Roman hairstyles: Ancient Roman hair fashions reflecting status and identity

Hairstyles in ancient Rome served as markers of gender, age, wealth and social standing. Complex arrangements and wigs demonstrated cultural sophistication, while specific braids marked religious or marital roles. These styles allow scholars to date portraits and understand Roman societal values.

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Wigs used blonde Germanic and black Indian hair
Bridal hair was parted with a bent iron spearhead
Curling irons caused common hair damage and thinning
Prostitutes dyed hair yellow to signal their profession
Scholars date art by analysing changes in hairstyles

What it is

Roman hairstyles were elaborate expressions of identity, varying by gender, age and class. Women wore long hair arranged in complex braids, buns or towering structures that signalled wealth and leisure. Men typically kept hair short to distinguish themselves from barbarians. Styles included the tutulus bun and the seni crines bridal braid. Wigs and hairpieces added volume or changed colour, while veils and fillets indicated modesty or marital status.

Where it comes from

Barbery arrived in Rome around 209 BCE via Publius Titinius Menas, who brought a barber from Sicily. Before this, most people cut their own hair. The profession flourished during the Imperial period. Hairstyles evolved constantly, with distinct trends in the Flavian and Trajanic eras. Scholars use these changing fashions to date portraits and coinage. The tutulus style originated with the Etruscans in the sixth century BCE.

What it means

Hair indicated social rank, wealth and cultural refinement. Natural styles were associated with barbarians, so Romans preferred artificial complexity to show they could afford time and slaves for grooming. For women, hair was an erotic zone linked to modesty and honour. Specific styles marked rites of passage, such as the bridal seni crines or the loosened hair of mourners. Vestal Virgins wore distinctive six-part braids.

How it is made

Slaves called ornatrices styled hair daily using pins, nets and curling irons known as calamistrum. Hair was wrapped around heated metal cylinders to create curls. Wigs, either full capillamentum or half galerus, were pinned or glued to the head. Braids were divided and plaited, sometimes parted with a spearhead for brides. Dyes made from leeches, saffron or animal fats altered colour.

A drawing made by EveryHairstyle from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real hairstyle.

Who and what it suits

The styles suited any hair texture, as wigs provided volume and length. Long hair was necessary for the intricate updos worn by elite women. Short hair was standard for men. Wigs allowed those with thinning hair to maintain fashionable heights.

Versions

Variations included the tutulus bun, the beehive, and the pillbox shape. Wigs came in blonde Germanic or black Indian hair, sometimes mixed for contrast. Gold dust enhanced natural blond tones. Detachable marble wigs on busts allowed updates without new commissions. Half-wigs acted as padding or toupees attached with pins or leather.

A young woman sits while a servant fixes her hair with the help of a cupid, who holds up a mirror to offer a reflection. Fresco from the Sala di Grande Dipinto , Scene IX (left part) in the Villa de Misteri (Pompeii). — A young woman sits while a servant fixes her hair with the help of a cupid, who holds up a mirror to offer a reflection.. Photo: WolfgangRieger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Antalya Archeological Museum.Perge collections: Statue of Faustina maior ( 2nd century AD ).. Photo: Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Roman hairstyles

Why did Roman women wear such complex hairstyles?

Complex styles displayed wealth and social status. They showed the wearer could afford the time and slave labour required for daily grooming. Natural hair was associated with barbarians, so artificial complexity signified civilised culture and elegance.

What materials were used for Roman wigs?

Wigs were made from human hair, often sourced from conquered peoples. Blonde hair came from Germany and black hair from India. They were attached using pins, glue or sewn onto leather. Some wigs mixed contrasting colours for dramatic effect.

How did Romans curl their hair?

They used a tool called a calamistrum, which consisted of a hollow metal cylinder and a solid inner rod. Hair was wrapped around the inner rod and inserted into the outer cylinder, which was heated in a fire. This process often damaged the hair.

What did the seni crines hairstyle signify?

The seni crines was a hairstyle worn by brides and Vestal Virgins. It involved dividing the hair into six braids. For brides, the hair was parted with a special bent iron spearhead and crowned with flowers, marking a significant rite of passage.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Roman hairstyles", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). 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.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

Roman hairstyles