ANC277248 Head of a Roman Lady, Flavian Period, Late 1st century AD by Roman, Musei Capitolini, Rome, Italy/ Ancient Art and Architecture Collection Ltd.
Curls
In ancient Rome the tendency was to follow Greek styles. Wealthy women wore ornate piles of curls on the tops of their heads, shaped around wire frames. These elaborate updos were created by slaves and servants often with the aid of crude curling irons.
Having gold dust sprinkled among the strands was a definite status symbol. Equally popular were blond hairpieces which were made from the hair of captive slaves. In contrast men’s hair was kept short and even shaved on occasion.
See more hairstyle from Ancient Rome
PNP246189 An Osage Warrior, c.1804 by Saint-Memin, Julien Fevret de Charles Balthazar (1770-1852) Private Collection/ Peter Newark American Pictures
The Mohawk
Today the Mohawk is largely associated with the Punk movement, yet it originates from the Mohawk nation, an indigenous people from North America, specifically the Mohawk Valley in upstate New York. Typically, the Mohawks grew their hair long, as they say their hair as a connection to the Creator, but when the men went off to war they cut all but a narrow strip down the middle.
In the most common variety, both sides of the head are shaved leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair in the centre. It tends to be a high-maintenance hairstyle requiring holding agents and dye. Today, there are upwards of 20 different varieties of mohawk inspired hairstyles, notably the 'faux hawk.'
There are many different hair styles amongst the Native American Indians that vary depending on the tribe and their geographic region.
See more Native Amerian hairstyles
GR15972 Portrait of Ginevra d'Este, c.1436-38 by Antonio Pisanello (1395-1455)/ Louvre, Paris, France
Plucking
In the 15th century, women of the upper class really took ‘plucking’ to its limit!
They began plucking their eyebrows and then the entire front hairline away to give the appearance of a higher forehead. They would pull the rest of their hair back into elaborate styles, braided, tied up with ribbons and knotted in various shapes or covered with expensive fabric.
Bathing in these times was irregular and the styles were meant to last for days or weeks at a time
Women often wore their heads covered during this period so many Renaissance hair styles were worn with a veil, hat or netted cover known as a caul.
CHT157333 Woman in a Day Dress with a hairstyle 'a la Belle Poule', period of American Independence, 1779-80 by French School, Private Collection/ Archives Charmet
Big Hair
The 18th century was without doubt the most extravagant era for hair styling.
Women would spend hours creating outrageous hair dos. Aiming to go as high as possible, hair would often be modelled around cage frames, using starch, powder, horse hair pads, utilizing anything to hold it upright. An unfortunate side effect being that these creations became ideal hiding places for vermin.
The most imaginative of these women would go as far as creating miniature scenes above their heads complete with wild accessories such as model boats and live birds.
See more hairstyles from the 18th century
PKC190621 Anthropomorphic Face of Dali, 1998 by Paul Karslake (b.1958) Private Collection
Facial hair
In the course of history, men with facial hair have been ascribed various attributes such as wisdom and knowledge, sexual virility, masculinity, or high social status; and, conversely, filthiness, crudeness, or an eccentric disposition.
Facial hair comes in many sizes and shapes, ranging from natural and bushy beards, to slim and highly stylised moustaches, each one bearing a different name such as the handlebar, the goatee or the pencil moustache.
Many men in history are remembered by that little tuff of hair; Nietzsche, Stalin, Hitler, Dali, even a famous woman, Frida Kahlo, the Mexican artist who depicted herself with a moustache and unibrow.
See more examples of facial hair throughout history
Women with facial hair
There are many more historic hairstyles that we have not identified in this feature. Please see lightbox below for some of our favorites.
Hairstyles throughout history