Studies have found that hair extensions date back to around 3400 BC in Egypt. Ancient female remains and investigations discovered by Archaeologists show that sheep’s wool was meticulously braided into their real hair. Was Cleopatra the first celebrity to wear hair extensions? It's possible!
Ancient Egypt
For ancient Egyptians, appearance indicated a person's status in society. They considered thicker hair to be ideal, so hair extensions were used to enhance one's appearance. Wigs were used mostly for special occasions, such as ceremonies or banquets. During this time, wigs were made from human hair, vegetable fibers, or sheep's wool and were either braided into the hair or attached using beeswax.
Europe and America, 18th Century
Hair extensions among European and American women developed in the 18th century and gave way to powdered wigs. These white powdered wigs, called Perukes, were highly fashionable amongst both women and men. During this time, Perukes were not only made with human hair but were also made out of hair from various animals such as horse, yak, goat, and sheep hair.
19th Century
By the 19th century, Victorian women wore big voluminous hair, often curling the front hair that covered the forehead which was an elegant, highly coveted hairstyle known as the “Pompadour”. In order to achieve this look, hair extensions were needed to achieve the volume desired. Small round faces were also in vogue during this time, therefore women would pull their hair forward to cover their forehead which gave the appearance of a round face as much as possible. Because of this, long hair became very popular and the demand for hair extensions were very high.
20th Century
In the 1950's, at a time when women studying anything to a higher level were few and far between, Christina Mae Jenkins graduated from Leland College in Louisiana with a Science degree. Upon graduation, while working with a wig manufacturer, she figured out an alternative method of attaching hair without the use of chemicals or heat. In 1952, Jenkins was granted a patent for the idea of attaching the hair to a net and then sewing the hair to the client's head using cornrows as a base, which is now commonly referred to as a weave.
When Christina Jenkins died at the age of 82 in 2003, the late Ohio US Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones commended Jenkins for her invention, calling her “a pioneer in the field of cosmetology” and her invention of the hair weave a “revolutionary contribution” that has “helped to boost the self-esteem of men and women across the world”. Needless to say, this installation method is still used to this day and further popularized hair extensions.
Present Day
Hair extensions have evolved significantly since the days of Ancient Egypt. There are more installation methods and color choices than ever before, while the science behind high-quality hair extensions are continuously improving.
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