Hairstyles date back to around 8000 B.C. Archeologists have discovered hair pins and hair ornaments from the Neolithic Era. (Hairdressing 1) Wigs date back to Ancient Egypt. In ancient Greece and Rome, women often braided, curled and tied their hair back, in the style that we associate Greek and Roman goddess today. Continuing through the centuries, in the Middle ages, unmarried girls left their hair long and flowy, while married women covered their hair and sometimes plucked or shaved the tops of their heads to make their foreheads appear longer. During the Renaissance, women let their hair grow incredibly long and often braided it or put it into a large bun, called Venus’s Hair. Men let their hair grow out too, about to their shoulders, men with loner hair were often nobility. (Hairdressing 2) In the 1600’s, men had long flowy curly hair and tied it off with a ribbon, while women had their hair up on their heads, letting few curls fall down. During the 1700’s, large hairstyles began to be fashionable. Women used cushions or wire frames to create large exquisite hairstyles, covered in white powder, much like Marie Antoinette. This is where hairstylists came in. Women needed help to create these two feet masterpieces. Men covered their hair in white wigs, like Mozart. The 1800’s brought new and simple hair styles. Women began victory rolling their hair, covering their ears and their necks. And in 1870, a French hairstylist named Marcel Grateau invented the first curling tongs, and called the styles crated with it, the Marcel Wave. Another French hairdresser, named Alexandre F. Godefroy invented the hair dryer in 1890. Men had incredibly simple hair styles, drenched in Macassar oil. The 1900’s is when women’s hair changed forever, instead of having long flowy luscious hair, the bob. Charle’s L. Nessler, a German hairdresser invented the permanent wave, like a perm but with waves as opposed to curls. Women would get a bob, a chin length hairstyle and then get a wave. In the 1950’s the bouffant was invented, which was created by backcombing. Men’s hair went from slick back and oiled to loose bangs and messy hair, much like The Beatles. Then the 70’s came, where giant long frizzed hair, afros and many unisex hairstyles took over. Then 90’s grunge with frosted short tipped hair on men and short choppy layers on girls. Now, there are so many hairstyles for both men and women of all ages, it’s impossible to list them all.
Hairstylist, a noun and by definition means a person who designs and arranges hairstyles. In my opinion, it deserves more of an artistic definition, like creates or crafts a beautiful work of art. Hairstyles are an art. You take something so simple and average and can turn it into something beautiful and unique. The one thing about this type of art is that at the end of the day, it disappears forever. That’s why I love it so much.
