The Forgotten Art of Hair Care in the 19th Century

In today’s world of daily showers and endless rows of shampoos, it’s easy to forget that just a century and a half ago, hair care looked very different. In the 19th century, most people—especially women—did not wash their hair every day. But this wasn’t due to laziness or neglect. It was a matter of wisdom.

The soap of that era was made with lye, a substance so harsh it stripped away natural oils, leaving long hair brittle and prone to breakage. For men with short hair, this was inconvenient but tolerable. For women, whose hair often reached their waists, it could have been disastrous.

Instead, women turned to a ritual we’ve all heard about but rarely practice: brushing. The famous “100 strokes a night” wasn’t just a romantic notion—it was practical science. With a boar-bristle brush, cleaned daily, women distributed natural oils from the scalp down to the tips, keeping hair nourished, glossy, and strong. Each stroke removed dust, improved circulation, and maintained the hair’s natural balance without water.

Hair in the Victorian era was more than beauty—it was status. Elaborate hairstyles—braids wound like crowns, curls pinned high, and loops cascading down—served both fashion and function. These styles protected the hair, kept it tidy, and reflected refinement. Women even used “rats,” little pads made of wool or saved hair, to add fullness and structure.

What may surprise us today is that a woman could go months without a true wash, yet her hair remained healthy and elegant. The secret wasn’t fancy products—it was patience, discipline, and care.

Perhaps there’s a lesson here for us now: that sometimes, less is more, and that beauty comes not from constant treatment, but from mindful, consistent care.