Traditional Hair Styles

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Most gentleman's wigs were made of horsehair. They were powdered to kill off vermin as much as to keep them coloured. By the 18th century long hair was considered the mark of a gentleman and the lesser classes generally cropped their hair short. Bonnie Prince Charlie (who may or may not have been a Scot depending on your point of view about those things) had long dark red hair over which he wore a wig when he landed at Glenfinnan in 1745. Wigs were on the wane by the time of the American War for Independence and although long hair was still popular, cropped hair was becoming more fashionable with both the upper and lesser classes.

And in the words of my Uncle Angus: Confound the whigs and bring back the torries!

[Bugbear]

Thanks, MacMillan of Rathdown, that's interesting. I seem to recall something about medieval sinners, at one point in time, having to shave their heads and sit in a different section of the church for their punnishment. I might be wrongabout that, but you would think that would give relief from the hair bugs and all... Might be counter productive in stopping the sinning though. LOL!

[Joel]

Here's a question:

Is there evidence that the Celts used animal fat/grease in their hair like the American Indian did? It was done because it kept it from blowing about - or so I was told...

[Jerry]

At one time, I had relatively long hair. In recent years, my hair has gone from turning gray to turning loose. So, I decided why pay a barber to just trim around my ears. I bought an electric clipper and I remove as much of the hair as possible with it, then I use a razor to shave the rest. I currently have a goatee and "mustache" but since the start of the deer hunting season(just ended Saturday) I've been kind of working on the full beard again, ala Davey of Albannach.

[Bugbear]

Here's a question:

Is there evidence that the Celts used animal fat/grease in their hair like the American Indian did? It was done because it kept it from blowing about - or so I was told...

I don't know, but I think it might depend on which "celts" and which "American indians" you're talking about. I brought up in an earlier post that there was apparently forms of soap in cultures of both, and of course the yucca root shampoo. Why does bear grease come to mind, and I think my father's generation greased their hair too.

[Joel]

Why does bear grease come to mind, and I think my father's generation greased their hair too.

That's what my mother was telling me of...bear grease. She's a studdier of the American Indian...though, I can't remember what Nation(s) practised this. Could have been many, many, many.

And I haven't forgotten about all the types Celts, either.

It's also interesting to see how art has preserved trends in dress and such. From paintings on clay pots, to sculpture, drawings and canvas paintings.

[string]

That's what my mother was telling me of...bear grease. She's a studier of the American Indian...though, I can't remember what Nation(s) practiced this. Could have been many, many, many.

From what I know pretty much all the nations who had access to bears did this. Good for frizz control, detangling, insect repellent, sunscreen, just to name a few reasons. I've never used actual bear grease on myself, except on others, but I am the official battle buddy at reenactments anymore because I don't mind touching the stinky paint and I know how to braid. I have used oil to de-dread my hair at events before though as my hair likes to turn into a bird's nest.

[Bugbear]

Somewhere I read that the Romans thought the Scots invented soap. I don't know if that is true.
None of my Dine' or Zuni friends were greasing their hair... I really don't know the history too well on hair greasing. That being said, these friends were quite awear of how to make or use yucca shampoo, and some other soaps. This was N/W N. M.. Hair washing and care was or is a big deal. My Pueblo friends had the longest hair, and now that I think about it, they were way into modern shampoo. One of my Dine' GFs, almost wife, was a shampoo freak.
Also, so it's clear, I was pointing out that my father's generation was greasing their hair in the fifties because he isn't "Native American."

[Joel]

Good for frizz control, detangling, insect repellent, sunscreen, just to name a few reasons.

Yeah, that's some of the stuff I was told. But the thought of grease seems strange in to-day's world...though, back then, they used what they had available and it worked.

Also, so it's clear, I was pointing out that my father's generation was greasing their hair in the fifties because he isn't "Native American."

What was with hair greasing, anyway? Well, I guess it was like what the young folk were doing not long ago with hair gel.

Oh well, styles and methods keep on a-changin'...

[Bugbear]

I guess I could bring up, on the bear grease, that the people living with and around each other get used to the smell of each other. That's sounds funny to say, LOL! Anyway, I don't know that the smell of bear grease is an issue after the whole tribe starts using it.
You know, you probably get used to the culture you grow up in and the people you are always around, but you would notice all the stuff about other cultures.
I've lost my sense of smell, so i just have to take peoples' words for it.

****

Hey Joel, Davedove, and String, I'll just edit this post to respond. Thank you for your input. I've been told by many people coming back from staying over seas for a long time that it stinks or smells weird when they get back. Like I said, I lost the sense of smell when I went blind, so I can't say much.
Thank you AtagahiKC, for your input. I've kind of brought up the yucca shampoo and so on because I know there are a lot of myths and so on that aren't true or nice. Also, I just looked at the way you spell your handle, "AtagahiKC, and in an earlier post I asked if you were Dine', but I guess maybe not. Sorry, I have to use a speach screen reader, and it doesn't always say things in an understandable way if they are written with out spaces, and I have now adjusted the settings to do that.
String, love ya, you're great.
Also, stuff you eat can do this. I grow citrus, and for the next three months I will be living partly off grapefruit and oranges. You start smelling like oranges after a while. Not a bad thing, but you also start turning, and I'm not joking, orange like on the palms of your hands after a while and soles of your feet. LOL!

Thank you very much, djweso, for the links and that locks of Love link. I know a couple that donate their hair... It seems like they were donating all their hair like to having a crew cut afterward, but I'm not sure. It's a very good thing to do, and I think you are the first guy I've come across that has done that. I'm growing my hair in a non-haircut way right now, but in the future, if I do need to have short hair, I will donate..., then probably start combing my hair with the beard clippers. LOL? Thanks again for all of your input.