Hairstyles

Combs have been used for grooming since prehistoric times and in the days before regular shampooing, were primarily used to keep the hair clean. Although early combs are amongst the most ancient human artefacts in existence, they’re remarkably similar to those we use...

Throughout history, red hair has been variously associated with witches, vampires and the devil; generally, the notion goes that it’s different, therefore it’s not to be trusted. With less than 2% of the world’s population naturally red haired, it’s no wonder it...

Greasing the hair and scalp is a tradition as old as time, adding hydration, moisture and protection – as well as being a formative part of the childhood hair care regimen for those with Afro hair. Botanical recipes date back centuries, but enslaved people in America...

From ceremonial style to TikTok trend, the Hime, or princess cut, is named for the noblewomen who would have originally worn it during the Heian period of Japanese history (c. 794 to 1185). Like a way-more-elegant mullet, it combines two contrasting, stepped lengths:...

Hair gets its colour from cells called melanocytes, which produce pigment called melanin; differences in the quantity and type of melanin result in different hair colours. As we age, melanocytes slow down their production of melanin - or stop altogether - resulting in...

Balayage was created in the 1970s at the Carita salon in Paris – although people have been highlighting their hair in streaks, strands and sections for centuries. (There’s an amazing 16th century print of a Venetian woman wearing a hat with hair woven through holes in...

The ducktail - or duck’s arse - was a popular men’s look in the 1940s and 50s, inspired by a hairstyle popular in Mexican American Pachuco culture.  Pachuco style was adopted by Mexican immigrants in California and the cut was an important signifier of their...

Pink hair might be having a lockdown moment, but it’s nothing new – people have coloured their hair in shades both natural and fantastical for centuries. Pink has been a popular choice at least since the 17th century, when hair powders for wigs came in fashion shades...

The ultimate in uniformity, the crew cut is a prime example of when the right tools come along at the right time and help spawn a trend. The introduction and subsequent popularity of electric, hand-held clippers in the 1920s meant that barbers could quickly and easily...

The lockdown staple - ideally complete with a scrunchie - the top knot has a long, much more meaningful history than it’s often granted. Like so many hairstyles, there’s way more to it than just hey, this looks cool: disciplined hair is loaded with significance, far...