The history of hair jewelry dates back thousands of years. Hair jewelry typically consists of pieces adorned with human and/or animal materials such as feathers, wool, fur, bones, horns, teeth, claws and even scales. It was mainly used for spiritual and magical purposes, although some cultures also created the jewelry for aesthetic reasons.
Ancient Egyptians were one of the earliest civilizations to use hair in jewelry making; it served a major part in their various royal burials which included intricate mummified hairpieces made up of braided strands with colorful beads and accessories. Among other ancient societies such as Greeks whose women wove flowers into their hair, or Celts who believed the possession of someone’s hair granted them mysterious powers, hair was regarded a very sacred item.
By the Middle Ages through modern times much more intricate designs could be found made from actual real human hair from deceased relatives – mourners would often braid or weave it with ribbon, pearls or roses to create a pendant or brooch to be worn as a tribute piece.
Hair has also been shaped into symbolic forms like garlands and hearts and eventually this craft had become so well-known that specialized artisans began making custom-made pieces out of both real human and synthetic materials.
Hair jewelry today is still found in many cultures around the world containing materials ranging from precious metals such as gold and silver to semi-precious stones like turquoise and carnelian to organic items like feathers or plumes. It is often mixed with traditional elements like woven beads or patterned enamelwork to create unique designs perfect for any occasion whether used for special occasion headpieces or everyday jewelry inspired by sentimental memories that can have lasting personal significance.
All these different elements combine to create an iconic look that will never go out of style when it comes to adornment fashion year after year.
Ancient History of Hair Jewelry
The use of jewelry specifically to adorn hair dates to ancient times and likely began as a sign of wealth, power, or position. Ancient Egyptians used lavish hair decorations as part of their culture beginning around 3100 BCE. Common jewelry styles included hair pins made from gold and lapis lazuli, as well as ornamental combs with intricate designs. Additionally, Naturalistic wreaths full of flowers were often worn in ancient Egypt.
In China, hair came to be viewed as sacred beginning around 2690 BCE and has since been attached to many superstitions surrounding religion and health. As such Chinese people fashioned elaborate headpieces to both ornamentally accessorize their looks and ward off evil spirits they believed inhabited the air around them. Women often wore helical shaped pins adorned with jewels or other trinkets while men would replace the jeweled pieces with small coins.
In medieval times during the 8th century Germanic peoples also adopted a fondness for hair jewelry unlike any other time period; women wore intricate pieces called “feddas” which were typically crafted from silver, bronze, pearls, or glass beads that featured floral motifs in a variety of designs.
They served the purpose of securing hair into place but also evidenced a woman’s economic wealth since higher quality materials were reserved for those whose family had more money while poorer women would make do with whatever modest material they could find.
As European settlers explored America throughout the 16th century they found Native Americans wearing various types of cute feathers woven into their hairstyle that looked almost like braids which eventually became an iconic symbol for Natives tribes everywhere throughout North and South America.
In addition during the Victorian Era betrothal ceremonies took on an extra significance where couples exchanged lockets filled with locks of hair from both parties denoting that they were now true partners for life connected through more than just their corporeal forms.
List Items
- Ancient Egyptian: Hair pins made from gold and lapis lazuli
- Chinese: Helical shaped pins adorned with jewels or other trinkets
- Medieval Germanic: Feddas crafted from silver, bronze, pearls, or glass beads featuring floral motifs
- Native Americans: Feathers woven into hairstyle
- Victorian Era Betrothal Ceremonies: Exchanging lockets filled with locks of hair
Traditional Hair Jewelry Among Various Cultures
Hair jewelry has been used for many centuries by a number of cultures worldwide. In Europe, head ornaments made from human hair have been found in tombs that date back to the pre-Christian Iron Age.
Hair was also extremely important in ancient China and India where it was part of numerous religious rituals and ceremonies. For example, during the Hindu rite known as ‘Tonkh’, hair was distributed among family members to commemorate a changed position in society such as marriage or succession to a throne.
In Native American culture, it is believed that personal items including body parts (such as locks of hair) can possess great spiritual power and are used in admiration of deceased devoted ancestors. Historically these items were often burned or stored inside pottery vessels at sacred sites. It is not uncommon for American Indians to wear handcrafted necklaces, chokers or comb decorations that incorporate special charms made from human hair as symbolic mementos of their honored deceased relatives or tribal elders.
