Oh, rats!!
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
October 21, 2022 7:06am CST
As I was cleaning my hairbrush today I was reminded of something from my childhood.
My grandma had these springy wire mesh forms for her hair that she called "rats". Another name for them is "volumizer" and they are still around today.Comb your hair over or around them to make your hair appear thicker. They would be used to shape a bun or chignon.
What I was reminded of was that Edwardian and Victorian ladies saved the hair from their brushes and made them into home made "volumizers" or rats.
Fancy dresser sets would have a comb, brush,mirror, and hair receiver or receptacle for the hair they brushed out.
I wonder why they called them "rats"?
21 people like this
21 responses
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
21 Oct 22
That is interesting.
I always had a hair brush and comb set that sat on a matching little tray on my dresser from as far back as I can remember.
Brushing one's hair used to be a relaxing and peaceful end to many women's days as well as the start of them.
6 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91011)
• United States
21 Oct 22
My mom had a beautiful brush, comb and mirror set that she always kept on her dresser. I was always intrigued by it when growing up and i wonder what ever happened to in in all these years. I don't even remember seeing it when I got older
4 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Oct 22
They probably called them rats because that is what they looked like.
I am a Victorian history buff. Hair was also used to make ornaments, bracelets and several other things.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
I have seen images of hair pictures. I know that hair was also kept as a memory of someone.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Oct 22
@GardenGerty ......In cameos. Some were even made into pictures. That one looked sort of weird to me.
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Oct 22
Maybe they called them rats because that's what they looked like? And another term for 'teasing' your hair is 'ratting'.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
Yes, you are right. I did mention "ratting" in another response. Made your hair look like a rat's nest.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
21 Oct 22
That isn't something I know about but, before my hair got so long, I'd pull all of Pretty's shed hair out of the bathtub drain and pitch it into the trash in the bathroom and then call her to the bathroom to see the "drowned rat" I pulled out of our drain. 
My hair is longer than hers now and she teases me about the "drowned rats" I throw into the trash in the bathroom after cleaning the tub drain. 
It isn't as funny when I'm the one shedding that much hair.
My hair is longer than hers now and she teases me about the "drowned rats" I throw into the trash in the bathroom after cleaning the tub drain. It isn't as funny when I'm the one shedding that much hair. 4 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Oct 22
That's why I wash my hair in the laundry tub in the basement. My tub has a stupid popup plug that makes it difficult to clean the drain.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
21 Oct 22
@BarBaraPrz Our tub drain pulls out so the hair can be removed. It's kind of gross but at least we don't have to call a plumber once a year.
4 people like this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
21 Oct 22
@BarBaraPrz You should be able to lift the plug out and then you can just put one of those mesh strainer things over the hole.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
@Fleura as someone else said, they also made memorial items and arts and crafts from hair.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Oct 22
I always thought they were meant to keep your hairpins in.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
Yeah, probably. They also "ratted" it themselves, or back combed it. And sprayed the heck out of it.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
21 Oct 22
Yes I remember rat tail combs also.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
I knew they were named because of their long skinny handles. People who were skilled used them wonderfully to section off hair.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
It is funny when memories come back.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Oct 22
I remember seeing movies with those dresser sets being bought as gifts, I tried asking onine and all I got lout of the search was about real rats and mice 
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
Hmmmm. I will see what I can send you.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
Amazon has a wide selection.
Skip to main content .us Hello Select your address All Select the department you want to search in All Departments Alexa Skills Amazon Devices Amazon Explore Amazon Fresh Amazon Pharmacy Amazon Warehouse Appliances Apps & Games Arts, Crafts & Sewing Audibl
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
22 Oct 22
@GardenGerty That’s the only answer I can think of.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
You are right, it did. And it broke the hair off and damaged it so much.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (59105)
•
21 Oct 22
The hairballs probably did look like rats. Look up ''cats, rats, and mice'' It's a hair style the Victorian ladies strived for, using the rats they made from hair. Must have been a lot of work in those days to fix your hair every day.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
That was an interesting article, thanks. Very elaborate hair and clothing as well.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (59105)
•
22 Oct 22
@GardenGerty
Remember in the Gone With The Wind novel, Scarlett worked on her hair to make the new style of ''Cats, Rats, and Mice'' so that Rhett would notice, as he always noticed new hairstyles.
Oh, the things I remember! haha
@Marilynda1225 (91011)
• United States
21 Oct 22
My grandmother had those rats too. I completely forgot about them until just now. Crazy name for those things
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
The article @MarieCoyle mentioned talked about several different styles of hair pieces.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Oct 22
I guess collecting the hair out of your brush is much better than collecting the hair out of your shower drain to reuse! lol
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 22
I had forgotten until just this morning.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
22 Oct 22
Reminds me of the 60s with the beehive hairdos. Thanks for the info.
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
22 Oct 22
Interesting history lesson! I know that there's a rat tail comb.
@Treborika (18194)
• Mombasa, Kenya
22 Oct 22
I normally keep my hair very short almost bald
ed to be precise. So I don't like the idea of combing the hair
