Mid/late Victorian Hairstyles (1860's - 1890's)

From 1860 - 1865 there was a civil war in America which required women to take on more responsibilities in the absence of their husbands. Victorian women took on the roles of the home as well as their husbands businesses. As a result of this their hairstyles became tighter and more appropriate for labour, the hair was often parted in the middle and pulled back into a bun or braid, some women wore snoods to keep their hair covered and out of the way.

Towards the end of the civil war, husbands returned and women again began to focus on their appearance. Hair became larger and women began to use hair fillers and hair pieces to make their styles bigger and more elaborate. Rats were like sponge in various shapes that enables to give the hair more height and style depending on what they were looking to create. 

Towards the late 70's the hair became tighter - tighter curls, tighter buns and hair pulled back and slicked tighter as women began to become more business orientated and spent less time in the home.

By the early 80's right up until the start of the 90's the Victorians entered an era known as the 'bustle' period. This was a result of not only the hair becoming increasingly bigger but also the dresses. Women began to wear fitted, corseted dresses that then had an additional petticoat attachment that created a large rounded shape at the back. This was covered by drapes of material and led the women to believe it made them look wealthier and more extravagant. The hair in this time period focussed on   hair being pulled back and then perfectly formed curls fell down the back of the head. Despite the dresses becoming increasingly bigger, surprisingly the hairstyles often stayed close to the head, unlike those extravagant styles sported just a few years earlier.

http://thevintagethimble.tumblr.com/post/48014868873/victorian-hairstyles-a-collection-of-victorian

http://bartoscollection.com/vehairstylesbyera/hairstylesearlybustle.html

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/women-during-civil-war

http://www.fashion-era.com/bustles.htm