Hair-dressing residues on wig hair curlers from George Washington's boyhood home, a FTIR–ATR and SEM–EDAX analysis

Abstract

The Washington family struggled financially in the years following the untimely death of George's father, Augustine, in 1743. Accordingly, they invested in social strategies that allowed the family to compensate for their economic stress by demonstrating gentility, displays of refined etiquette, and fashionable apparel. A gentleman's hair was a crucial component of these efforts. George and his three brothers each found ways to express their status through their respective hair styles which is reflected by the recovery of 209 wig hair curlers from George's boyhood home (Ferry Farm, Fredericksburg, Virginia). The spatial distribution of these curlers reflects activity areas related to wig hair maintenance. Some of the curlers exhibited preserved residue from this maintenance. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence were used to examine residues on the ceramic curlers. Evidence for two types of hair powder was documented on three different curlers. One consisted of lime plaster and starch and the other of calcium carbonate and kaolin clay. Both of these recipes reflect an effort to economize costs associated with hair dressing and demonstrate the thriftiness of the mid-eighteenth century Washington family hair budget.