Figure 1.--This American boy in 1895 wore long ringlet curls. His older sister also had long hair with curls. Click on the imager to see the differece in their hair styles and how his sister had her hair done. Image coutesy of the RG collection.

We have limited information on how mothers decided on ringlet curls in the mid-19th century for their different children. We have little written information frm contemporary sources at this time. Most of our information comes from available photographic images. Only in the 1860s do substantial numbers of images become available permitting some definitive assessment of conventions for styling the hair of siblings. Images from the 1840s are rare and still very limited in the 1850s. Very significant numbers of photographic images appear in the 1860s. We begin to note increasing numbers of boys with ringlet curls, especially in the 1880s after the publication of Little Lord Fauntleroy. This does not mean that girls no longer wore ringlets. We do note, however, that in families where boys wore tight, defined ringlets, their sisters no longer did. We are not yet positive how girls in families without brothers had their hair done. We believe that here ringlets were more common, but this needs to be confirmed. Ringlers clearly from 1880-1900 became a style that could be worn by both boys and girls. We do not believe, however, that it ever was a style that girls could not wear. HBC many pages where where images with brothers and sisters are loaded. As this is a realitively new page, we have not yet had it available to cross reference with family images as we have laoded then. Most are American images. We will gradually load them here so HBC readers can assess how different families addressed the issue of hair styles for thaeir sons and daughters.

Chronology

Conventions for ringlet curls changed over time, although our understanding of these changes is still limited. We have limited information on how mothers decided on ringlet curls in the mid-19th century for their different children. We have little written information frm contemporary sources at this time. Most of our information comes from available photographic images. Only in the 1860s do substantial numbers of images become available permitting some definitive assessment of conventions for styling the hair of siblings. Images from the 1840s are rare and still very limited in the 1850s. Very significant numbers of photographic images appear in the 1860s. We begin to note increasing numbers of boys with ringlet curls, especially in the 1880s after the publication of Little Lord Fauntleroy. Ringlets clearly from 1880-1900 became a style that could be worn by both boys and girls.

Other Styles

We note sisters wearing a variety of other styles when their brothers wore ringlets. We note sisters with both long and short hair. Some girls had especially long hair while others short styles and many lengths in betweem. We note both stright and curled hair, but curls not done it ringlets. Some times the different styles contrast sharply. In other cases there are similarities. Some aspects of the hair styles could be done similarly such as bangs and center hair parts. These are both styling elements that could be used with ringlet curls. They could be use to stress the different in hair styles pr to create similarities at the mother's discression.

Sisters' Ringlets

This does not mean that girls no longer wore ringlets. We do note, however, that in families where boys wore tight, defined ringlets, their sisters no longer did. We are not yet positive how girls in families without brothers had their hair done. We believe that here ringlets were more common, but this needs to be confirmed. We do not believe that ringlers were ever was a style that girls could not wear.

Family Variations

One factor which should be considered is that in the 19th century, especially the early and mid-19th century, there was much greater variation from family to family than is the case today. The mass media is a poweful force to promote conformity. Mother in the 19th century had much graeter lattitude when considering how to dress and style th e hair of their children. Thus great care must be exercized in using one portrait or a small number of portraits to show a general trend. These image can show, however, the range of hair styles worn.

Country Trends

Another factor to be considered is difference between countries. There are very significant differences between countries on how common ringlet curls were and the conventioins for wearing them. Ringlet curls for boys generally was more common in America than in Europe. AMuch of our work in ringlet curl is focused on America, primarily because we have more American photographic images. One factor that has to also be considered is possible regional or ethnic differences within countries. We belive, for example, that ringlet culs were more common in the South than in the North, but this still needs to be confirmed.

Ongoing Reserch

HBC many pages where where images with brothers and sisters are loaded. As this is a realitively new page, we have not yet had it available to cross reference with family images as we have laoded then. Most are American images. We will gradually load them here so HBC readers can assess how different families addressed the issue of hair styles for thaeir sons and daughters.

Created: December 23, 2002
Last edited: 3:17 AM 2/25/2008