Inall cultures and throughout history hair has had a specialsignificance. In ancient Egypt, as long ago as 1500 BC, the outwardappearance expressed the person’s status, role in society andpolitical position. Wigs played an important role in this: they werecrafted with great artistry and often sprinkled with powdered gold.

In the 8th century BC,the pre-Roman Celts in Northern Europe wore their hair long. In a manit was the expression of his strength, in a woman of her fertility.The idea of long hair as a symbol of male strength is even mentionedin the Bible, in the story of Samson and Delilah. Samson was a leaderof the Israelites. His long hair, which he never cut, gave himsuperhuman powers. The only person who knew his secret was Delilah.However, she spied for the enemy and betrayed him. One night she cutoff his hair and thus robbed him of his strength.

In the classical Greek period,curly hair was not only the fashion, but it also represented anattitude towards life. Curls or locks were the metaphor for change,freedom and the joy of living. The ancient Greek word for curls andlocks is related to intriguing and tempting someone.

Hair is also used as a symbol ofopposition. The punk protest movement today uses hair as a symbol ofdisapproval of the “middle-class, conventional lifestyle” bywearing provocative haircuts and shockingly colored hair. A differentform of objection could be seen in the women’s hairstyles in the1960s. Women’s liberation was expressed in a short-cut, straightand simple hairstyle which underlined equality with men withoutneglecting female attributes. To this day hair has kept itsimportance as a symbol of power, youth, vitality and health.