Showing posts with label bad hair day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad hair day. Show all posts

Monday, June 10, 2013

How to Wash Your Hair, 12th century

"Dear Past, How often should I wash my hair and what should I wash it with? Sincerely, Hair Befuddled in the Present"


Mary Magdalene
14th century, Les Enluminures
"After leaving the bath, let her adorn her hair, and first of all let her wash it with a cleanser such as this. Take ashes of burnt vine, the chaff of barley nodes, and licorice wood (so that it may the more brightly shine), and sowbread... with this cleanser let the woman wash her head. After the washing, let her leave it to dry by itself, and her hair will be golden and shimmering...  If the woman wishes to have long and black hair, take a green lizard and, having removed its head and tail, cook it in common oil. Anoint the head with this oil. It makes the hair long and black." 
The Trotula (12th century)

How frequently you should do this is not explained, but if you are going the lizard-conditioner route, my recommendation is: use sparingly.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

How to Practice Your Side Eye, 1913

                                             
"The muscles of the eyes may be strengthened by slowly moving the orbs from side to side and also by bending the head a little forward and rolling them up and down. One does not want to practise this too many times; the eyes need to be stimulated, not fatigued."

          Marie Montaigne, How to Be Beautiful (1913) 


One does not want to practice this in public, either. Train those orbs in the comfort of your own boudoir before you give the world the side eye.