Saving hair?!

frostyspice

I've been reading one of the Little House on the Prairie books (where you can find out lots about OS-ing!) and one Christmas when they're all snowed in, Laura makes her mother a cardboard 'hair receiver' for her dressing-table so that she can make a 'hair switch'.

Does anyone have any idea what a hair switch is?

Miss_Kitty_Fantastico

hi frostyspice

i have heard the term 'switch' used to describe an old style broom - don't know if that helps

Pink.

Hi frostyspice,

I had a quick look on google for you and found this so it sounds like it is a hair piece or what we would call extensions today.

Pink

miserly_mum

I think the collected hair was saved up to make something similar to todays hair extensions. They were added in to make hair look thicker or more "bouffant" Not so much everyday wear but for special occassion

purpleivy

Well, it wouldn't' be enough for me LOL and by the time I've finished with my wigs they're not fit for using to sweep the floor either.

That's what I should have been doing with dd's hair all these years....

Aril

During the 19th century many women kept a jar on their dressing table to keep all the combings into and it was used then to stuff pincushions. I did this when my son had his first haircut...I kept a minute piece and put it into a tiny jar which sits in the bedroom in my dollshouse! Normally I just compost all our cut off hair when our lady been round to give our wigs a tidy up. Other friends leave it out in their garden this time of year and the rooks and the crows take it to line their nests.
Aril

purpleivy

Would the birds take the synthetic hair from my wigs do you think? Interesting way of 'recycling'.