Manners & Customs :
Hair Styles
Hair in Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) The Egyptians let the hair of their head and beard
grow
only when they were in mourning, shaving it off at
other times.
"So particular were they on this point that to have
neglected it
was a subject of reproach and ridicule; and whenever
they
intended to convey the idea of a man of low
condition, or a
slovenly person, the artists represented him with a
beard."
Joseph shaved himself before going in to Pharoah
(Gen. 41:14).
The women of Egypt wore their hair long and plaited.
Wigs were
worn by priests and laymen to cover the shaven
skull, and false
beards were common. The great masses of hair seen in
the
portraits and statues of kings and priests are thus
altogether
artificial.
(2.) A precisely opposite practice, as regards men,
prevailed
among the Assyrians. In Assyrian sculptures the hair
always
appears long, and combed closely down upon the head.
The beard
also was allowed to grow to its full length.
(3.) Among the Greeks the custom in this respect
varied at
different times, as it did also among the Romans. In
the time of
the apostle, among the Greeks the men wore short
hair, while
that of the women was long (1 Cor. 11:14, 15). Paul
reproves the
Corinthians for falling in with a style of manners
which so far
confounded the distinction of the sexes and was
hurtful to good
morals. (See, however, 1 Tim. 2:9, and 1 Pet. 3:3,
as regards
women.)
(4.) Among the Hebrews the natural distinction
between the
sexes was preserved by the women wearing long hair
(Luke 7:38;
John 11:2; 1 Cor. 11:6), while the men preserved
theirs as a
rule at a moderate length by frequent clipping.
Baldness disqualified any one for the priest's
office (Lev.
21).
Elijah is called a "hairy man" (2 Kings 1:8) from
his flowing
locks, or more probably from the shaggy cloak of
hair which he
wore. His raiment was of camel's hair.
Long hair is especially noticed in the description
of
Absalom's person (2 Sam. 14:26); but the wearing of
long hair
was unusual, and was only practised as an act of
religious
observance by Nazarites (Num. 6:5; Judg. 13:5) and
others in
token of special mercies (Acts 18:18).
In times of affliction the hair was cut off (Isa.
3:17, 24;
15:2; 22:12; Jer. 7:29; Amos 8:10). Tearing the hair
and letting
it go dishevelled were also tokens of grief (Ezra
9:3). "Cutting
off the hair" is a figure of the entire destruction
of a people
(Isa. 7:20). The Hebrews anointed the hair profusely
with
fragrant ointments (Ruth 3:3; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5;
45:7,
etc.), especially in seasons of rejoicing (Matt.
6:17; Luke
7:46).
https://www.bible-history.com/eastons/H/Hair/
Hair in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Shaved closely by men, worn long by women, in Egypt. The
Hebrew wore long beards; the Egyptians only in mourning did
so. At the same time the Hebrew kept the distinction of
sexes by clipping the hair of men (though hardly so much as
we do; Leviticus 10:6; Hebrew: "let not loose (the hair of)
your heads," not "uncover," etc.), but not of women (1
Corinthians 11:6, etc.; Luke 7:38). The law forbad them to
"round the corners of their heads, or mar the cornners of
the beard"; for the Arabs in honour of the idol Orotal cut
the hair from the temples in a circular form, and in
mourning marred their beards (Leviticus 19:27; Jeremiah 9:26
margin, Jeremiah 48:37). Baldness, being often the result of
leprosy, disqualified for the priesthood (Leviticus 21:20,
Septuagint). (See BALDNESS.)
Absalom's luxuriant hair is mentioned as a sign of
beauty, but was a mark of effeminacy; its weight perhaps was
20, not 200 shekels, the numeral resh (r) having by a
copyist's error been substituted for kaph (k) (2 Samuel
14:26). Nazarites wore it uncut, a sign of humiliation and
self-denial, at the same time of dedication of all the
strength, of which hair was a token, to God (Numbers 6:5;
Judges 13:5; Judges 16:17). Shaving the head was often
practiced in fulfillment of a vow, as Paul did, the shaving
being usually followed by a sacrifice in 30 days (Acts
18:18); probably his vow was made in some sickness
(Galatians 4:13).
