress
of King Louis XV and great fashion
Place an arrowhead-shaped cushion in the centre of Starting above the ear, unpin a curl. Coat it with idol of her time, first introduced
03 the frizzed hair. You can now pin the frizzed hair to 04 pomade and powder, and frizz it thoroughly. Smooth the iconic pouf.
the cushion from all sides, securing the hairstyle and reaching the outside of the strand and roll it towards the scalp so that it
the desired shape. Make sure that the cushion is thoroughly forms a little egg. Repeat to form three curls on each side. Frizz
covered and disappears into the style — it will help support a hat the remaining hair, pin it to the cushion on top and smooth
or accessory later on. down the front.

TÊTE DE MOUTON

PARIS, 18TH CENTURY
The ‘sheephead’ was a popular
French mid-century hairstyle
featuring a row of defined curls
along the front of the hair.

PLAIT TO FINISH ACCESSORISE
Untie the back hair, comb it well and coat it with We’re almost there! Protect your face with a powdering À L’INOCULATION
05 pomade and powder. Create one curl on the side of the 06 cone and ask someone to blow powder onto your
neck, which will hang down gracefully over the shoulder. Plait coiffure using the powder machine. Make sure you get a nice PARIS, 18TH CENTURY
the rest of the hair before pulling it up and pinning it to the even coating. If needed, fill any gaps using a powdered swan- When vaccines proved to be
successful against smallpox, ladies
cushion. Spread out the plait by gently tugging at the sides to down puff. Lastly, accessorise your do using pearls, ribbons, celebrated — of course — with an
make it wider. feathers, silk flowers or an evening bonnet. Et voilà, you’re done! allegorical hairstyle.

29