What did hair removal look like in the communist era? Secrets of former beauty salons

Table of Contents:

1. Home depilation methods
2. Razors and their alternatives
3. Depilatory creams from Pewex
4. Beauty salon treatments
5. Depilatory baths and hair whitening methods
6. Local Trade and Cosmetics Smuggling
7. Beauticians as beauty craftsmen
8. Ad hoc activities and original recipes
9. Creativity and ingenuity
10. Hair removal in the communist era: the art of frugality
11. Summary

The communist years were a period full of contrasts, also in the sphere of beauty care. Although access to cosmetics and modern technology was limited, Polish women did not give up taking care of their appearance, they were inventive, and depilation was one of the important elements of grooming - mainly do it yourself methods. How did they deal with hair removal at a time when cosmetic innovations were not so readily available? In this article, we present the secrets of old beauty salons and popular depilation methods that were used in the communist era.

Home depilation methods

During the communist years, stores lacked many of the products we consider basic today, including hair removal accessories. Women had to cope with home methods:

• One of the most common methods was sugar hair removal, inspired by techniques from the Middle East. This technique, which has returned to favor in recent years, involved preparing a paste consisting of sugar, water and lemon juice. Such a mixture was heated, then applied to the skin and quickly peeled off. It was an effective and fairly inexpensive method, although it required skills to avoid burns and irritation.
• Another popular method was the use of homemade wax. This wax was often prepared using natural ingredients, sometimes mixed with various oils. As with sugar paste, it was applied to the skin by applying strips of cloth, which were quickly torn off. It was a painful but effective solution.

Razors and their alternatives

• One of the available methods of depilation in communist Poland was the use of razors. Initially, most razors were designed for men, but women also used them. Razors were reusable, often with replaceable blades requiring special care. Good quality razors and blades were often in short supply in stores, so Polish women tended to use them with caution. To prolong the life of the blades, they were sometimes smoothed on a glass surface. For many women, shaving became routine, especially on the legs and underarms, although the effects were short-lived and the skin required careful care to avoid irritation.
• Tweezers – In the absence of access to specialist methods, tweezers were often used to shape eyebrows and remove individual facial hairs.

Depilatory creams from Pewex

Access to depilatory creams was limited and they could rarely be found in regular drugstores. However, for those who were able to visit Pewex stores or had contacts abroad, an opportunity to purchase cosmetics from the West presented itself. Pewex stores offered products that were a true luxury at the time, including depilatory creams that were not available in traditional stores. This was a luxury that few people could afford, so depilatory creams were associated with something exclusive and modern. Such luxury goods were often shared among friends, which helped maintain and strengthen social relations.

Beauty salon treatments

Beauty salons in the Polish People's Republic offered hair removal services, however to a much limited extent:

• Waxing - was available in some beauty salons, although it was not as common as it is today. The wax used at that time was much less advanced than modern products and was often painful. Waxing was usually limited to the legs and some areas of the face.
• Threading - this method was mainly used for eyebrow shaping, although it was not as popular as it is today. Women developed this technique mainly on their own, learning from friends or inspired by reports from countries where this method was more popular.
• Ammonia hair removal - some salons experimented with preparations containing ammonia, which weakened the structure of the hair and caused it to fall out or become less visible. However, it was a controversial procedure that often caused irritation and allergic reactions.

Depilatory baths and hair whitening methods

• Lightening lotions and creams – women who did not have access to hair removal methods often resorted to home methods of hair bleaching, such as using diluted hydrogen peroxide. This was to make the hair less visible.
• Baths and steam baths – various herbal baths and steam baths were also used, which were supposed to "soften" the hair. However, they were not effective in the long term, but they did create a temporary effect of refreshing the skin.

Local Trade and Cosmetics Smuggling

At that time, the availability of products was also a problem, which is why many people obtained cosmetics through so-called "private import", i.e. smuggling. Products from abroad, especially from Germany, were popular, and were sometimes smuggled and sold in Peweks stores, where they could be bought for foreign currency or dollar vouchers. Creams, waxes or scented soaps were a delicacy that only a few people could afford.

Beauticians as beauty craftsmen

Beauticians in the times of the Polish People's Republic did not have access to advanced equipment, which is the golden standard  in salons today. Their work was based on manual skills and knowledge acquired through practice. They often used simple methods, and the effects of their work were more temporary than permanent.

Ad hoc activities and original recipes

Women created various mixtures themselves, e.g. from baking soda or hydrogen peroxide, to weaken hair at least temporarily. They often based their recipes "from mouth to mouth" or advice in newspapers, such as "Kobieta i Życie" or "Przyjaciółka", where various home recipes for cosmetics were published. In these newspapers, one could find instructions for masks, creams and mixtures that were supposed to weaken hair growth.

Creativity and ingenuity

Lack of access to modern technology required ingenuity on the part of Polish women. Methods passed down from generation to generation were often used. Examples include the use of brushes to apply sugar paste or wax, and the use of strips of cloth cut from old clothes. Such homemade treatments were carried out among family or friends, and women shared their methods for effective hair removal.

Hair removal in the communist era: the art of frugality

The communist era demanded creativity and frugality, and body grooming, including depilation, was an integral part of everyday life, albeit tailored to limited means. Polish women were able to cope under these difficult conditions, taking care of their appearance to the best of their ability. Today's beauty salons and modern depilation techniques are conveniences that communist women could only dream of, but it was that time that shaped the first cosmetic habits that developed and evolved over the years.

Summary

Hair removal in the times of the Polish People's Republic was much more demanding than today. Lack of access to professional cosmetics and market restrictions required creativity and resourcefulness from women. Home methods, homemade mixtures and limited beauty salons made everyday care a challenge. Despite these difficulties, women coped and experimented passionately to achieve the best possible effect, often independently developing their own care methods.