Figure 1.--The Tsaraevich Alexei in a photgraph taken about 1907. Notice the long ringlet curls. Long hair was less common for small Russian boys than in other European countries. The photograph was taken on the occasion of Alexei's 3rd birthday when he was breeched. Although he wears a boyish suit, his curls were noy yet cut.

The Tsarevich Alexis as a baby and toddler wore short ringlet curls. They were not the formal thik ringlets like American boys wore, but look to be rather unformed largely natural curls. Alexei was breeched on his 3rd birthday, but his long curls were not cut. This was a major event in his life because quite a series of photographs were taken of him in his firt boyish outfit. Even so, his curls were not cut. We note his hair being cut and his mother collecting the curls. He was probably about 4 years old, it may have even been his 4th birtday, although we are not sure. For a brief period when he was about 4-5 years old, he wore bangs. After that he wore a standard hair cut that changed little. Many Russian boys at the time had cropped hair. Alexis as a boy had short, but not cropped hair. This was the case until the last months of his life in Siberian captivity where his hair was cut very short--almost cropped.

Ringlets

The Tsarevich Alexis as a baby and toddler wore short ringlet curls. They were not the formal thik ringlets like American boys wore, but look to be rather unformed largely natural curls.

Breeching

Alexei was breeched on his 3rd birthday, but his long curls were not cut. This was a major event in his life because quite a series of photographs were taken of him in his firt boyish outfit. Alexis' curls were not cu when he was breeched.

Curls Cut

We note his hair being cut and his mother collecting the curls. He was probably about 4 years old, it may have even been his 4th birtday, although we are not sure. We are not sure who is doing the cutting, but the Tsarina is there to catch the locks being cut. She would have carefully safeguarded them as a family treasure. The whole operation is being conducted outdoors which surprised us a little. We presumed it would have been done in a palace with a specisalized hair stylist. Rather a man is doing it who is definitely not a hair stylist. He may be the Tsarevich's minder, the sailor Derevenko. Alexis probably woukd have truysted him while somebody else would have upset him. We are not sure where this took place. It looks like they are out in the country somewhere, presumably on ine of the several royal estates.

Bangs

For a brief period when he was about 4-5 years old, he wore bangs.

Short Hair

After that he wore a standard hair cut that changed little. Many Russian boys at the time had cropped hair. Alexis as a boy had short, but not cropped hair. His hair was long enough to be parted.

Cropped Hair

Alexis wore short hair until the last months of his life in Siberian captivity where his hair was cut very short--almost cropped.

Created: June 19, 1998
Last updated: 10:04 PM 8/16/2009