How Hair Designs Have Changed Over Time?

Many scholars usually trace various periods in history by observing changes in political adjustments, economic statuses, social conditions, religious movements, civil movements and even art and music so that they can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how and why these changes took place overtime and among people across the world, and changes in hair designs have been equally useful in understanding the times in which they changed.

Hair designs usually tend to reflect the historical period in which that hair style or design became popular, and hair designs can be accurately traced as far back as biblical times, and possibly even further. Whats more is that various hair designs over time moved from culture to culture and from country to country across the world. In early historical periods, hair was regarded as a valuable possession between both men and women, and hair made a statement. Particularly in the time of the Pharaohs the royals had elaborate wigs adorned with golden ornaments specially made for them to emphasize the difference between them and the rest of the Egyptian peasantry.

As times changed and various countries and cultures evolved into their own, different hair and designs styles emerged to indicate a feature of their new culture. For instance, in India elaborate braided and knotted hair styles were customary for special occasions such as weddings and married women wore their natural hair parted down the middle and colored with a red powder to indicate that she was married. In Japanese culture the everyday working class wore their hair in a single braid and pulled back, but when various types of artistry started emerging throughout the country, artists such as a Geisha distinguished themselves and their art in the clothes and make up and hair designs they wore. A popular hair design for an apprentice Geisha was the Split Peach which not only served the purpose of indicating to others that she is an apprentice, but also to build a sizeable clientele with the seductively designed hair style.

While history has proven to move through the hair designs created, the styles chosen by those in Hollywood today have proven to be those that gain attention in the United States. Since the 30s Hollywood stars have stood out in the limelight because of their beautiful and elegant healthy hairstyles. Since the actresses of the 30s and 40s showed great appeal in the limelight if they were blondes, actresses like Mae West and Jean Harlow made the black and white films sing with appeal. Even Veronica Lake could contribute her fame to the platinum blonde look on the big screen. From the 50s on into the late 60s, actors, actresses, and musicians set trends for the general public. These trends have always centered on the fashionable selections in wardrobe but more particular in hair styles. In fact, theyve made the stars as popular as the movies and shows which made them a household name.

From Marilyn Monroe to Farrah Fawcett to Dorothy Hamill and even todays goddess of hair Jennifer Aniston have all changed the way we look at hair, and that reflects our ever changing society. But most importantly, it conveys the image of the character they are playing and the real person behind the role. Hair is an artform that we wear on our body. How we wear it tells others what our personality is and how adventuresome or conservative we are. And from the changes in hair designs weve seen throughout history, we can certainly expect to see more unique, radical and even ridiculous hair styles in the future.