When exploring ancient Egyptian culture, many are surprised to learn the truth that they had a habit of shaving their heads and wearing wigs. This practice was considered a fashion trend. The reasons behind this habit among the Egyptians are quite astonishing.
Depending on social status, gender, and age, each individual chose a suitable hairstyle.
According to experts, ancient Egyptians sported a variety of hairstyles. Depending on their social status, gender, and age, each person selected a hairstyle that suited them. Among these, the practice of shaving the head was particularly common among ancient Egyptians. Occasionally, they would leave a long lock of hair. Even from childhood to adulthood, the shaved head became the top choice for many ancient Egyptians.
This peculiar habit has led many to wonder why the Egyptians chose such a distinctive grooming style. Consequently, experts have delved into this mystery to uncover the reasons behind it.
For ancient Egyptians, hair was considered one of the unhygienic aspects of personal grooming. Furthermore, in the hot and humid weather, having long hair posed many inconveniences in daily life. Notably, during ancient times, lice were a terrifying concern for the Egyptian populace.
As they had not yet discovered effective ways to eradicate lice from the human body, ancient Egyptians opted to shave their heads. Additionally, they also shaved their facial hair to prevent lice from having a place to inhabit.
The act of shaving the head and wearing wigs also symbolized wealth and enhanced the beauty of the upper class, nobility, and royalty of ancient Egypt.
How did ancient Egyptians create and use wigs?
In ancient Egypt, long hair was seen as a symbol of beauty and social status. However, not everyone could have beautiful long hair, so the creation and use of wigs became a widespread habit.
Wigs helped ancient Egyptians feel confident and attractive in front of crowds.
Ancient Egyptians used wigs made from real human hair. The hair could come from slaves, war prisoners, or deceased relatives. The first step in making a wig was to cut hair to the appropriate length and clean it. After that, the artisan would sew the hair strands together using natural materials, such as string or strips of fabric, to create a wig.
During the wig-making process, dyeing hair was also a common practice. Ancient Egyptians used plant-based dyes from blueberries, jasmine, and green grass to color wigs in various shades. This simulated the different natural hair tones and made the wigs appear more realistic.
Ancient Egyptians wore wigs in various styles. One popular method was to tie the wig to a cap or scarf worn on the head. These caps or scarves were tightly secured around the hair to ensure the wig did not fall off. Wigs often covered the entire head to blend seamlessly with natural hair.
In addition to wigs affixed to caps or scarves, ancient Egyptians also invented detachable wigs, similar to modern wigs. These wigs had a complex structure with clips or hooks added to secure the wig in place.
