- Joined
- Nov 26, 2016
- Location
- central NC
(Wikipedia Commons)
I think many folks may have them – questions about our Victorian friends that we never quite knew how or where to ask. Well now’s your chance. Throw caution (but not common sense) to the wind and pose your question(s) here. I’ll do my best to answer or call on my fabulous co-host, @DBF , or another knowledgeable CWT member to help out.
I’ll kick us off with one my buddy, @NH Civil War Gal , recently asked, “How did women in the CW time and later cope with errant chin hair?” And the answer is…
Women of ancient Egypt removed all of their body hair, including that on their heads, with tweezers made from seashells, pumice stones, or early beeswax and sugar based waxes. Yikes!!!
A fellow named Jacques Perret, a French barber, created the first straight razor for men in 1760 which was used by some women. By 1844, a doctor had created one of the first depilatory creams called Poudre Subtile and soon after, in 1880, King Camp Gillette created the first modern day razor for men. Sadly it was another three decades before a razor specifically marketed for women showed up.
In 1915, Gillette created the first razor specifically for women, the Milady Decolletée. The early 1900’s also saw ads for depilatory cream hit the masses.