A
hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on
the human scalp. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of
personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural,
and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles.[1] The
oldest known depiction of hair braiding dates back about 30,000 years.
In ancient civilizations, women's hair was often elaborately and
carefully dressed in special ways. In Imperial Rome, women wore their
hair in complicated styles. From the time of the Roman Empire[citation
needed] until the Middle Ages, most women grew their hair as long as it
would naturally grow. During the Roman Empire as well as in the 16th
century in the western world, women began to wear their hair in
extremely ornate styles. In the later half of the 15th century and on
into the 16th century a very high hairline on the forehead was
considered attractive. During the 15th and 16th centuries, European men
wore their hair cropped no longer than shoulder-length. In the early
17th century male hairstyles grew longer, with waves or curls being
considered desirable.
