A Hairy Tale of the Past: Hair Dye Through the Ages
Ever wondered how our ancestors achieved those fabulous hair colours without the convenience of modern-day hair dye? Here we uncover some ingenious ancient hair dye methods that you may not have thought of and will make you appreciate the simplicity of your salon visits today!
Ancient Greece - Lightening Locks with Potassium and Flower Power
In ancient Greece, achieving lighter locks was a serious affair. Forget about lemon juice and sunlight; Greeks would rinse their hair in a potassium solution, followed by rubbing in a pomade made of yellow flower petals and pollen. The Greeks in 4th Century BC were recorded as washing their hair with a special ointment made in Athens and then sitting in the sun to turn their hair golden. Talk about going floral for fabulous hair!
Roman Revelry - Black Hair from Leeches and Vinegar
Picture this: leeches mixed with vinegar to turn hair black. Yes, you read that right! An innovative idea of the ancient Romans to change the colour of hair to black was the use of a mixture of leeches and vinegar, which was to ferment for two months. After this period, the mixture was applied on the head and the Roman had to "happily" sit in the sun and let it absorb the mixture. Now that's what we call commitment to colour!
Egyptian Elegance - The Earliest Henna Haute Couture
Ah, the ancient Egyptians, masters of beauty rituals. Henna, the beloved hair dye of today, has its roots (pun intended) traced back to Ancient Egypt. From Cleopatra to the commoners, everyone coveted that rich red hue. Fun fact: Egyptian mummies have been found with henna-dyed hair, proving that good hair days lasted even in the afterlife!
Chinese Creativity - Brewing Up Black Bean Brilliance
In the land of the ancient Chinese, black beans and yeast weren't just ingredients for cooking – they were the key to achieving beautiful, dark hair. Boiled together and used in brewing vinegar, this peculiar concoction was said to work wonders in colouring hair a rich, lustrous black.
Viking Hair Bleaching - Potash Soap
The Viking culture valued blonde hair and beauty standards of the time mandated a lighter hue. Ever wondered how the Viking warriors maintained their golden locks? Men who had dark hair often used a strong soap which was high in potash to bleach their hair. Some even bleached their beards. An added bonus of the bleaching soap was that it killed head lice.
The next time you're at the salon, take a moment to appreciate the simplicity of modern hair dye methods. After all, when it comes to beauty, there's always more than meets the eye!
Remember, the past may be full of bizarre beauty rituals, but there's no denying that it adds a splash of colour to our lives – quite literally!