Ancient Egyptians Captivating Hairstyles - A Look Through Time

The Ancient Egyptians have long since interested the world with their rich and varied culture, enigmatic monuments, advanced engineering works and captivating hairstyles. Throughout the ages, many of the customs of the Ancient Egyptians have been recreated and emulated in a bid to capture the essence of an Egyptology driven era. One area that still holds the fascination of the modern world is the variety of styles witnessed in both men and women’s hairstyles throughout Ancient Egypt.

Braids and Dreadlocks

One of most widely acknowledged Ancient Egypt hairstyles is braids and dreadlocks which are commonly seen on depictions of men and women on Ancient Egyptian statues and paintings. Braids were oftened used as a means to create artful designs in men's hair and were plaited with strips of fabric while women normally wore more intricate forms of braided hair styles that ranged from thick buns of tightly woven hair coils to more loose variations such looped coils that cascaded down onto the shoulders.

Bare Heads of Men

In stark contrast to the elaborate hairstyles seen in artistic renderings from the Byzantine period and Predynastic Egyptians, we witness the trend for men in the Middle Kingdom to often depict themselves with their hair shaved off. During this period, it was not uncommon for men to keep their heads completely smooth and free from hair or other facial growth. It was thought that this style was initiated due to hygiene concerns, although some religious connotations have also been associated with this look.

Vibrant Colors

As time progressed, hairstyles became increasingly intricate and examples of vibrant color came into fashion. For instance, the New Kingdom saw the use of oil and beeswax used to style and shape the hair and to give it a brighter sheen and deeper coloring. These fragrant oils would often be gathered from raisins, apples, carob pods, henna leaves and bark from mulberry trees. This would result in colors such as black, light brown, red, blonde or blue being seen on many individuals, often combined with intricate styles and shapes to create unique looks.

Fabrics and Ornaments

In the Ptolemaic period, it seems that Ancient Egyptian hairstyles began to shift towards ornamental pieces and brightly dyed fabrics being mixed and matched into the overall style to create more regal and extravagant looks. This often involved heavier adornments such as wigs, beaded tassels, feathers, thin lacy fabrics and other detachable pieces. While this practice was no doubt embraced by many people in Ancient Egypt, it appears to have been particularly favored by those of a more privileged status.

It's evident that the Ancient Egyptians reveled in the playing with their hair to create unique and beautiful looks and as such, the many different hairstyles witnessed across Ancient Egyptian culture has endured historians test of time and continues to fascinate the modern day.

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