Blondes Didn't "Have More Fun"

[Belle Montgomery]

Throughout most of the nineteenth century, pale-skinned brunette women were considered the standard of beauty, it was more fashionable to have a head full of dark brown hair judging from the lack of blondes in the era's fashion plates. It was only after the Civil War that blonde very slowly began to replace brunette as the most highly prized coloring for women. Can you imagine this old term instead being "drugstore brunette" at the time?
Here's a few tips from Emily Thornwell in 1856 for dying it as well as caring for, getting rid of unwanted hair and even preventing baldness:

 

[Mrs. V]

Thanks you! I was just wondering to myself what we did with the Antimaccasters we inherited from my aunt. (They fit over the top of fabric chair backs, to keep the chair unsoilded by hair oils.

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

They used to have antimacassers on British trains when I was growing up. Certainly they had them in 1st Class. My grandparents may also have used them (on the very chair I type this from) though I think my Grandmother stopped around the time my Grandfather died... which may say everything or nothing about his hair...

 

[Marooncat79]

Funny how times change

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I'm a pale skinned "light" brunette... where would that put me?

 

[Karen Lips]

I had no idea hair dye was manufactured that long ago.

 

[Equestriangirl93]

Thank you for sharing!! I'm naturally a pale skinned brunette

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I had no idea hair dye was manufactured that long ago.

I always thought they would just be stuck with what they were born with.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

fashionable to have a head full of dark brown hair judging from the lack of blondes in the era's fashion plates.

Chris Rock has an hysterical ( and correct ) take on the plethora of blond hair currently around- most is not, really. What's acceptable has also changed- in 2019 it's not at all shocking to change one's hair color from a deep brown to bright blond- unthinkable 150 years ago. Have a feeling images lack blond models because we lacked so many blonds, you know? If you look at era photos, true blonds aren't common there either.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

Thank you for sharing!! I'm naturally a pale skinned brunette

You're the "classic" beauty! That's why you make the perfect "feme fatale" spy!

 

[GS]

Sad. Did they not know that a "leaden comb" would leave residue on the skin to be absorbed, and then the poor vain lady's brain cells would deteriorate?

 

[zburkett]

Nice thing about this forum is getting interesting information that you wouldn't normally think of. Thanks. Great thread.

 

[BlueandGrayl]

I wonder if there were any blue-eyed, blonde-haired Americans (male or female) that existed in the antebellum era or Civil War era if so can anyone provide me photos and/or paintings.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

I wonder if there were any blue-eyed, blonde-haired Americans (male or female) that existed in the antebellum era or Civil War era if so can anyone provide me photos and/or paintings.

Sure there were...Germans and Swedes etc.

 

[zburkett]

Doesn't Custer fit that description?

 

[BlueandGrayl]

Sure there were...Germans and Swedes etc.

I'm talking Americans (North and South) in the antebellum and Civil War era. Do you have any actual photos or paintings you could provide me with?

 

[Belle Montgomery]

I'm talking Americans (North and South) in the antebellum and Civil War era. Do you have any actual photos or paintings you could provide me with?

So was I...descendants of fair haired people are Americans too. My husband's US German bloodline, Frederick Leonhart, (changed to Leonard) fought in the American Revolution. No I personally don't own any but I'm sure they are out there.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

I'm talking Americans (North and South) in the antebellum and Civil War era. Do you have any actual photos or paintings you could provide me with?

Miss Pruyn at 2:13 in. A few others with light eyes and various light hair shades.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

I'm talking Americans (North and South) in the antebellum and Civil War era. Do you have any actual photos or paintings you could provide me with?

Also don't forget photography back then wasn't exactly perfect. Hence -Custer and his famous "blonde" hair in his pics: