Hair, Hairstyles, and Headwear

Like clothing, hair (and hairstyles) is not something that often survives in the archaeological record. Thus, aside from the rare find of an intact mummy with a preserved head of hair, archaeologists must rely on hair accessories, pictures, and statues to the hair care and style practices of the ancient Near East. On display are artifacts from among these categories. Hair care and styling accessories include hair pins and combs. The figurine heads showcase hairstyles from the Greek and Roman periods, as do pictures #6, 8-9. Wigs, often made from human hair, were also a common accessory for women from the time of the ancient Egyptians on through the Roman Period. Finally, perfumes and precious olis were commonly used as hair care products and were made from various materials such as olive oil, beeswax, myrrh, and animal fat. The ancient Egyptians would even create a cone out of these materials and wear it on top of their wigs, as seen in picture #2, and let the heat of the sun melt it slowly throughout the day to consistently have the perfumed mix drip into their hair or wig.

Artifacts on Display:

Pictures on Display: