Figure 1.--This Dagerotype was taken in the 1856, it shows a boy wearing ringlet curls. It is less clear to what extent ringlets were wrn bu bys in the 1840s before sgnificant numbers of Daguerotypes were available. |
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Hair styles were quite varied during the mid-19th Century. Some boys had long flowing hair. The French boys might wear hair bows. Long hair for boys appears to have begun becoming more common during the 1850s. The fashion of rolling boys hair in long
ringlet curls appears to have begun in the 1850s, but this is probably more a reflection of the new developing technology of photography. The earliest confirmed images I have of ringlets dates to the 1850s. Notably it is the 1850s that large numbers of photographic images are becoming avaialble in the 1850s. Photography was still relatively expensive, but not nearly as expensive as a painted portrait. Thus the number of images of children available to fashion historians begins to increase in the 1850s. This may explain why the number of images of boys in ringlets appears to increase in the 1850s. It is unclear to HBC why there are so few painted porteaits of boys wearing ringlets. Clearly the photographic record shows that some boys were wearing ringlets in the 1850s. It is probably that som boys wore them earlier as ringets had become popular in the early 19th century. It is likely that within a few years of appearing, doting mothers were extending the style to their sons. It appears that a small minority of boys wore ringlets, but the number was not insignificant and the number was increasing.
Hair styles were quite varied during the mid-19th Century. Most boys in American and Europe wore hort hair. Some boys had long flowing hair. The French boys might wear
hair bows. Long hair for boys appears to have begun becoming more common during the 1850s, although it was only a minority of boys that wore curls.
Notably it is the 1850s that large numbers of photographic images are becoming avaialble in the 1850s. Photography was still relatively expensive, but not nearly as expensive as a painted portrait. The Daguerotype was perfected in the late 1830s and tudios were opened in the 1840s, especially in the 1840s. Daguereoyupe studios were opened in America during the 1840s, but the number ofvimages, especially from the eraly 1840s are quite limited. Thus the number of images of children available to fashion historians only begin appearing in substanial numbers during the 1850s. This may explain why the number of images of boys in ringlets appears to increase in the 1850s. It is unclear to HBC why there are so few painted porteaits of boys wearing ringlets. Clearly the photographic record shows that some boys were wearing ringlets in the 1850s. It is probably that some boys wore them earlier as ringets had become popular in the early 19th century. It is likely that within a few years of appearing, doting mothers were extending the style to their sons, although the fact that it was a popular girls' style appears to have precented many mothers from stling their son's hair in ringlets.
It appears that a small minority of boys wore ringlets, but the number was not insignificant and the number was increasing. One estimate from the 1880s suggested about 10 percent of boys wore ringlets. The proportion in the mid-19th century was probably even less.
HBC is attempting to assess chronological trends during the mid-19th century for ringlet curls. This is especially difficult during the 1840s as there are so few photographic images. There are still realtively few during the 1850s. More photographs become available during the 1860s. Thus portraits and fashion magazines are our main sources during the 1840s and 50s. Ringlet curls during this period appaer to have been very popular girls and young women. While some boys had ringlers and other long hair style, ringlets appear less common than in the late 19th century. Short hair styles were very common for boys in the 1840s and longer styles gradually became more common.
Ringlets are especially difficult during the 1840s as there are so few photographic images. Thus portraits and fashion magazines are our main sources during the 1840s and 50s. Ringlet curls during this period appaer to have been very popular girls and young women. While some boys had ringlers and other long hair style, ringlets appear less common than in the late 19th century. Short hair styles were very common for boys in the 1840s and longer styles gradually became more common. Available Americam images from the 1840s often show girls wearing ringlets and evebn younger boys still wearing dresses often with short hair. We are less sure about other countries.
There are still realtively few images dated to the 1850s on HBC. We note one Americam family portrait we believe was taken during the early 1850s. We note another American family. A very young child has ringlets, but we are not suure if the child is a boy or girl. Another example is Elisha Dickerman, an American boy about 1850. Rebecca Solomon created a fascinating depiction of an idealized Victoriamily (early-1850s). The boy wears a tunic and lace collar with short ringlets.
More photographs become available during the 1860s. A much larger number of images of amuch higher quality are available for the 1860s. These images clearly show that ringlet curls were being worn by boys by the 1860s. Unfortunately many of these images are not dated. It is especially difficult to destinguish between 1860s and early 1870s images. Thus HBC can not yet precisely define the chronology of mid-19th century ringlet curls. Wenotice both breached and unbreached boys wearing ringets, sometimes quite long ringlets in the 1860s. We do not yet have sufficent images or other information to assess what age boys wore rnglets in the 1860s, but suspect tha most boys had their curlks cut by about age 6 years.
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