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The History Of Hairstyles
By:
Published: September 27, 2006
Throughout the globe indicating status has always been an integral function of hairstyling. From the ancient tradition of the art of the Geisha in Japan, believed to have been developed around 1600 A.D. and characterized by her chalk white face, red lips, dark eyes and ornate black hair, to the ornately curled blond wigs of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, cosmetology practices have long been used to indicate social standing and wealth.
Not only were fashionable hairstyles generally indicative of ones social class, the elements of fashion were also rigid and limited in number. By the 20th Century, guidelines for hairstyles had grown less apparent. With the increase in the economy, gradual improvements in mass communication and a trend towards informality and individualism, both men and women, regardless of social status, were now free to choose the style, cut, and color of their hair that they find most suitable for their unique tastes.
The history of hairstyles would not be complete without the consideration of other implications that they held within both ancient and modern societies. Here are a few of the other roles hairstyles have had throughout history:
Many hairstyles were transformed by historical events, such as the increase of elaborate hairstyles in the U.S. and Europe at the beginning of the 19th Century due to the Industrial Revolution. The short, sleek bobs worn by many women known as flappers during the 1920's, accompanied by short, tight skirts and dresses, were also associated with the women's suffrage movement that exploded after the conclusion of World War I. Rebelling, often to extremes, by smoking cigarettes, wearing heavy makeup and styling their hair, flappers demonstrated their independence and ignorance of traditional social expectations for women during this time.
Hairstyles have also tended to hold religious significance throughout the history of cosmetology, as seen by the distinctive practice of Christian and Buddhist monks who shaved their heads to publicly demonstrate their renunciation of the world. In British India, Muslim men left only one long lock of hair at the nape of their necks which, they believed, would be used by their god, Allah, to pull them to heaven.
Demonstrating ones age and marital status have been other functions of hairstyles, dating back to trends of Ancient Greece. Here children were distinguished by their short hairstyles. This practice was also shared by Hindus, who traditionally shaved the heads of young boys until they reached adolescence. In medieval Europe maidens wore their hair long and uncovered, while matrons bound theirs under a veil. In ancient times, as a sign of mourning, women would often cut their long hair short while men grew their short hair long.
Wigs may not be a current hairstyle trend, but their popularity has spanned centuries throughout the history of hairstyles and around the globe. Adorned both inside and outside the house and often used for both everyday wear as well as for religious purposes, celebrations, and to convey status, wigs were often very popular among men, women and children and greatly varied in styles. The wig was originally used by the Ancient Egyptians as a headdress for special occasions in Ancient Egypt but grew to become an essential element of hairstyles of the time. Consequently Egyptians began wearing a new wig each day. Throughout European history, wigs were also generally associated with royalty and in both Europe as well as America in the 17th and 18th Centuries wigs were often worn to indicate social class, often worn by both men and women alike curled or, other times, arranged with a succession of plaits.
Celebrities' use of hair extensions within the past five years has served to catapult their recent popularity. Once regarded as a service solely for the rich, the quality and cost of this service has earned their status as a sought commodity within the beauty industry. Real hair or synthetic, attached by weaving or sewing, hair extensions offer numerous options for either those searching for a new dramatic look or simply want to add length and avoid the long and tiresome stages of growing out their hair. While their instant results are certainly appealing, hair extensions are nothing new. Although a lasting trend in the hairstyles of African American women, they actually were invented in colonial America, where women would save the hair that fell off their head in a little jar typically known as a 'hair tidy. Hair pieces were made from the lost hair, which would later form a big ball of ratted hair that they would strategically place in their hair while styling to create a 'big hair' look. Throughout the years, hair extensions have transformed to what we know them as today. Although they can still be used to enhance the volume of ones hair, hair extensions are now usually worn in more sleek and natural styles.
Not only were fashionable hairstyles generally indicative of ones social class, the elements of fashion were also rigid and limited in number. By the 20th Century, guidelines for hairstyles had grown less apparent. With the increase in the economy, gradual improvements in mass communication and a trend towards informality and individualism, both men and women, regardless of social status, were now free to choose the style, cut, and color of their hair that they find most suitable for their unique tastes.
The history of hairstyles would not be complete without the consideration of other implications that they held within both ancient and modern societies. Here are a few of the other roles hairstyles have had throughout history:
Many hairstyles were transformed by historical events, such as the increase of elaborate hairstyles in the U.S. and Europe at the beginning of the 19th Century due to the Industrial Revolution. The short, sleek bobs worn by many women known as flappers during the 1920's, accompanied by short, tight skirts and dresses, were also associated with the women's suffrage movement that exploded after the conclusion of World War I. Rebelling, often to extremes, by smoking cigarettes, wearing heavy makeup and styling their hair, flappers demonstrated their independence and ignorance of traditional social expectations for women during this time.
Hairstyles have also tended to hold religious significance throughout the history of cosmetology, as seen by the distinctive practice of Christian and Buddhist monks who shaved their heads to publicly demonstrate their renunciation of the world. In British India, Muslim men left only one long lock of hair at the nape of their necks which, they believed, would be used by their god, Allah, to pull them to heaven.
Demonstrating ones age and marital status have been other functions of hairstyles, dating back to trends of Ancient Greece. Here children were distinguished by their short hairstyles. This practice was also shared by Hindus, who traditionally shaved the heads of young boys until they reached adolescence. In medieval Europe maidens wore their hair long and uncovered, while matrons bound theirs under a veil. In ancient times, as a sign of mourning, women would often cut their long hair short while men grew their short hair long.
Wigs may not be a current hairstyle trend, but their popularity has spanned centuries throughout the history of hairstyles and around the globe. Adorned both inside and outside the house and often used for both everyday wear as well as for religious purposes, celebrations, and to convey status, wigs were often very popular among men, women and children and greatly varied in styles. The wig was originally used by the Ancient Egyptians as a headdress for special occasions in Ancient Egypt but grew to become an essential element of hairstyles of the time. Consequently Egyptians began wearing a new wig each day. Throughout European history, wigs were also generally associated with royalty and in both Europe as well as America in the 17th and 18th Centuries wigs were often worn to indicate social class, often worn by both men and women alike curled or, other times, arranged with a succession of plaits.
Celebrities' use of hair extensions within the past five years has served to catapult their recent popularity. Once regarded as a service solely for the rich, the quality and cost of this service has earned their status as a sought commodity within the beauty industry. Real hair or synthetic, attached by weaving or sewing, hair extensions offer numerous options for either those searching for a new dramatic look or simply want to add length and avoid the long and tiresome stages of growing out their hair. While their instant results are certainly appealing, hair extensions are nothing new. Although a lasting trend in the hairstyles of African American women, they actually were invented in colonial America, where women would save the hair that fell off their head in a little jar typically known as a 'hair tidy. Hair pieces were made from the lost hair, which would later form a big ball of ratted hair that they would strategically place in their hair while styling to create a 'big hair' look. Throughout the years, hair extensions have transformed to what we know them as today. Although they can still be used to enhance the volume of ones hair, hair extensions are now usually worn in more sleek and natural styles.
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