Hairstyles of Egypt

Ancient Egyptians adopted Nubian wigs during the Amarna period to mimic short curly hair worn by Nubian tribespeople. These elaborate headpieces signified high social status and were primarily worn by the elite, particularly royal women.

Royal women exclusively wore Nubian wigs in Ancient Egypt.
The style features an exposed nape of the neck.
Wigs took up to 200 hours to craft manually.
Queen Nefertiti likely adopted the look from Nubian soldiers.

Hair in Egypt

Hair served as a key marker of identity in Ancient Egypt, conveying details about gender, age, and rank. During the New Kingdom, complex styles with curls and plaits replaced simpler looks from earlier eras. The Nubian wig emerged as a popular choice, reflecting cultural exchange with neighbouring groups. These wigs were not merely decorative but carried religious and erotic weight. Their design helped observers quickly identify the wearer's position within society. Royal figures frequently displayed these intricate hairstyles in art and daily life.

History

The style gained traction during the Amarna period when Egyptians developed an affinity for Nubian aesthetics. Queen Nefertiti is believed to have adopted the look after seeing it on Nubian soldiers. This shift marked a move away from traditional Old and Middle Kingdom simplicity. Some scholars debate whether layered duplex styles also fall under this category. Regardless, the adoption highlights a broader trend towards more ornate personal presentation.

Styles

Nubian wigs feature short, bushy hair with rows of curls framing the face. A defining trait is the exposed nape of the neck, distinguishing them from shoulder-length alternatives reserved for men. Royal women exclusively wore this specific cut. The construction involved knotting hair onto a mesh base reinforced with beeswax and resin. Artisans spent up to two hundred hours crafting each piece using human hair or wool.

Faith and meaning

These wigs embodied social hierarchy due to their high cost and labour intensity. Only the wealthy could afford such sophisticated craftsmanship. They acted as visual cues for gender, with royal women being the primary wearers. The style also held spiritual significance, linking the wearer to divine or royal authority. By mimicking Nubian tribespeople, the style acknowledged external influences while asserting Egyptian dominance.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Nubian wig", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. EveryHairstyle rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.