Black was the favorite color. Song of Solomon 5:11,
the bridegroom's locks are "bushy" (curled), betokening
headship; Song of Solomon 4:1, the hair of goats in the East
being fine like silk and flowing, the token of the bride's
subjection; Song of Solomon 1:5; Song of Solomon 7:5,
"purple," i.e. glossy black. Ecclesiastes 12:5, "the almond
tree shall flourish." does not refer to white hair on the
old, for the almond blossom is pink, but to the almond (lit.
the wakeful) tree blossoming in winter, i.e. the wakefulness
of old age shall set in. But Gesenius, "(the old man)
loathes the (sweet) almond."
In Song of Solomon 7:5, for "galleries" translated
"the king is held (fascinated) with the flowing ringlets."
The hair was often platted in braids, kept in their place by
a fillet. So Samson's "seven locks" (Judges 16:13; Judges
16:19; compare 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3). Egyptian women
swear by their sidelocks, and men by their beards; the Jews'
imitation of this our Lord condemns (Matthew 5:36). Hair
represents what is least valuable (Matthew 10:30);
innumerable to man, but "all numbered" by God's providence
for His children. "Hair as the hair of women" (Revelation
9:8), long and flowing, a mark of semi-barbarous hosts (1
Corinthians 11:14-15).
https://www.bible-history.com/faussets/H/Hair/
Hair in Naves Topical Bible
Numbered
Mt 10:30; Lu 12:7
-Worn long
By women
Isa 3:24; Lu 7:38; 1Co 11:5,6,15; 1Ti 2:9; 1Pe 3:3; Re
9:8
By Absalom
2Sa 14:26
-Worn short by men
1Co 11:14
-Symbolical dividing of
Eze 5:1,2
https://www.bible-history.com/naves/H/HAIR/
Hair in Smiths Bible Dictionary
The Hebrews were fully alive to the importance of the hair
as an element of personal beauty. Long hair was admired in
the case of young men. 2Sa 14:26 In times of affliction the
hair was altogether cut off. Isa 3:17,24; 15:2; Jer 7:29
Tearing the hair Ezr 9:3 and letting it go dishevelled were
similar tokens of grief. The usual and favorite color of the
hair was black, So 5:11 as is indicated in the comparisons
in So 1:5; 4:1 a similar hue is probably intended by the
purple of So 7:6 Pure white hair was deemed characteristic
of the divine Majesty. Da 7:9; Re 1:14 The chief beauty of
the hair consisted in curls, whether of a natural or an
artificial character. With regard to the mode of dressing
the hair, we have no very precise information; the terms
used are of a general character, as of Jezebel, 2Ki 9:30 and
of Judith, ch. 10:3, and in the New Testament, 1Ti 2:9; 1Pe
3:3 The arrangement of Samson's hair into seven locks, or
more properly braids, Jud 16:13,19 involves the practice of
plaiting, which was also familiar to the Egyptians and
Greeks. The locks were probably kept in their place by a
fillet, as in Egypt. The Hebrews like other nations of
antiquity, anointed the hair profusely with ointments, which
were generally compounded of various aromatic ingredients,
Ru 3:3; 2Sa 14:2; Ps 23:6; 92:10; Ec 9:8 more especially on
occasions of festivity or hospitality. Lu 7:46 It appears to
have been the custom of the Jews in our Saviour's time to
swear by the hair, Mt 5:36 much as the Egyptian women still
swear by the side-locks, and the men by their beards.
