Sisi's Gallery

Empress Elisabeth ("Sisi") of Austria was world-famous for her long, chestnut-brown hair. It was said to reach from between knee and ankle-length and took about three hours to dress each day. Sisi washed her hair once every three weeks with raw eggs followed by a rinse of the finest French cognac.

From Death by fame; A life of Elizabeth Empress of Austria by Andrew Sinclair. Constable; London 1998.

"The brushing of her hair came to be another remarkable nightly performance...a white cloth was spread over the carpet...the hairdresser wore white from head to foot. He brushed and combed and arranged the long strands of her coiffure. Then he would carefully gather up every stray hair. Then they would be counted and the Empress would be told how many of her hairs had fallen out. If she thought there were too many, she would become disturbed."

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