Ancient Egyptian hairstyles established the person's status in society.
As a young girl, Egyptian children (both boys and girls) had their hair
shaved off, with the exception of a long lock of hair attached to the
side of the head. With the onset of puberty, the boys would shave off
the rest of their hair, while the girls wore their hair in plaits or a
ponytail style, with the single tail hanging down the center at the
back. Hair could be long and braided with curls at the end or with
weighted accessories that would adorn the hair and keep it hanging
straight.
As with modern women, ancient Egyptian women could maintain a hairstyle
that was long or short, preferring their hair smooth and close with
chin length bobs. For longer hair, women of the New Kingdom had
wigs, their hair decorated with flowers or ribbons. Employing a
stylized lotus blossom as a head adornment, it developed into the
diadems made from turquoise, gold, and malachite beads. Even the poorer
women would be able to add adornments such as berries and petals, while
children's hair was decorated with amulets, hair-rings and clasps. Often,
the ancient Egyptian woman would wear a headband to keep her hair in
place, employing when necessary ivory hairpins and beads to attach wigs
and hair extensions.
Shaving the head bald might seem to be an extreme style for women in
particular, but there were many benefits. It assisted with keeping the
bearer cool in the hot Egyptian climate, it allowed for sanitary
maintenance, preventing such things as head lice, and it was much easier
for the hair to be washed and changed, just like clothes, as this could
be done by the servants, and the owner would always have a fresh change
of hair.
15hqqs.
With the interaction of Rome on Egypt, there was a cultural crossover
that saw some female Egyptian mummies wearing the ornate hairstyles of
the ancient Roman woman. Roman hairstyles were even portrayed in
statues.
Wigs were created from sheep's wool, vegetable fibers, and human hair,
with the more natural looking hair, the more in demand. They could be
curled or made with plaits, with the nobility and royalty wearing long
wigs that were separated into three parts. Wigs could be long or short,
the latter made of small curls that were arranged in horizontal lines
that overlapped each other like roofing tiles. The ears and the back of
the neck were fully covered with only the forehead partially visible.
The long-haired wig hung to the shoulder, framing the face, with a
sampling of waves and spirals. The wigs had to be maintained with
vegetable oils and animal fats, to which they added scents and
adornments such as cinnamon and petals. Wigs were so special to the
ancient Egyptians, that they accompanied them into their tombs for the
journey to the next life.
