If you're in need of a hairstyle switch-up, rather than trawling through Pinterest for contemporary beachy waves or box braids, why not look back through art history for your take-to-the-hairdresser snap.
Instagram account The Hair Historian – run by London-based hair editor Rachael Gibson, and which currently has 6k followers – is a celebration of art's leading ladies and their absolutely stellar 'dos. From dreamy history paintings from the 19th century to Japanese woodblock prints from the 1800s, one scroll through the account is more than just an art lesson – it's bonafide hair inspiration.
"I've always, always loved art – I was a real pretentious art kid teenager," Rachael tells Refinery29. "I just love everything about imagery, but particularly portraiture; documentary photography of street style, Renaissance paintings of women with mad hair, selfies... the depiction of people fascinates me. My brain is one giant Pinterest board of images and ideas of what to do with them. It's exhausting!"
Having studied fashion in Manchester, then followed up with fashion journalism at London College of Fashion, Rachael found that journalist roles within the industry were few and far between. Turning her hand to beauty, she joined a trade title for hairdressers and found that her favourite aspect of the job was going deep into their archives.
"The magazine is over 130 years old (and weekly) so we had hundreds of old issues, which I just loved poring through and taking pictures of interesting things. After that, I worked for a few years for an education company called Mastered, where I created their courses with sessions stylists like Guido and Sam McKnight," Rachael explains. "All of this experience led to me realising that there was a real problem with young creatives finding interesting, innovative sources of inspiration; I was forever seeing the exact same images on moodboards and being used as references."
With thousands of archival artworks on her Pinterest board, she decided to put them to good use and share them with others who might be as inspired by them as her, and The Hair Historian was born. "I'm not saying everyone has to be inspired by the same artworks or images that I find interesting, but rather to hopefully encourage people to just look harder at sources of inspiration and turn their own passions into ideas for work. I'm not a hairdresser, but when I see the textures, shape and structures in some of the art I share, I'm totally visualising how it could be turned into a hairstyle – and that's what I want others to think too."
Her favourite post so far? "It's always anyone with red hair, because apparently I'm self-obsessed. I absolutely love Lucas Cranach the Elder's depiction of wiggly, snaky, goth hair and this one is probably my favourite."
Ahead, we've rounded up our favourites from the feed, from those red-headed Pre-Raphaelites to pearl-embellished Polish princesses. Click through to mine the archives of The Hair Historian.
This chilled babe by artist Léa Augereau wouldn't look out of place in Solange's gang. *Calls hairstylist requesting a long bob and fringe, stat*
Joséphine, 2018, Léa Augereau
Big. Mood. Pass us the copper home dye.
Helen of Troy, 1867, Frederick Sandys
Thought Ashley Williams, Gucci and Simone Rocha started the embellished hair accessories trend? WRONG. It was Konstancja Walewska in the 18th century – duh. Just look at those pearls.
Portrait of Konstancja Walewska, c. 1790, Polish School
Okay, this is how you work an up-do.
Motozue of the Daimonjiya, c. 1795, Chôkôsai Eishô
Who said '20s finger waves were too extra for a Saturday night?
Portrait of a Woman, 1925, Cuno Amiet ⠀
Ummm, this is basically everything we strive to be right now. Those loose locks, that red ribbon, the prairie-esque dress: Picnic at Hanging Rock realness.
Girl With a Red Bow, c. 1896, Harold Knight
Before Hannah Weiland of Shrimps got us thinking about growing out our tresses, there was Harry Wilson Watrous' painterly muse.
The Line of Love, 1915, Harry Wilson Watrous
Otto Dix's cult portrait of journalist Sylvia Von Harden is enough to have us reaching for the scissors (and a cocktail).
Portrait of Sylvia Von Harden, 1926, Otto Dix
If this isn't us on a Sunday post-bath and hair mask... Note to self: must find a cornflower blue floral robe.
Woman Combing Her Hair, 1920, Hashiguchi Goyo
So simple, yet so perfect. Sign us up for pinned Heidi plaits, a blush puff-sleeved dress, and a red lip.
Modell i rosa, 1939, Einar Jolin
This hairstyle – onile ogoro olowu in Nigeria's Yoruba dialect – is certified Instagram hair goals. Bring this work to your local salon for statement summer style, ASAP.
Two African Hairstyles, 1982, Lois Mailou Jones⠀
How beautiful is this self-portrait by the Hungarian-Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil? A classic centre-parting and some strong brows is all you need.
Self Portrait, 1933, Amrita Sher-Gil
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