Humans & Hair - A Brief History

“…Why does the human female grow such ridiculously long tresses? In an ancient, tribal world, such an exaggerated, swishing cape of hair would prove to be a serious encumbrance, reminiscent of a peacock’s tail. What was the evolutionary advantage of such an excessive development?”
- Desmond Morris, Human Behaviorist

Excessive, indeed. While Desmond Morris offers no definitive answers as to why we humans evolved long hair on our heads, the most likely explanation is that it acts as a “species flag,” or a way to distinguish humans from other species.

Humans’ distinct hair pattern makes sense when you consider that human beings tend to be highly visual and there was a need, early on in the evolutionary process, to distinguish humans from other (long gone) “close relatives.”

On top of that, within the human race hair serves as a differentiator between men and women. Men have dark facial hair while women do not. Why? Most likely because human females evolved to physically look more childlike, and children do not have dark facial hair.

This concept of “neoteny” (possessing childlike characteristics) may also explain the fascination with blonde hair. Blonde hair is naturally much more common in children than in adults, thus, having blonde hair tends to connote youth.

For almost as long as we know, lightening hair has been a major industry. So much so that at times the bleaching of hair has become associated with exaggerated displays of femininity – in ancient Rome, for example, prostitutes were required by law to wear blond hair!

Blonde hair is not the only hair that has been regulated by law. Whether consciously or subconsciously, hair is a powerful sexual signal and exhibiting it has often been prohibited or regulated. From mild social conventions, like hat-wearing in church, all the way to extreme ones like strict laws requiring women to hide their hair under head coverings (or even shave it!), hair concealment has a long history.

And so does hair decoration, styling and ornamentation. For as long as we know, hair has been bound, braided, brushed and styled. Even Stone Age carvings show distinct hairstyles.

Hair invites more experimentation than any other part of the human body precisely because it can be altered so easily and to such extreme effect. Hair can be enlarged (teasing, perming, moussing, and wearing wigs) or it can be minimized (braiding, binding, and cutting) to achieve completely different looks.

And these different looks can project different images. Long, loose, flowing hair can connote freedom, sexuality and femininity, while short, close-cropped hair can signal restraint, control or masculinity. Of course these stereotypes are not universal, but most would agree that they have a basis in reality.

So what do you want your hair say about you?