PRESS
ROOM
CALIFORNIA COVER CONTEST 2007 NEW!
California
Stylist,
June 2007
LOVE IS IN THE HAIR
She designs 'dos for "I do's"
Country
Woman,
June 2006
HAIRCUTS FROM THE HEART
Petaluma
Argus-Courier,
February 2004
LONG ON LOVE
Marin
Independent Journal, January 2004
IS
IT TIME FOR YOU TO CREATE YOUR OWN WEB SITE?
California
Stylist,
May 2002
HISTORY
OF THE BLONDE
BOMBSHELL
Ohio Stylist,
April 2002
HAIR
REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
California
Stylist,
April 2001
DESIGNING
A VALENTINE ROMANCE HAIRSTYLE
Evening
Magazine, January 2001
FLEUR
DE STYLE
Modern
Salon, October 2000
TRESSED FOR SUCCESS
Petaluma
Argus-Courier,
June 2000
FEED
YOUR HEAD
Marin
Independent Journal, May 1995
HOME
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California
Stylist & Salon Magazine
April
2001
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HAIR
REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
By
Kathie Rothkop
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The term
"hairdresser" has been a common title for cosmetologists
for years. Just where and when did this term originate? After
researching the history of hairstyling, I found so many interesting
facts and trivia, that it was a real hair raiser!
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Hairdressing
did not emerge as a profession until the reign of Louis XV of
France and the influence on hair fashions by his mistress, Madame
de Pompadour. Wig makers were prominent before this time but
no hairdressers. Elaborate theme parties were thrown by socialities
of the French Court. Women started hiring artists to create
hairstyles depicting the theme of these parties. The hair was
draped over a frame stuffed with cotton, wool, or straw and
cemented with a paste that hardened. The hair was then powdered
and decorated.
Hairdos had live birds in cages, waterfalls, cupids, and naval
battles, complete with ships and smoke. One widow, overcome
with mourning, had her husband's tombstone erected in her hair.
This time in history is where the term "hairdresser"
was born. They dressed the hair with ornamentation. By 1767
there were 1200 hairdressers working in Paris; a few years earlier
there had been none.
Marie Antoinette was very prominent in setting fashion standards
in the late 1700s. Until her reign, the mistresses of the kings
were generally the trend setters. It was proclaimed that she
had over 400 wigs and wore more than 100 hairstyles in one year.
The ironic thing is: in the end, she didn't have a head to put
them on!
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were many problems during this time. Women developed backaches
from the weight of these monstrosities. They traveled
for miles by carriage to these parties, bent over in the
coach because their hair would not travel upright. The
combination of being corseted and wearing bustiers added
to the discomfort! |
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The pomades
to hold these styles together were made of beef lard and bear
grease. Because these women paid a high dollar amount for the
hairdos, they kept them for a week or two. The hair became rancid
and would often attract vermin while the mistress slept. That
is where the term, her hair is a "rats nest" originated.
French perfumes became renowned to cover the smell of the rotting
pomades. A common recipe for a styling pomade was: Take some
beef marrow and remove all the bits of skin and bone. Put it
in a pot with some hazelnut oil and stir well with the end of
a rolling pin. Add more oil from time to time until it is thoroughly
liquified. Add a little essence of lemon. Bear grease can be
a substitute for bone marrow.
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Hairdressers
performed their services at the clients' home. Because of
this they were not only sought after for their artistic talent,
but also for the gossip that they acccumulated from these
women of society. Hairdressers were the Barbara Walters, National
Enquirer, and Entertainment Tonight of the French Court (some
things never change)!
The images that I have created are a modern day tribute to
the women of the 18th century who wore these colossal hairdos
and most of all to the hairdressers who created them. A woman's
hair is still her most important accessory, whether it is
the year 1700 or 2001! Wear your hair with style!
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