The first products of the human hair appeared in the 14th century. According to legends, Swedish girls from the village started making jewelry of their own hair and sell them. This craft helped them get out of poverty.
Consequently, such “hairy” decorations had become very popular in the Victorian era. In 1861, the Prince Albert died, the Queen Victoria’s beloved husband. All England was plunged into sadness – sadness became widespread and fashionable. For many years the queen wore the only adornment brooch, made of hair. At that times, people in mourning were forbidden to wear jewelry except jewelry made of the human hair.
In the late 18th – early 19th century in England, the decorations were made of curl with the inscription “In memory”, bordered by pearls – and were very popular. From the hair of deceased relatives, people wove flowers. These flowers were placed under glass and kept in the living room to the place of honor next to the family tree. In the US, there is a museum of unique hair jewelry. Museum stores 400 wreaths and more than two thousand of hair ornaments. All of them were made no earlier than 1900.
Nowadays, many people are trying to restore this fashion. But modern hair decorations often are rather designer’s exclusives than the popular trend. Usually, the person who wants to keep some memorable thing about the beloved who died or are far away, do not show such decorations to everybody.
