Genealogy Chat

Thanks Robin.

It just seems a bit odd that he went from a hairdresser to a hatter. That's why I was wondering about ornamental thingies.

However, I think I will go with the men only theory as it does make much more sense.

Jill

Women did women's hair, usually at home. They also got their hats from female milliners. Men weren't allowed to get that personal, and wouldn't have had a clue anyway.

A man who was a hairdresser would have cut men's hair, and a man who was a hatter would have made or sold men's hats.

Thank you people.

I wish mine had been a court hairdresser - sounds a bit more interesting!!

Jill

Jean,

Please don't take my word for it about Royalty and the like - it's just that "court" usually has that meaning, as in "court jester" being someone who entertained the "court" or "people surrounding" royalty.

Kath. x

hi kath, cor thats good to know, I have a photo of him and he looked quite upmarket if you know what I mean, lol

jean

I would think that Court Hairdresser was a hairdresser to aristocrats or royalty, or the people around them.

Kath. x

one of mine was a court hairdresser, not sure what that means.

jean

I would think that a hairdresser would have been the same as either a hairdresser or a barber today.

I remember the place my dad used to get his hair cut about 50 years ago having a sign above the door that said "Men's Hairdresser" and not "Barber" as you would have expected.

I know this is a good 100 years or so after the time you are looking at, but I would take a Hair Dresser to mean the obvious.

Kath. x

Thank you people,

But can I safely assume (hm hm) that a hairdresser dresses ladies' hair and a barber deals with men? Or am I to assume that hairdresser covered both terms?

I'm still puzzled.

Jill

I think it was quite common for a barber to extract teeth... I don't know where I've got that useless fact from.. but I do remember hearing it...

..maybe it was the tilting chair, that they could lean back and close their eyes, whilst he tugged.....

By coincidence I was talking earlier today with someone whose ancestor was a wig maker. His son was a hairdresser. I can see a link between those skills.
The son was also sometimes recorded as a dentist, so one can only suppose that the barber / hairdresser skills stretched beyond the obvious.

It was probably a case of extending the occupation to a similar one, as the fashion / need arose.

Gwyn

from http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/index.html

Not sure what this site says, but have a look it may help...

I have a Hair Dresser in my family too, I wondered the same thing. will keep an eye on this thread, thank you Jill,
L xxx

My gggrandfather William Faber (1818) shows on his marriage cert (1839) as a hair dresser (two words) and then on his daughter's birth cert (1840) and all subsequent records as a hatter.

Now, either he was a barber and it seems an odd move to a hatter.

Or, did he make "things" - 1840's bling? - to dress hair - ornamental type bits and pieces? Then make a move to making ladies' hats?

Would appreciate your views please.

Many thanks

Jill

(p.s. his father George was a bricklayer!)