Hairstyles of Ancient Rome, their beauty and creative approach, used especially by Roman women, are certainly a separate art. Individuality, even within the framework of social expectations, was as widespread as it is now. At all times, girls tried to be beautiful, take care of themselves, so they are arranged. Hairstyle in care was far from last in importance.
Traditionally, in the hairdressing business specific views and beliefs were expressed that prevailed in a certain period in art. The various hairstyles of ancient Rome definitely played an important role for both men and women. Like fashion items, they were used as a symbol of beauty, masculinity, status or intelligence.
Philosophers were the only class that resisted the temptations of fashion throughout history: they enjoyed their beard. Similarly, secular women could wear the most complex variations of hairstyles in accordance with the latest fashion.
Imperial hairstyles
Hairstyles, jewelry and cosmetics in ancient Rome were three things through which women could truly show their importance and social status. They could also wear ribbons and other ties on their hair, called tubules and fascia.
Or they could be wrapped around the whole body and used as a corset. Another interesting feature of the ancient Roman hairstyles was that they wore wigs, both women and men. It was called the galericulum.
The skill of hairdressers in cutting hair was then still small. Even the bizarre emperor Nero finally let his hair grow on the back of his head in the manner of young people and dudes. Some say it’s in the manner of chariots that the emperor admired. Nevertheless, he wore curly hair that framed his face, so there was a tendency to sideburns.
When the style returned back to the side of long hair and beards, he went too far so that in Adrian's time it was absolutely normal to wear tails both front and back.
Yes, it sounds very wild, but we must not forget the habit of people of the 18th and 19th centuries to wear long wigs with curls worn by judges in the UK to this day.
A number of Roman emperors, such as Constantine, for example, chose to walk without a beard, perhaps as the latest fashion statement against invading bearded barbarians.
Who knows, it is possible that cutting with an old oxidized razor was found to be a little dangerous?
Men's hairstyles of ancient Rome
The earliest fashion was to have a long beard. Men rarely shaved, supporting their hair and beard in a more or less neat condition and their beloved wives probably carried out this process.
Neatness is in doubt, since in those days traditional laying was most likely like a ravaged bird's nest.
Razors novalculae were well known from the first days of Rome: bronze shaving machines were found from the eighth century BC, that is, until the official foundation of Rome.
History of hairdressers
The first hairdressers arrived in Rome around the third century BC.
However, we can easily imagine that, in particular, the wealthy patricians had the habit of having a personal slave, acting as secretary, assistant and hairdresser. The richer they were, the more skillful subordinates they needed to have to help them carry out their daily duties.
Given the relatively low level of shaving technology, it can be assumed that the result of the procedure with a sickle-shaped piece of bronze was directly unpredictable.
One can only guess what actually happened in the hairdressing salons - tonstrinae, but much is confirmed by archaeological finds: ordinary cosmetics, some simple tools for minor medical interventions, such as pulling out teeth, and attributes of a dice game to pass the time.
I like to think about the famous hairdresser from Seville, who is largely a copy of his Roman peers. Gossip, talking about women, betting and arguing about horse racing.
Great men, rulers, and emperors such as Cicero, Caesar, Augustus, and Vespasian were all shaved smoothly. Vespasian was almost completely bald.
Of course, this is not only a matter of fashion: a beard has always been associated with philosophy and wisdom, and political propaganda has taken advantage of this and linked this indicator of wisdom with the image of the emperor.
The Romans valued their hair highly, and Julius Caesar went to great lengths to hide his thinning curls.
They say that because of this he always wore a laurel crown, because he covered his bald head, which is considered ugliness.
The leading figure in the period of the Roman Empire, of course, was the emperor, and if he accepted the new hairstyle of Ancient Rome, the story says that it was quickly adopted by other Romans.
Emperor Hadrian (117-138 CE) was the first emperor to wear a short beard, which then became quite common among Roman men.
In later years, Emperor Constantine wore false hair of various colors, which were carefully designed and perfumed.
The rich Romans followed suit and dyed their hair in various dark and light shades. Wearing wigs has also become fashionable.
Female hairstyles of ancient Rome
Roman women originally wore hair with great simplicity. The legends about the most beloved and original hairstyles of Ancient Rome are still forming. Among them is beautifully braided hair, and then fastened behind with a large hairpin.
Young girls hid their long hair in a bun tied at the base of the neck. Simple hairstyles for married women changed during the reign of Emperor Augustus, as diverse and complex hairstyles came into fashion.
During the reign of emperors Flavius (69-138 BC), hairstyles rose to great heights with many artificial curls. Women's hair becomes artfully curled.
Hairstyles were carefully styled. They could be with curled, wavy and curled hair.
Wigs were used to create the illusion of plentiful curls.
Roman hairstyles, wigs, hair dyes
Cosmetics and hairstyles required mirrors that were made of highly polished bronze or silver in rectangular or round shapes.
The Romans greatly admired blond hair. Gray hair was also dyed with walnut dye. Wigs were very common in ancient Rome.
Some slaves were shaved baldly. Their hair was used to make wigs for wealthy Roman women.
Accessories
To create complex and colorful hairstyles, various accessories were used. Ribbons were used to strengthen the hairstyles, precious stones pierced the hair, perfume was applied to ensure a pleasant smell of hair. Various hairpins, flowers, wreaths and tiaras emphasized the vivid nature of the hairstyle.
Elegant hairstyles for the rich
In ancient Rome, the hairstyle showed who this person is and what place he occupies in society. Wealthy women could afford to wear extravagant options, the creation of which can take several hours.
Special slaves washed, combed, dyed, cut and curled the locks of their mistresses. This was a privileged position for a slave. Rich women had a lot of time to sit in front of a mirror while their hair was tidied up.
Natural dyes were used for hair coloring, such as henna (which we still use today) and saffron, another expensive imported product for Roman matrons.
Hairstyle - a sign of value
Hairdressing was part of the female cult, the practice of self-improvement and healing, which was a central element in the life of the Roman elite.
For the Romans, the woman’s ability to spend time and the manual labor necessary to make her hair beautiful was not only a sign of wealth, but also her values in the family.
Hair color bans for prostitutes
Prostitutes in ancient Rome were not allowed to dye their hair black or even dark, only blond or red.
"Why?" - you ask. The valiant Roman soldiers brought many beautiful women from their European conquests, most of whom were blondes and redheads. Needless to say, almost all captured women became slaves and prostitutes. That is why only black-haired women were considered society as virtuous wives.
Special attention deserves the theme of hairstyles confused. In ancient Rome, they wore bright yellow wigs to advertise their services.
Baby hairstyles
Children were allowed to let go of their hair to their shoulders. The girls' hair was usually tied in a ponytail, the boys did not shave until most of the facial hair became noticeable, but sometimes they did not shave at all, just to annoy their parents.
Hair has played an important and diverse role in people's lives since ancient times. Hairstyle has become an integral element of fashion. Its shape changed depending on the taste of the period, traditions, geographical and social conditions.
From early times, people tried to emphasize their exclusivity and position with the help of unusual or impressive hairstyles.
Today, intricate hairstyles, such as that of Lady Gaga, are considered controversial, but in Roman times the more complicated and shocking the hairstyle was, the more attractive it was, since her style was honed for hours, which indicates the well-being of its owner.
The purpose of this article was to show the variety of hairstyles in a certain period, namely in ancient Rome. Naturally, further historical development introduced regular changes in the fashion for hair. The male style has also undergone changes both in the length of the hair and in the shape of the mustache and beard.