In 18th century Europe, fashionable ladies made intricate pieces like twill bands and elaborate finger ruffs using materials including silk and locks of human hair often taken from living relatives or acquired from curio dealers. Necklaces adorned with tiny portraits crafted from hair were incredibly popular due to new advances in miniaturized art technology developed at the time.
Other common examples included bijouterie watches which came with strikingly ornate watch chains composed solely from knitted strands of girls’ tresses which were then connected together using golden clasps.
Fashionable women also began sporting headscarves and bonnets braided with long sections of their own hair arranged into attractive patterns while men donned pocket watches embossed with locks belonging to their loved ones such as wives and children. All this shows just how creative people got when it came to utilizing a source material that had no other utilities besides its sentimental value – bringing even more meaning to an already deep-rooted tradition practiced across cultures throughout history.
Revival of Hair Jewelry in 18th and 19th Centuries
Paragraph 1 The 18th century saw a significant revival of hair jewelry as the emerging Romantic movement celebrated sentimentality and sought to honor lost loves. At this time, long, intricate coils of plaited and interwoven hair were crafted into rings, bracelets, necklaces and brooches embellished with gold foil, seed pearls and enameling.
They were often fashioned so-called ‘Forget Me Not’ shapes – typically a spray of flowers enclosing a single strand of woven hair in the centre – or cut hair fashioned into petite portraits or decorations such as starbursts or butterflies. This period also saw intricately carved cameos set at the side of gold wires, these miniature carvings featuring an intertwined lock of human hair framed with classical motifs including urns and funerary effigies within repoussé borders.
Paragraph 2 As the 19th century progressed so too did fashion in terms of hairstyles and jewelry designs. In keeping with fashionable neoclassical tastes hairstyles were put up in elaborate arrangements using jewelled combs, while elegant coral was increasingly popular both in jewelry incorporating locks of hair and for wearing as pendants on thin gold chains or strings.
Mourning pieces had a particular significance during the 19th century – following bereavements families would collect locks from deceased family members to craft into memorial pieces entwined with jet beads or enameled symbols such as broken columns representative of vanished lives, doves representing mourning and forgiveness, telesprits (air umbrellas – a traditional symbol of death), willow trees (portraying grief) etc.
Paragraph 3 Classic motifs also emerged for additional Victorian pieces such as:
- Poppy design symbolizing eternal sleep
- Infinity loops emblematic of eternity
- Broken plinth denoting unfinished life
- Winged skull signifying mortality
- Laced flowers signifying fading away
Popularization of Hair Jewelry and Expansion in the 20th Century
When it comes to the history of hair jewelry, its rise and expansion in the 20th century was due to modernization. Hair jewelry has been around for thousands of years, and in many cultures was important part of traditions and held a lot of symbolic meanings. However, in the 20th century advances in technology had a great impact on how hair jewelry was created and appreciated.
Modernization not only impacted the production process of these pieces but also their popularity. With mass production becoming possible at low cost, people began to purchase or even create their own hair jewelry.
Used as decoration for everyday outfits or elegant evening looks, more and more people adopted this trend making it part of day-to-day fashion. Furthermore, an increasing demand from new markets worldwide, particularly in Europe an North America made hair jewelry materials and supplies widely available regardless of location.
The standardization of designs based on current trends further boosted popularity as one simple design could be replicated by artisans all over the world quickly according to customers’ demands. On top of that, widespread advertising campaigns including print media, radio commercials or television spots played an essential role in turning hair accessories into must-haves among celebrities and influencers who began wearing them more often than ever before.
Moreover, online platforms such as e-commerce sites provided customers with vast amounts of information on different models so they could order what they liked without leaving their homes.
All these developments lead to higher availability and lower prices allowing more people access to what was once considered wearable art reserved for high society ladies only – now anyone can wear beautiful pieces regardless of age or income status – simply thanks to modernity.
The Meaning Behind Hair Jewelry
Hair jewelry has a long and storied history that goes back centuries. The practice of using hair in jewelry dates back to the 16th century, when wearing small pieces of human hair was a way to express love or commemorate somebody; it could also be given as sentimental gifts in memory of a loved one who passed away. Over time, hair jewelry evolved into intricate pieces with detailed craftsmanship that came in a variety of designs and materials.
