Hair Extensions – a Lengthy Story
When you stop to think about modern hair styling methods, you'd probably think most of what we use today is relatively contemporary. For example, the hair styling procedures our great-grandmothers endured are very different than what we'd expect to find in, for example, a current salon providing hair extensions in Perth, WA.
Yet when it comes to hair extensions, their use has a much longer story that you might imagine...
While human hair extensions may seem like a very new invention, they have actually been used for thousands of years in one form or another.
The Ancient Egyptians, dating back to five and a half thousand years ago, used human hair extensions commonly and widely for aesthetic adornment. Pharaohs and other society elite used extensions that were incorporated into the hair by an intricate method of knotting and weaving. Poorer Egyptian citizens used cheap impersonations made of vegetable fibres.
In the 1700s, powdered pompadour wigs were highly fashionable, and made with human hair.
Around 1800, cosmetic hair attachments were out of style for classy women, and hair was kept natural. At the dawn of the Romantic era, however, women wore elaborate Apollo knots; false hairpieces were used to achieve this three-piece style.
In 1873, one hundred and two tonnes of human hair was imported from France for the purpose of making hairpieces and extensions. Women and men alike wore opulent hairstyles involving complex knots, curls, and braids.
The Edwardians wore false hair add-ons to create high hairstyles; real human hair was a luxury reserved for the wealthy. "Switches" of hair were clipped into the natural hair. Customised styled switches cost up to an equivalent of what today would be two and a half thousand dollars!
Hairpieces went out of fashion during World War One and into the minimalist (for hairstyling) 1920s. Only in the 1940s did longer hair once again become fashionable. By the 1960s, hair extensions and pieces were almost a fashion essential. Big hair was in style with beehive up dos and coil styles very popular. Both human and synthetic hair was commonly used and the wearing of full or part wigs was also very common.
During the 1980s, big, frizzy hair was very much the look of the decade – yet only natural hair was worn (except by some rock stars – Dolly Parton, we are talking about you!).
During the 1990s, hair extensions once again became popular and much more mainstream. Celebrities like Victoria Beckham would appear one day with cropped hair and the next with flowing locks worthy of a Disney princess. How? We asked. The answer – hair extensions!
Today, this method of changing and enhancing one's look is not at all uncommon. There are many different kinds of hair extensions on the market, to suit almost any requirement. When you search online for a provider of "hair extensions Perth WA", know you're following in the footsteps of the ancients – true fashion and style are timeless.
Yet when it comes to hair extensions, their use has a much longer story that you might imagine...
While human hair extensions may seem like a very new invention, they have actually been used for thousands of years in one form or another.
The Ancient Egyptians, dating back to five and a half thousand years ago, used human hair extensions commonly and widely for aesthetic adornment. Pharaohs and other society elite used extensions that were incorporated into the hair by an intricate method of knotting and weaving. Poorer Egyptian citizens used cheap impersonations made of vegetable fibres.
In the 1700s, powdered pompadour wigs were highly fashionable, and made with human hair.
Around 1800, cosmetic hair attachments were out of style for classy women, and hair was kept natural. At the dawn of the Romantic era, however, women wore elaborate Apollo knots; false hairpieces were used to achieve this three-piece style.
In 1873, one hundred and two tonnes of human hair was imported from France for the purpose of making hairpieces and extensions. Women and men alike wore opulent hairstyles involving complex knots, curls, and braids.
The Edwardians wore false hair add-ons to create high hairstyles; real human hair was a luxury reserved for the wealthy. "Switches" of hair were clipped into the natural hair. Customised styled switches cost up to an equivalent of what today would be two and a half thousand dollars!
Hairpieces went out of fashion during World War One and into the minimalist (for hairstyling) 1920s. Only in the 1940s did longer hair once again become fashionable. By the 1960s, hair extensions and pieces were almost a fashion essential. Big hair was in style with beehive up dos and coil styles very popular. Both human and synthetic hair was commonly used and the wearing of full or part wigs was also very common.
During the 1980s, big, frizzy hair was very much the look of the decade – yet only natural hair was worn (except by some rock stars – Dolly Parton, we are talking about you!).
During the 1990s, hair extensions once again became popular and much more mainstream. Celebrities like Victoria Beckham would appear one day with cropped hair and the next with flowing locks worthy of a Disney princess. How? We asked. The answer – hair extensions!
Today, this method of changing and enhancing one's look is not at all uncommon. There are many different kinds of hair extensions on the market, to suit almost any requirement. When you search online for a provider of "hair extensions Perth WA", know you're following in the footsteps of the ancients – true fashion and style are timeless.
