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Class Handout- Roman Hair Dressing



Another Class Handout. This class is typically hands on and we demonstrate creating these hairstyles using this as a reference tool and for notes. I discovered Roman hair dressing while living in Arizona and playing in the SCA. There were many events where even indoors it was too hot to function with more than a sheet on. I learned a bit more about ancient and imperial Roman clothing and hair dressing as a way to beat the heat. One of the most fascinating rabbit holes I have fallen down in recent years is how many of the styles reappear during the Italian Renaissance.






Imperial Roman Hair Dressing


The Honorable Lady Isabelle de Calais


Tudorrevolution.blogspot.com





During the later periods of the Roman Empire women were dressing their hair in elaborate hairstyles. In the capitol the Hair Styles could change quickly among the elite depending on political situations, etc. This class is meant to be an introduction to basic techniques used in Roman hairdressing.





Tools of the trade





“Dirty Hair”- Many popular shampoos we used today are mean to achieve modern straight silky hair styles. To make your life easier when creating period looks use products without silicone and parabens. My favorite shampoos to use prior to period hair are from Lush Cosmetics. If you are using shampoos with those ingredients in them please don’t wash your hair for a day or two prior to styling to let your hair regain texture.


Combs and Brushes- Often made of wood or bone. Double sided combs could be used for detangling hair using larger teeth, and keeping the scalp clean with finer teeth.





Bodkins and needles- bodkins are just a fancy name for large blunted needles or sticks used to partition and sew the hair. Often made of bronze, bone, or wood.


Tapes and thread- Many of these styles are stabilized as sewn hairstyles using bodkins and one of these mediums to secure the hair.


False hair- Many women in ancient Rome had false hair to create elaborate hairstyles. The state often condemned this as a wasteful, vain practice in times of hardship.


Accessories- Roman women loved to adorn their hair with ornate hair sticks and pins. Materials ranged from wood and bone to fine metal work. A Palla, was also often draped over the head hiding the hair.





Techniques Discussed


Separating hair


Binding edges of hair plaits


Sewn Hair panels


Furthering your research





Further Reading


Laing, Jennifer. Art and Society in Roman Britain. Sutton Publishing 2000.


Boston Museum of Fine Art. Pompeii AD 79: Volume 1.1978


Janet Stephens the Hair Archeologist Youtube channel


Lush Cosmetics www.lushusa.com





Styles





Lucilla (164-169). Aureus, 7.17 g, Rome. LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F. Draped bust right. / VOTA PVBLI – CA in three lines within a garland. RIC 790; BMC 327; Calicó 2219a; Coh. 97. NAC 11, Zurich 1998, 455. About EF





A Roman Marble Portrait Head of a Girl, Trajanic or early Hadrianic, first quarter of the 2nd Century A.D. Sotheby’s Auction House





Marble portrait of an elderly woman, late 1st c. BC, from Palombara Sabina, Italy. University of Texas.





Vibia Sabina, wife of Hadrian, Vienna Kunsthistorisches Museum. (88-137 AD)





Roman marble of a Flavian woman, 90-100 CE Louvre Museum





Period: Mid Imperial, Severan. Date: A.D. 193–196. Culture: Roman. Medium: Gold. Dimensions: 13/16 × 1/8 in., 7.3g (2 × 0.3 cm, 7.3g). Classification: C… Metropolitan Museum of Art








Vibia Sabina (83–136/137) was a Roman Empress, wife and second cousin, once removed, to Roman Emperor Hadrian. She married Hadrian in 100.

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