Hairstyles in the Civil War
I can picture a guy sitting on a stump awaiting his hair to be cut by the camp barber (or the only guy who happened to have a pair of scissors). How common was it for a soldier to get his hair cut very short? It seems like it would have been a practical solution to lice as well as the constant daily maintenance. It would help if anyone has pictures of soldiers with very short hair.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
What is "very short" to you? How short is short?
WTH
The Barberpole mess
Yuma gonna luv it
Look at mid to late war photos.
Including the dead. Short as anywhere from close to the scalp to a few inches. However there are exceptions to the rule. Again, just google pics of soldiers and you will see.
Last edited by S.D.Swart; 07-30-2012 at 12:01 AM.
A little longer than a buzz cut.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
As has been mentioned look at pictures. You will find that many wear their hair between the top of the ear but above the collar. As with all things there are exceptions, just don't be that guy who has to be different.
Andrew Grim
Monte Mounted Rifles, Monte Boys
Mess of Myself
Occasional 7%er
This was has been discussed a few times in various forums, but an excellent resource for this is to look at the chapter in the Columbia Rifles Research Compendium that shows photographs of several hospital patients. These are of soldiers straight from the field with fresh wounds and shows them as they were. There are several men with closely cropped hair. As also discussed, it was often easier to crop hair closer to the scalp than to fiddle with combs and scissors and getting each hair just right, but also one's look would change from the field to the garrison.
Ross L. Lamoreaux
Tampa Bay History Center
www.tampabayhistorycenter.org
"The simplest things, done well, can carry a huge impact" - Karin Timour, 2012
Sometimes you see pictures of generals and high ranking officers with long hair but this would not have been the norm for most other troops. The pictures I have seen suggest short hair was the norm but not as neatly trimmed at the ends like you see today. (We have the advantage of clippers and hopefully someone with a little hair cutting experience!) I have also read accounts from soldiers during the Atlanta march where orders were posted for men to get haircuts, trim beards, and make an effort to maintain an acceptable appearance.
Joe Musgrove
26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry.
Well, for one thing, they cut hair at length back then. There was no way for hair to be buzz cut in the same way we do it today. This is why in photos you'll see big curls or big clumps of hair at the ears. Hair was cut at length so often big curls happen because hair isn't shorn to a uniform length all about the head.
WTH
The I'llCutYou mess
Yuma gonna luv it
One thing you WON'T see...
is long hair flowing out of an enlisted man's hat. Nor will you see ponytails. Not only are these hairstyles not right for the 1860s, but they would have been impractical in the field. Custer and a few select officers aside, it just wan't right for the ranks. So all of you in ranks will long hair should stick it under your hat for the duration of events (as should any women who claim to be portraying men). If I had a buck for each time I've seen this over the years, I'd be rich.
What ever you do DO NOT use early war photos as evidence of long hair. Those photos war mainly when they enlisted or near so. Mid to late war, shows things the way they were. As would photos of the dead.
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