Boys' Hair Styles: Historical Era


Figure 1.--T.

Hairdressing is not new to our modern era. Man since the dawn of human history has stylled his hair. Ancient civilizations have given as much attention to their hair as modern man--although in ancient socities it was often on the wealthy that could afford elaborate hair styling. Today hair styling is a fashion persued by all classes.

Pre-History

Primitive men, for example, fastened bones, feathers, and other objects in their hair to impress the lowly and frighten the enemy with their rank and prowess

Ancient Civilizations (Before the Christian Era)

Archeologists have unearthed bas-reliefs and and statuary of the ancient civilizations, such as the Assyrians, Persians, and Egyptians, which clearly show that these and other ancient people subjected the hair of the head and beard to a number of decorative processes, including curling, anointing, dyeing, and adorning the hair with ribbons and other objects, including valuable objects of gold and silver. Even in these ancient civilizations, the use of the wig was common to conceal baldness. Hair arrangement could also proclaim age and majority. Boys in ancient Greece cut their hair, and Hindu boys shaved their heads when they reached adolescence.

Modern Civilizations (The Christian Era)

Modern civilizations in the Christian era have adopted a wide range of hair styles. These styles have not only been stylistic changes, but early Christian churches as well as other religiions have attached moral conotations to hair styling that persists today. HBC is most familiar with American styles and knows less about hair styling in Europe.










Christopher Wagner






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Created: March 5, 1998
Last updated: November 12, 2000