Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History

Examines the ways in which hair has served as a signifier of class, gender, ethnicity, conformity/non-comfority, authority, and power throughout history. Countless issues and examples are explored in this volume including: hair styles of royalty
wigs worn by lawmakers and judges
ceremonial hairstyles of tribes throughout the world
Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads
hair in the counterculture (including the musical Hair)
skinheads, Mohawks and punk style
the hairstyles of First Ladies
celebrity hairstyles
women shaving their heads to subvert gender and sexuality stereotyping
the entire hair-care industry
the search for a cure to baldness
and diseases and disorders related to hair. Broad topics in this book include hair arrangement/styling
care and cleansing
business and commercial aspects
laws and legal matters
trends and trendsetters
and health and science. An introductory essay explores the universal human interest in hair and hair-styling throughout history and around the world. It is followed by alphabetically arranged entries, each including sources for further reading. This work is highly relevant to the study of class, gender, popular culture, and politics. A lavish set of color and halftone illustrations completes this fun and useful title.