Page 29 - All About History - Issue 58-17

4 FAMOUS…
How not to… maintain personal hygiene
In1768,aletterappearedin The Asthehairwasbeingcombed PARISIAN
London Magazine inwhichayoung out, swarms of little bugs could be
manexpressedhisconcernfor seen frantically running around in HAIRSTYLES
thehealthofwomenafterhaving different directions. The hairdresser
witnessed the undressing of his assured the gentleman that the bugs
elderlyaunt’shair.Whenthehair couldn’t spread to different parts of
dresser“openedherhead”,ashe thebody,fortheywereunableto
calledit,thegentlemanwasmetby break through the barrier of powder
an incredible stench caused by layers and pomade.
of pomade, powder and sweat, which Thegreatlydisturbedgentleman
hadbeenconfinedinthecoiffure publishedthisgraphicdescriptionin
fornineweeks.Thesmellwasbad anattempttorestoreladies’former
enoughbuttherewasmore. cleanliness—ithadnoeffect.
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.

ÀLAPOMPADOUR

PARIS,18THCENTURY
PIN CUSHION STYLE YOUR STRANDS Madame de Pompadour, mistress
ofKingLouisXVandgreatfashion
Placeanarrowhead-shapedcushioninthecentreof Starting above the ear, unpin a curl. Coat it with
idol of her time, first introduced
03the 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
coveredanddisappearsintothestyle—itwillhelpsupportahat 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.

PLAITTOFINISH 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
When vaccines proved to be
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-
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.

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