HAIRstory

Hair in history and culture

“Of PHAIRaohs and Pyramids”

Hair in ancient Egypt is the standard of gender and social status

Men and women in higher classes wear elaborate wigs on top of their hair with women’s hair being long
underneath and men having their hair shaved or short under their wigs.
Lesser status people from then are depicted to only have their natural locks.

Hair is uniform to both girls and boys which is a lock of hair that falls from the right hand side of their
head. This hairstyle is kept until they reach puberty where they get to wear hairstyles that are strongly
marked for their status and gender.

Dubbed as Nubian wig, ancient Egyptian wigs are made of human hair, wool, plant fibers and horsehair.
The most expensive ones are comprised of human hair or black sheep wool. Egyptians also use beeswax
and resin to hold the coifs, braids and style in place.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
HAIRstory

Hair in History and culture

“Of gods and HAIRoes”

Hair in ancient Greece played a vital role going as far as being objects of sacrifice and rituals.
Young men and women dedicate locks of hair prior to marriage. Hair-cutting is also conducted by
warriors departing for battle and women mourning.

Ancient Grecian hair is rarely straight; it is usually elaborately braided with volumes of curls or waves
being the standard, with band of metal, cloth or leather to hold it in place.

Women of ancient Greece would wear their long hair up to show their respectability and their status in
society, in contrast to women’s hair being long, men would have their hair shorter and more suited to
vigorous physical activities.

HAIRstory
Hair in History and Culture
“Of Martial HAIRts and Tea”

Girls in ancient China have to go through Ji-li (hair Pinning ceremony) as a coming-of-age ceremony to
indicate that they have reached an age appropriate for marriage.

Married Chinese women from ancient times would have their hair in updo styles based on their status
and the trend. These are done by using a sticky gel produced from steeped strips of wood in hot water
to keep them in place

It wasn’t common for people to cut their hair in Ancient China except for widowed women, showing
their indifference from others. Going as far as having their hair shaved.

HAIRstory
Hair in History and Culture
“Of SaHAIRa Desert and Safari”

In Africa, hair is considered as a source of spiritual and personal power, believing them to be divine.
People from the Yoruba Tribe would braid hair in styles that would send messages to their gods.
African people used braiding as a way to make maps that will show them the way to help free them
from slavery. The same technique is used to hide treasures and seeds that would help them after
escaping.

Hair in Africa is also used as a means to show accessory and jewelries, using them as ornaments to style
their hair, either through looping their hair through these beadlike ornaments or having them sewed in
the elaborate braids.

HAIRstory
Hair in history and Culture
“Of HAIRy Potter and Castles”

In Victorian era England, hair is kept in buns or twists. Hair is seen as a sign of health, with the advice of
brushing hair 100 strokes daily to achieve a healthy look.

The Great War caused hair to be worn shorter, to be easily managed by women working behind military
hospitals, farm work or ambulances.

Hair became a channel of self-expression that by 1980’s a time of social and political turmoil. Women
opted for punk spikes, mohawks, mullets, bangs, vibrant colors, crimps, and perms to show their stand
in the society.

HAIRstory
Hair in History and Culture
“Of SamHAIRai and Cherry Blossoms”

Geishas and Maiko in Japanese culture changes hair styles every season. The maiko wear more
elaborate hairstyle to show their prettiness and youth while geisha’s wear a less elaborate one to note
their elegance.

Samurai in ancient Japan use their hair to hold their helmets in place. This hairstyle involves a clean
shaven hair on the sides and top and only a remaining hair at the top corner will be oiled and tied.

With the rise of Japanese Anime Hair is seen as more colorful around Japan, ranging from vibrant greens
and oranges to multicolored rainbow and ombre hair.

HAIRstory
Hair in History and Culture
“Of Vodka and SibHAIRea”

In traditional Russia, a long braid plays an important role. Single women would wear one braid, a single
ribbon shows their engagement and two ribbons show parent’s approval of the marriage. On the other
hand, only married women can wear two braids.

Hair is seen in Russia as a symbol of honor. Tugging of the braid would mean insult. Punishment in old
times include cutting off someone’s braid. The braid also acts as a talisman by husbands going into
battle.

Wearing hair loose in Russian tradition was seen as a dangerous thing believing that this could expose
them to the influence of evil forces. This is the reason why famous literary witches in Russia are depicted
with unkempt hair.
HAIRstory
Hair in History and Culture
“Of Taj MaHAIR and Spices”
Hair in India is widely associated to their mythology. The gods and their hairstyles symbolize their
nature, ranging from unbound hair being untamed senses, tied hair as tamed senses, and also plaited
hear meaning youth and virginity, while parted hair as a sign of being deflowered.

In Hindu, hair from birth is associated for their undesirable traits for their past lives thus the tradition of
shaving a child to signify moving forward as a clean slate for the future.

Hair offering is a wide practice in India having a temple in Southern India were women line up to have
their hair shaven to have it offered to their god who made their prayers happen.

HAIRstory
Hair in History and Culture
“Of Soap OpHAIRA and Tacos”

Hair in ancient Mexican civilizations notes a warrior’s rank, with higher officials wearing elaborate styles
or having hair ornaments to show their greatness.

A person’s hair is unique to their tribe; their hair becomes a symbol of their origin. Priests wear their
hair long to note their position as scared individuals in their society.

Hair is an important part of mourning it acts as Ancient Mexicans way of showing how much they are
pained through seeing their disheveled hair.