Bang Benefits: Bang Hair In 1880s

Introduction

Ringlet Bangs in 1867 Victorian Fashions & Costumes From Harper's Bazaar 1867-1898 Stella Blum

Dover Publications New York All rights reserved.

One of my favorite hair and fashion related books is a history of fashion dating from 1867 to 1898.  I adore looking at the various hairstyles worn with the fabulous gowns of that era.

When I started researching this article about the origins of bangs with hairstyles, I went to my favorite Victorian Fashion book and looked at the hairstyles from that era.  It was truly fascinating to find the ways that Victorian women adopted various bangs and forehead fringes.

While many hair and beauty watchers attribute the bang hair trendsetters to celebs like actress Louise Brooks (The Bob), Audrey Hepburn or fashion model Jane Birkin, bangs predated all of those lovely stars. 

Minnie Driver Foam Magazine One Year Anniversary Party 08-15-05

DailyCeleb.com All rights reserved.

I found a lovely image of 1867 Victorian women (image to the side) wearing  gorgeous Winter Bonnets with an array of bangs cascading out from the top brim onto the forehead. 

Two of the women had an array of tight ringlets forming bangs that ended a few inches above their eyebrows.  The ringlets were perfectly formed and extended from ear to ear across the top of the forehead.

The Victorian Ringlet naturally curly bangs (Image shown above) reminded me of a photo I saw of actress Minnie Driver in August of 2005 when she attended Foam Magazine's One Year Anniversary Party.

Minnie has naturally curly hair and appeared in one photo with an array of tight ringlets extending across her forehead.  In the photo Minnie looked very much like the Victorian model except for the Victorian bonnet and clothing.

A few of the other Victorian women appearing in the same photo with the ringlet bang model had very tight finger style curls which were styled to burst from under the bonnets into a form of curled bangs.

Continued below ↓

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Pin Curl & Finger Waved Bangs

Finger Wave Bangs in 1871 Victorian Fashions & Costumes From Harper's Bazaar 1867-1898 Stella Blum

Dover Publications New York All rights reserved

Two years after I found the ringlet bangs I discovered 1869 Victorian models who had  traded in their tight ringlets for softer and fuller pin curls which were worn spilling out from under the brim of their bonnets onto their foreheads in a form of curly bang. 

The pin curls appeared stacked almost like the modern version of layered bangs, except that the bangs were tightly curled.  It was a fascinating style and one that I have not seen in current hairstyles.

In 1871 I found a photo of a Victorian woman (image to the side) wearing her very wavy coiffed hair with an array of carefully constructed finger waves which nestled along her forehead in a form of faux bang.  Having personally struggled in cosmo school to learn the official way of sculpting finger waves, I was in complete awe of this particular bang hairstyle.  I know that to create an intricate style like this one had to have taken quite a bit of time and energy.

Were Victorian women the first to ever adopt forehead hugging hairstyles?  Probably not.  If photos of cavewomen were available we might be able to find our earliest sisters rocking some leaf and twig encrusted bang hair designs.  Of course back in the stone ages bang styles were limited and were related to the person's natural texture.

Full Forehead Covering Bangs in 1892 Victorian Fashions & Costumes From Harper's Bazaar 1867-1898 Stella Blum

Dover Publications New York All rights reserved.

The point I am trying to make with this article is that bangs did not originate with Louise Brooks, although she certainly made them popular for her era, in the 1930s. 

And yes, Audrey looked amazing with bangs as did the gorgeous fashion muse Jane Birkin.  Photos of Jane still circulate with the beautiful model wearing full lush forehead hugging bangs.

What I found fascinating about the bangs I uncovered on Victorian women is the fact that what I have written about bangs over the past 10 years at HairBoutique.com was relevant even back in the 1880s. 

As demonstrated by some of the Victorian ladies that are included in this article, it is obvious that bangs may work well for some hair types but not so well for others. 

Although obviously layered bangs were not in view in the book, I did find bangs from the Victorian era that incorporated natural hair textures ranging from very tight ringlets to waves and straight tresses. 

Side-Swept Bangs 1898 Victorian Fashions & Costumes From Harper's Bazaar 1867-1898 Stella Blum

Dover Publications New York All rights reserved.

In current times hair experts suggest that any type of bangs work best for people with naturally straight hair.  This is probably true, for the most part although I have found it dangerous to even make blanket statements about hair styles of any type. 

That didn't seem to be the case back in the 1880s when women didn't have easy access to relaxers, chemical straighteners, hot flat irons or blow dryers.  Somehow they managed and I have to say that I love all the different bang styles shown throughout this article.

Note:  For more tips on straightening bangs read Bangs - The Straight Scoop

Bangs In 1989

Like hairstyles in current times, I noticed a definite progression of different bang styles from 1867 until 1898.  I was fascinated to find an image from 1898 (shown to the side) which featured straight side-swept bangs on a woman wearing all black to signify she was in mourning.  Her bangs spilled out from the rim of her mourning bonnet appearing to have a slight wave to it.

The bangs actually provided a softening effect for the woman in mourning.  Bangs often soften and help to provide an element of balance.

Summary

A series of bangs ranging from tightly wound ringlets to mostly straight side-swept bangs were shown in the book Victoria Fashions & Costumes From Harper's Bazaar 1867 - 1898.   It was very interesting to follow the progression of different Victoria hairstyles during that twenty year period and to be able to study how bangs played a part during that time period. 

This book also demonstrates the existence of bangs long before the era of Louise Brooks who popularized bangs with her famous bob hairstyle.

If you want to talk more about this or other hair care articles on HairBoutique.com or anywhere else, please post a message on  HairBoutique.com's Hair Talk Forums.

For additional hair care articles, tips and product information check out the following links:

• Hair Boutique Tips & Articles section.  Check out the over 10,000+ different hair care and styling tips at HairBoutique.com

• Bangs - The Straight Scoop - There is nothing worse than having bangs that "do their own" thing by forming fat waves, crazy curls or wings.  I know better than anyone since I have naturally wavy hair.  Check out how to have straight bangs.

• Bangs - Hair Dos & Don'ts - Visit our page dedicated to bangs with dos and don't.

• Read more about Katie Holmes and her hair at HairBoutique.com's HairTalk Forum.

• Read more about Bai Ling and how she cut her long hair for her career.

• Hair Bangs - Types & Face Shapes - Match your face shape to possible bang options.

• Hair: How To Trim Your Bangs - Abridged version of cutting your own bangs.

• Hair Tips: Trim Your Own Bangs - Detailed step by step instructions.

• Hair: Adding Bangs - Descriptions of different types of bangs.

• Hairboutique.com is proud to announce our new HB Hairstyle Wizard™  which is available through our MyHairBoutique.com™ portal.  If you already have an account & password on HB.com (Marketplace or HairTalk) use it to log in. 

• Celebrity Hair: Bangs & Fringes - Whether you call it a "fringe" or a "bang", this hairstyle has once again become popular with many of the top supermodels, fashionistas and celebrities.

• Short Platinum Blonde w/side swept bangs photo

• Visit Minnie Driver's Gallery Of Photos in the HairBoutique.com Gallery.