The meaning behind hair jewelry is varied and complex; while for some it represents sentimentality and remembrance, for others it can symbolize social status, religious beliefs, or even fashion trends. For example, in the 18th century hair wreaths were fashionable symbols of femininity and elegance popular among fashionable ladies at court. In the 19th century, romantic Victorian-era culture embraced lockets containing mementos such as locks of hair from loved ones or images representing loved ones that have passed on.
In today’s modern era, celebrities have had a major impact on the proliferation of hair jewelry styles. During special events like award ceremonies and public appearances filmmakers and musicians alike have been known to accessorize their look with intricate pieces made from their own hair or treasured pieces given to them as gifts from someone special.
Hair rings – ‘X-Rings’ – became popular after they were spotted worn by memorable musicians like Kylie Minogue; heavily gilded braids have been recently seen on actress Jennifer Lawrence’s red carpet appearances; and Swarovski crystal adorned headbands were made famous by pop singer Taylor Swift in her music videos are just a few examples:
- During the 18th century, hair wreaths were fashionable symbols of femininity among ladies at court.
- Victorian-era culture embraced memento lockets containing locks if human hairs.
- Kylie Minogue was responsible for popularizing X-Rings.
- Jennifer Lawrence has been spotted wearing intricately gilded braids.
- Taylor Swift has popularized Swarovsky crystal adorned headbands
Handcrafted and Contemporary Hair Jewelry
Hair jewelry has been around since ancient times, with many examples still existing today. Perhaps one of the most widely known types of hair jewelry is the comb which was an important tool for grooming hair in cultures all over the world.
Ancient Egyptians used these carved and decorated combs to groom their oh-so-enviable thick locks. Fortunately, different cultures and trends have passed down through time so that modern makers have a wide array of historical designs and techniques to choose from.
Modern handcrafted hair jewelry is often made with semi-precious materials such as silver or gold, often times combined with shells, beads, and crystals because they are easily incorporated into woven hairstyles. Some designers even use sewing techniques to create shapes around the face out of metal wire – how unique.
Hair accessories not only add a personal decorative touch to our hairstyle but can also be an expression of our personality and mood. Classic pieces are timelessly elegant while contemporary pieces can be bold or chic depending on their design. Handcrafted jewellery can become a part of our signature style – perfect for special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and proms.
Practices for Preserving and Wearing Hair Jewelry
Hair jewelry allows mourners to honor deceased loved ones in a tangible way, even long after they’ve gone. Dating back centuries, the unique craft has been used as a way for families to memorialize and keep loved ones close.
Pre-Victorian times saw archival ornaments made with locks of hair being given between family members as tokens of love. It was once popular for both men and women to wear these styles of jewelry, typically bracelet charms, with strands of hair from their beloved intertwined within the piece.
These keepsakes were usually crafted by family members in memory of lost ones and could be identified by subtle touches like plaited patterns that represented friendship or initials skillfully braided into the locks. Acrostic jewelry, using initials in lieu of words would often be woven together as a meaningful reminder of their life. Popular during Victorian England this art form flourished; necklaces, brooches and lockets would be made with deep sentiment for those who had passed on.
Throughout time different materials have been used to make jewellery out of hair such as spun gold, silver and gold threads. As well having wearings fashioned out of lacquered rocks or velvet etchings bordered with wire work or black enamel borders which are very much sought after these days among vintage collectors due to the worn aged look they take on over time.
Collecting vintage hair jewelry can add an intimate touch to any style wardrobe today while honoring those that have gone before us but still warm our hearts with fond memories when thought about. The best place to start sourcing vintage hair pieces is online sites such as Etsy or eBay which have a wide variety available from all over the world at diverse price ranges so there’s something for everyone regardless of budget size.
Caring for and styling your vintage finds can be done if you are gentle but also conscious not to overdo things since older pieces require extra TLC when getting dressed up for modern days fashionistas. Due to their fragility pieces should always be handled carefully when putting them on and taking them off so as not too misshape them.
Always store your items in clean cloth bags away from moisture, sunlight or any harsh chemicals such dusting sprays that contain harsh air freshener ingredients which can damage metal over time if kept inside closed collections stores too long.
Welcome to my jewelry blog! My name is Sarah and I am the owner of this blog.
I love making jewelry and sharing my creations with others.
So whether you’re someone who loves wearing jewelry yourself or simply enjoys learning about it, be sure to check out my blog for insightful posts on everything related to this exciting topic!
