I wanted to see the Napoleon Movie, I really did. Memories of Christopher Plummer battling with Rod Steiger in the 1970’s Waterloo movie tickled an martial itch that hadn’t been scratched since I was a boy. For those that haven’t seen it, think of Braveheart, and replace the Scots with French. And yes, they were fighting England.
Again.
But, for whatever ludicrous reason, watching the Joker play one of the most iconic and feared generals in European history failed to load my musket, let alone pull the trigger.
So I skipped it.
Instead, let’s talk about a more important, and little known history few talk about: Napoleonic hairstyles.
Remember, clippers and other electrically powered accoutrement didn’t exist back in the day of Napoleon. If it had, then I’m sure the Reign of Terror preceding Napoleon’s rise would have been more of a Texas chainsaw massacre than a macabre, guillotine-induced bloodbath.
Since clippers didn’t exist, the most functional tool for cutting hair during the 19th century were limited to scissors and straight razors.
Let’s remember that Napoleon wasn’t French. Napoleon Bonaparte was Italian. Originally from Tuscany, his ancestors emigrated to Corsica in the 16th century. Corsica was to Italy, what Vancouver Island is to Canada: a pleasure island for the rich and famous. Right?
Armed with his Italian heritage, Napoleon was no doubt a revolutionary in more ways than one. This includes fashion. For instance, high society at the time spent considerable resources powdering and wearing wigs. There wasn’t a courtesan who would be caught dead in the French court without a perfectly dusted wig, fragrant with lavender, jasmine and orange. Some fashion deviants even added violet, blue, yellow or pink coloring to stand out from the other royal sycophants.
Being a revolutionary in every sense of the word, Napoleon modelled his look after the Caesars of ancient Rome. Intentional or not (probably intentional), he resurrected a new look for rulers: tousled locks, ear length, leaving the wig powder for the head’s in Robespierre’s baskets.
Of course, age affects us all, and Napoleon was no exception. In his final days as Emperor of France, after his defeat at Waterloo, and his final exile to Elba, Napoleon suffered what many men face today: male pattern baldness. Yes, even a ruling general like Napoleon could have used “Hair Club For Men”, or else a decent cut at Uomo Modern Barber. Regardless, his hairstyle until the day he passed from history probably included some form of a comb-over to cover his receding hairline. In a way, it’s comforting to know that in the end, even an virile figure such as Napoleon still lost his hair.
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