The hairstyles of ancient Rome, their beauty and creativity, used especially by Roman women, are certainly an art in their own right. Individuality, even within social expectations, was as common as it is now. At all times, girls tried to be beautiful, take care of themselves, that's how they are arranged. Hairstyle in care was far from the last place in importance.
Traditionally, hairdressing expressed specific views and beliefs that prevailed in a certain period in art. The various hairstyles of Ancient Rome definitely played an important role for both men and women. As well as fashion items, they were used as a symbol of beauty, masculinity, status or intelligence.
Philosophers have been the only class that has resisted the temptations of fashion throughout history: they enjoyed their beards. In the same way, society women could wear the most elaborate hairstyles in accordance with the latest fashion trends.
Imperial hairstyles
Hairstyles, jewelry and cosmetics in ancient Rome were the three things through which womencould really show their importance and social position. They could also wear ribbons and other ties in their hair, called tubules and fasciae.
Or they could be wrapped around the whole body and used as a corset. Another interesting feature of ancient Roman hairstyles was that wigs were worn here, both women and men. It was called the galericulum.
The skill of hairdressers in cutting hair was still small then. Even the whimsical emperor Nero eventually let his hair grow at the back of his head in the manner of young men and dudes. Some say it is in the manner of the chariots that the emperor admired. However, he wore curly hair that framed his face, showing the sideburn trend.
When the style went back to long hair and beards, it went so far that it was completely normal in Hadrian's time to wear ponytails both front and back.
Yes, it sounds quite wild, but we must not forget the habit of people of the 18th and 19th centuries to wear long wigs with curls, which judges in the UK still wear today.
A number of Roman emperors, such as Constantine, for example, preferred to go without beards, perhaps as the latest fashion statement against invading bearded barbarians.
Who knows, maybe cutting with an old oxidized razor has been deemed a bit dangerous?
Men's Hairstyles of Ancient Rome
The earliest fashion was to have a longbeard. Men rarely shaved, maintaining their hair and beard in a more or less neat condition and, probably, their beloved wives carried out this process.
Tidiness is questionable, as in those days, traditional styling was most likely like a ruined bird's nest.
Novalculae razors have been well known since the early days of Rome: bronze razors have been found since the eighth century BC, that is, before the official founding of Rome.
History of hairdressers
The first barbers arrived in Rome around the third century BC.
However, we can easily imagine that, in particular, the we althy patricians had a habit of having a personal slave who served as a secretary, assistant and hairdresser. The richer they were, the more skilled subordinates they needed to have to help with their daily duties.
Given the relatively low level of shaving technology, it can be assumed that the result of the crescent-shaped piece of bronze was downright unpredictable.
One can only guess what actually happened in barbershops - the tonstrinae, but a lot is confirmed by archaeological finds: the usual cosmetics, some simple tools for minor medical interventions such as pulling teeth, and the paraphernalia of playing dice to pass the time.
Love to think of a famous hairdresser from Seville who is pretty much a copy of his Roman peers. Gossip, talk about women, bets and arguments about horse racing.
Great men, rulers and emperors such as Cicero, Caesar, Augustus and Vespasian were all clean-shaven. Vespasian was almost completely bald.
Of course, it's not just about fashion: the beard has always been associated with philosophy and wisdom, and political propaganda took advantage of this and associated 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.
It is said that this is why he always wore a crown of laurel, because it covered his bald head, which is considered ugly.
The leading figure in the Roman period was of course the emperor, and if he adopted the new hairstyle of Ancient Rome, history has it that it was quickly adopted by other Romans as well.
Emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138) 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 in various colors that were carefully styled and perfumed.
We althy Romans followed suit and dyed their hair in various dark and light shades. Wearing wigs has also become fashionable.
Women's hairstyles of ancient Rome
Roman women originally wore their hair with great simplicity. About the most beloved and original hairstyles of Ancient Rome, legends are still being formed. Among them is beautifully braided hair, and then pinned at the back with a large barrette.
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 varied and complex hairstyles came into fashion.
During the reign of the Flavian emperors (69-138 BC), hairstyles were raised to great heights with many artificial curls. Women's hair becomes artfully curled.
Hairstyles carefully styled. They could have twisted, wavy and curled hair.
Wigs were used to create the illusion of full curls.
Roman hairstyles, wigs, hair dyes
Makeup and hairstyles required mirrors, which were made of highly polished bronze or silver in rectangular or round shapes.
The Romans greatly admired blonde hair. The gray hair was also dyed with hazelnut dye. Wigs were very common in ancient Rome.
Some slaves were shaved bald. Their hair was used to make wigs for we althy Roman women.
Accessories
A variety of accessories were used to create complex and colorful hairstyles. Ribbons were used to strengthen hairstyles, gems were pierced through the hair, and perfume was applied to provide a pleasant smell to the hair. Various hairpins, flowers, wreaths and tiaras emphasized the bright character of the hairstyle.
Elegant hairstyles for the rich
In ancient Rome, the hairstyle showed who this person was and what place he occupied insociety. We althy women could afford to wear extravagant designs that could take hours to create.
Special slaves washed, combed, dyed, cut and curled the locks of their mistresses. It was a privileged position for a slave. Rich women had plenty of time to sit in front of a mirror while their hair was done.
They used natural hair dyes such as henna (which we still use today) and saffron, another expensive import for Roman matrons.
Hairstyle is a sign of value
Hairdressing was part of the women's cult, a practice of self-improvement and he alth improvement that was central to the life of the Roman elite.
For the Romans, a woman's ability to put in the time and manual labor required to make her hair beautiful was not only a sign of we alth, but also her value in the family.
Hair color bans for prostitutes
Prostitutes in ancient Rome were not allowed to dye their hair black or even dark, only blonde or red.
"Why?" - you ask. The Roman valiant soldiers brought back 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 by society to be virtuous wives.
Special attention deserves the theme of prostitutes' hairstyles. In ancient Rome, they wore bright yellow wigs to advertise their services.
Baby hairstyles
Children were allowed to let their hair down to their shoulders. The girls' hair was usually tied in a ponytail, the boys didn't shave until most of their facial hair was visible, but sometimes they didn't shave at all just to annoy their parents.
Hair has played an important and diverse role in people's lives since ancient times. The hairstyle has become an integral part of fashion. Its shape changed according to 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 those of Lady Gaga are considered controversial, but in Roman times, the more complex and outrageous the hairstyle, the more attractive it was, since its 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 has made natural changes in hair fashion. Men's style has also undergone changes in both the length of the hair and the shape of the mustache and beard.
