A Brief History Of Hair

Considering the millions spent globally on haircare each year, hair clearly means something to all of us. But history shows that the world’s obsession with it is even more deep rooted than you may think.

- Claire Soong

Hair-story

It’s easy to forget how much we associate a person’s identity with their hair… until they suddenly cut it all off and you’re like “OMG, who is this person?!” Consider how much noise was made when Miley Cyrus chopped off her locks in favour of an edgy undercut, or how popular “The Rachel” hairdo was, thanks to Jennifer Aniston and Friends, and you’ll get a sense of how passionate we can get about hair.

So what’s with the obsession? New York-based psychologist Vivian Diller suggests that part of it has to do with our self-esteem and confidence. “Hair can be altered through cutting, colouring and highlighting, but controlled through straightening, curling and styling,” she wrote in an article for The Huffington Post in 2012. “Styled, well-kept hair gives us the appearance of being well managed and it can contribute to feeling that way internally. Some say a manicure or pedicure creates a similar sense of feeling in control.”

It also gives the impression of health… and wealth, though culturally, it depends on where (and when) you’re from. In 18th century France, wigs tended to be literally OTT – they were often very tall, and came in a variety of pastel shades. The height and elaborateness of the wigs continued to grow until the French Revolution cut them off. After that, there was a return to a less ostentatious way of life and wigs were out.

The long and short of it