Roman Clothing

Roman Hairstyles for Men

The Roman Hairstyles for men changed over the years. In early times the Romans wore their hair long but after the introduction of barbers into Italy about B.C. 300, it became the practice to wear their hair short. A full head of hair was prized by Roman men and Julius Caesar went to great pains to hide his thinning hair. It is said that of all the honors decreed to Caesar by the senate he was best pleased with that of always wearing a laurel crown, because it covered his baldness, which was considered a deformity. The leading figure during the period of the Roman Empire was of course the Emperor and if he adopted a new hairstyle then this was quickly adopted by other Roman men. The Emperor Nero (54-68 CE) adopted elaborate hairstyles with curls framing his face. Roman curling tongs were used for this purpose. Nero set another fashion in hairstyles and started to wear sideburns. The Emperor Hadrian (117-138 CE) was the first emperor to wear a short beard which then became quite common among Roman men. In his later years the Emperor Constantine wore false hair of various colors which was carefully arranged and perfumed. Wealthy Roman men followed his lead and dyed their hair in a variety of dark and light shades and the wearing of wigs also became fashionable.