American Indians have had a distinctive culture since ancient times. Traditions and customs of the tribes were passed down from generation to generation, almost unchanged over the centuries. The characteristic difference between the Indians and the representatives of other peoples of the planet was their hairstyles, which were distinguished by their bright originality and an abundance of forms.
South American Indian hairstyles
Indians of the tribes that inhabited South America before the arrival of Europeans preferred to wear hairstyles reminiscent of the European haircut "under the pot". Making such a work of hairdressing art could be quite simple. For this purpose, a vessel and instrument of a suitable size was used, which in appearance vaguely resembles modern scissors.
If a special cutting device was not at hand, the Indians used other available means. A small torch was used. The master who performed the "haircut" blew through a torch onto the "client's" hair, bordered by a vessel. At the same time, a semblance of a fiery jet appeared, which slightly burned the hair. The assistant at this time, with a wet rag made of palm leaves, diligently moistened the firing sites.
The fire-treated hair was then anointed with aroma formulations.
North American Indians: a hairstyle for a real warrior
Representatives of the ancient Indian tribes inhabiting North America were distinguished by a more significant variety of hairstyles. Long hair was often simply loose over the shoulders. In the hairstyles of men and women, there were bangs, plaits made from temporal locks, as well as pigtails. Hair was often dyed with sap of leaves, herbs and fruits, and then decorated with ribbons, flowers and feathers.
As a rule, the hairstyle was a symbol of belonging to a particular clan or tribe.
Known from adventure novels and films, the Iroquois used to shave most of their heads, leaving only a kind of "comb" in its middle part. For density, such a dress was mixed with feathers or animal hair. Women of the Iroquois tribe wore braids or gathered their hair in a knot.
In some tribes, warriors shaved off almost all the hair on their heads, leaving only the so-called "scalp strand". This hairstyle made it easier for the enemy to remove the scalp from the defeated Indian. The Indians not only considered death in battle honorable, but also in some way took care of their enemy, leaving him the right to receive a well-deserved trophy in the form of a scalp without unnecessary trouble.
Indian hairstyle as an indicator of status
For many Indian tribes, the hairstyle was an indicator of their status in the group. The chiefs and military leaders of the Indians abundantly decorated their hair, most often using feathers for this purpose. By the color, shape and splendor of the feather sultan, one could judge the place that the Indian occupied in his tribe.
Simple warriors and hunters could only afford individual feathers that were woven into pigtails.
A completely shaved head was considered by a number of tribes a symbol of indelible shame. Shaved heads are usually slaves, criminals or divorced wives. For this reason, everyone who once had their heads completely shaved was considered a slave until the end of their days and occupied the lowest level in the social hierarchy.
