Hairstyles

Synonymous in fiction with witches, outsider women and comic book baddies (i.e. all the best people), the Mallen streak is a panel of white hair, formed naturally by poliosis; the absence of melanin. Although it’s nothing new, the feature only found its name in the...

Any hairstyle immortalised in song is special, and the puff is one such prime example, celebrated as the subject of The Lady of Rage’s iconic 1995 single, Afro Puffs. Robin Allen first rapped about puffs as a guest on Snoop Dogg’s iconic G Funk Intro, before...

Humans have used products of some form or other to smooth and soften the hair since time began. Our ancestors used whatever was available locally, making this truly natural and sustainable haircare. Think coconut oil, shea butter, bear oil (yep), aloe, and even...

While shampoo as we know it is a relatively recent invention, our ancestors have been washing, cleansing and scrubbing their scalps since time began with DIY blends of ingredients. Ancient Egyptians developed an early hair and scalp cleanser from the...

Humans have always coloured their hair – lifting, lightening and transforming their natural shade for the same reasons we do: trends, experimentation, vanity, ageing. There’s an incredible 16th century Vecellio print from Venice featuring a woman wearing a hat with...

While wet-look gel really came into its own in the 80s, lacquered looks were also in the spotlight in the 1920s. Think Josephine Baker’s super short crop, worn shellacked and slicked with high-shine brilliantine, for a glossy finish that catches the light on stage....

The beloved boyband favourite was on bedroom walls across the world in the 1990s, but long hair for men has gone in and out of style for centuries. Ancient Eygptian men wore wigs as standard, and many of the documented styles are centre-parted, chin-length cuts which...

When we think quiff, we think rock ‘n’ roll - but the history of the pompadour is more diverse than James Brown and Elvis.  The pompadour – hair worn high and swept back from the face – was named for  the Marquise de Pompadour; 18th century mistress of Louis...

Hair worn in spikes is always going to make a statement; it’s anti-gravity and anti-establishment and, despite the myriad hairstyles we’re exposed to on a daily basis these days, still has the ability to stand out and shock.  Making an impact is precisely the...

Henry V is the poster boy for the bowlcut, leading a 50-year reign of bad hair terror throughout the 1400s. His distinctive cut was the go-to look for men of the court, lasting until the end of the Medieval era and most recently replicated by Timothée Chalamet in The...