Hairstyles Through History
Hairstyles Through History
Hair styles have always defined us. Every era can be recognised by a certain hairstyle. You can recognise the curls of a Roman as obviously different from the curls of a Cavalier - 1600 years apart. The jet black wig of a Pharaoh from the wigs of the 18th century. Underneath both was probably a shaven or bald head.
Styles have varied greatly over the years. Both men and women have succumbed to the changing fashions. Way back in time in the Ancient World, Babylonian men dyed their long hair and beards black and used curling tongs while Persian men also curled their hair and beards and stained them red with henna.
In ancient Egypt both men and women shaved their heads for coolness and wore heavy black wigs for ceremonial occasions. Men would also shave their faces and wear stiff false beards instead. One wonders why. Greek and Roman women used curling irons piling their hair high in curls and braids; their men wearing their hair short in halo styles sometimes again curled. Hairdressers during this and up until the middle of the 18th century were household slaves or in later years, servants, although men might have used the services of a public bath house or barbershop.
Religion has always influenced the way hair is worn. Muslim women cover their hair when in public. Sikh men wear turbans, not being allowed to reveal their hair.
In China men would shave the front hair and grow the back long and braid it into a queue which they thought would be used to draw them up into Heaven.
Unusually, perhaps American Indians are the only race where both men and women have their hair in the same style. Worn in two plaits at the side.
In Europe in the Middle Ages men generally wore their hair neck length in what became known as the Page Boy style while the Church encouraged modesty in women ordering married women to wear a veil to cover their hair, an injunction which brought about a large number of different designs in veils, wimples, caps, hoods and kerchiefs. An unmarried girl could wear her hair loose, but would have to cover it once she was married.
By the 17th century men's hair was long, over the shoulders and worn loose, think Charles I often wearing a cap at night. Facial hair was a moustache and neatly trimmed pointed beard, named after the painter Van Dyck. Later in the century, more often than not the same style would be a full bottomed wig, think Charles II or a High Court Judge. Women at this time wore their hair flat on top with a centre parting, short fringe and curls around the sides and back.
In the 18th century men's wigs became smaller and lighter in weight until left off altogether by the 1800s when many men grew their hair long which they wore in a stiffened queue. Women on the other hand, especially in Society led by the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana, wore fantastic wigs, often up to three feet high, decorated with ribbons, feathers, jewels, model ships, even a birdcage. Taking hours to put together, often attracting vermin as well, they must have been very difficult and heavy to wear, needing perfect balance and strong neck muscles!
The French Revolution brought about a revolution in hairstyles as well. It influenced hair styles with short Roman styles for both men and women. Women could choose between a short style a la Titus or a long and curled into Greek style knots and curls around the face.
Victorian women dressed their hair in sleek but elaborate chignons, plaits and curls while men's hair became quick short and uncomplicated. Their facial hair, however, became more and more elaborate with Mutton Chop Whiskers, many different styles of moustache and great full beards.
The 20th century, though, has probably seen the greatest change in hairstyles from the Edwardian cottage loaf bun, through the Bob of the 20s to the Teddy Boy DAs and Beehives of the 60s, the long hair of the 70s, the Afros of the 80s which brings us to the anything goes styles of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Hair styles have always defined us. Every era can be recognised by a certain hairstyle. You can recognise the curls of a Roman as obviously different from the curls of a Cavalier - 1600 years apart. The jet black wig of a Pharaoh from the wigs of the 18th century. Underneath both was probably a shaven or bald head.
Styles have varied greatly over the years. Both men and women have succumbed to the changing fashions. Way back in time in the Ancient World, Babylonian men dyed their long hair and beards black and used curling tongs while Persian men also curled their hair and beards and stained them red with henna.
In ancient Egypt both men and women shaved their heads for coolness and wore heavy black wigs for ceremonial occasions. Men would also shave their faces and wear stiff false beards instead. One wonders why. Greek and Roman women used curling irons piling their hair high in curls and braids; their men wearing their hair short in halo styles sometimes again curled. Hairdressers during this and up until the middle of the 18th century were household slaves or in later years, servants, although men might have used the services of a public bath house or barbershop.
Religion has always influenced the way hair is worn. Muslim women cover their hair when in public. Sikh men wear turbans, not being allowed to reveal their hair.
In China men would shave the front hair and grow the back long and braid it into a queue which they thought would be used to draw them up into Heaven.
Unusually, perhaps American Indians are the only race where both men and women have their hair in the same style. Worn in two plaits at the side.
In Europe in the Middle Ages men generally wore their hair neck length in what became known as the Page Boy style while the Church encouraged modesty in women ordering married women to wear a veil to cover their hair, an injunction which brought about a large number of different designs in veils, wimples, caps, hoods and kerchiefs. An unmarried girl could wear her hair loose, but would have to cover it once she was married.
By the 17th century men's hair was long, over the shoulders and worn loose, think Charles I often wearing a cap at night. Facial hair was a moustache and neatly trimmed pointed beard, named after the painter Van Dyck. Later in the century, more often than not the same style would be a full bottomed wig, think Charles II or a High Court Judge. Women at this time wore their hair flat on top with a centre parting, short fringe and curls around the sides and back.
In the 18th century men's wigs became smaller and lighter in weight until left off altogether by the 1800s when many men grew their hair long which they wore in a stiffened queue. Women on the other hand, especially in Society led by the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana, wore fantastic wigs, often up to three feet high, decorated with ribbons, feathers, jewels, model ships, even a birdcage. Taking hours to put together, often attracting vermin as well, they must have been very difficult and heavy to wear, needing perfect balance and strong neck muscles!
The French Revolution brought about a revolution in hairstyles as well. It influenced hair styles with short Roman styles for both men and women. Women could choose between a short style a la Titus or a long and curled into Greek style knots and curls around the face.
Victorian women dressed their hair in sleek but elaborate chignons, plaits and curls while men's hair became quick short and uncomplicated. Their facial hair, however, became more and more elaborate with Mutton Chop Whiskers, many different styles of moustache and great full beards.
The 20th century, though, has probably seen the greatest change in hairstyles from the Edwardian cottage loaf bun, through the Bob of the 20s to the Teddy Boy DAs and Beehives of the 60s, the long hair of the 70s, the Afros of the 80s which brings us to the anything goes styles of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
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