Beauty Parlour Collection

8619724

Canons of feminine beauty around 1900 (postcard)
PCT5618406 Canons of feminine beauty around 1900 (postcard); (add.info.: Canons of feminine beauty around 1900 (early 20th century)

The Poro system; Bath dept.; Chiropody booth- foot treatment, 1922. Creator: Unknown
The Poro system; Bath dept.; Chiropody booth- foot treatment, 1922

A Beauty Parlor on Zanzibar, Africa - Swahili women take care of their hair, c1930s
A Beauty Parlor in the Island of Zanzibar, Africa - the Swahili Women Take Great Pains with Their Hair, c1930s. From " Tour of the World". [Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa

A set of fake wigs are displayed for sale at a street stand in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, May 26, 2019. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares

Young Woman in Deshabille, 1880 (oil on canvas)
7331971 Young Woman in Deshabille, 1880 (oil on canvas) by Boldini, Giovanni (1842-1931); Private Collection; (add.info.: Artist: Giovanni Boldini); Ghigo Roli

Young Woman in Deshabille, detail, 1880 (oil on canvas)
7332084 Young Woman in Deshabille, detail, 1880 (oil on canvas) by Boldini, Giovanni (1842-1931); Private Collection; (add.info.: Artist: Giovanni Boldini); Ghigo Roli

The barbershop at the Copley Plaza hotel, Boston, 1912 or 1913 (silver gelatin print)
MNY380619 The barbershop at the Copley Plaza hotel, Boston, 1912 or 1913 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 23.5x28.6 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Boudoir Interior
RAF58499 Boudoir Interior by Loo, Carle van (1705-65) (school of); Private Collection; Photo eRafael Valls Gallery, London, UK; French, out of copyright

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Amidst the vibrant streets of Port-au-Prince, a set of fake wigs catch the eye, offering a glimpse into the world of transformation and beauty. This scene echoes the allure of a Young Woman in Deshabille, captured in an 1880 oil painting, her loose curls cascading down her shoulders. Fast forward to the early 20th century, and the barbershop at the Copley Plaza hotel in Boston becomes a symbol of elegance and sophistication, with its polished mirrors and sharp razors. Yet, beauty is not limited to the West. In the 1930s, Swahili women in Zanzibar gathered in their beauty parlors, meticulously taking care of their intricately styled hair, a testament to the universal desire for self-care and enhancement. From street stands to boudoirs, the art of beauty transcends time and place, inviting us all to embrace our inner and outer radiance.