https://www.bible-history.com/smiths/H/Hair/
Hair in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
har (se`ar, sa`ar, Aramaic se`ar, and their derivatives;
thrix, gen. case trichos, kome):
1. Hair Fashions:
Hair was worn in different fashions by the Orientals of
Biblical times, and not always in the same way among the
same people in different epochs. We know this clearly from
Egyptian literature and monuments, as well as from the
writings of Greek authors (especially Herodotus), that the
dwellers on the Nile had their heads shaved in early youth,
leaving but a side lock until maturity was attained, when
this mark of childhood was taken away. Priests and warriors
kept their heads closely shaved; nothing but the exigencies
of arduous warfare were allowed to interfere with this
custom. On the other hand, the Hebrew people, like their
Babylonian neighbors (Herod. i.195), affected long and well-
cared-for, bushy curls of hair as emblems of manly beauty.
Proofs thereof are not infrequent in the Scriptures and
elsewhere. Samson's (Jdg 16:13,19) and Absalom's (2 Sam
14:26) long luxuriant hair is specially mentioned, and the
Shulammite sings of the locks of her beloved which are
"bushy (the Revised Version, margin "curling"), and black as
a raven" (Song 5:11). Josephus (Ant., VIII, vii, 3 (185))
reports that Solomon's body-guard was distinguished by
youthful beauty and "luxuriant heads of hair." In the
history of Samson we read of "the seven locks of his head"
(Jdg 16:19). It is likely that the expression signifies the
plaits of hair which are even now often worn by the young
Bedouin warrior of the desert.
2. Hair in Idol Worship:
It is well known that among the surrounding heathen nations
the hair of childhood or youth was often shaved and
consecrated at idolatrous shrines (compare Herod. ii.65 for
Egypt). Frequently this custom marked an initiatory rite
into the service of a divinity (e.g. that of Orotal
(Bacchus) in Arabia, Herod. iii.8). It was therefore an
abomination of the Gentiles in the eyes of the Jew, which is
referred to in Lev 19:27; Jer 9:26; 25:23; 49:32. The Syriac
version of the latter passage renders, "Ye shall not let
your hair grow long" (i.e. in order to cut it as a religious
rite in honor of an idol). It is, however, probable that
among the Jews, as now among many classes of Mohammedans,
the periodical cropping of the hair, when it had become too
cumbersome, was connected with some small festivity, when
the weight of the hair was ascertained, and its weight in
silver was given in charity to the poor. At least, the
weighing of Absalom's hair (2 Sam 14:26) may be referred to
some such custom, which is not unparalleled in other
countries. The use of balances in connection with the
shaving-off of the hair in Ezek 5:1 is certainly out of the
common. See illustration, "Votive Offering," on p. 1302.
3. The Nazirite Vow:
We may also compare the shaving of the head of the Nazirite
to these heathen practices, though the resemblance is merely
superficial. The man who made a vow to God was responsible
to Him with his whole body and being. Not even a hair was to
be injured...
https://www.bible-history.com/isbe/H/HAIR/
Hair Scripture - 1 Corinthians 11:14
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have
long hair, it is a shame unto him?
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/1+Corinthians/11/
Hair Scripture - 1 Corinthians 11:15
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her]
hair is given her for a covering.
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/1+Corinthians/11/
Hair Scripture - 1 Peter 3:3
Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of
plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of
apparel;
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/1+Peter/3/
Hair Scripture - 1 Timothy 2:9
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided
hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/1+Timothy/2/
Hair Scripture - 2 Samuel 14:26
And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end
that he polled [it]: because [the hair] was heavy on him,
therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at
two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/2+Samuel/14/
Hair Scripture - Isaiah 3:24
And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there
shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of
well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding
of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/Isaiah/3/
Hair Scripture - Luke 12:7
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear
not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/Luke/12/
Hair Scripture - Luke 7:38
38 - And stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to
wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs
of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the
ointment.
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/Luke/7/
Hair Scripture - Matthew 10:30
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/Matthew/10/
Hair Scripture - Revelation 9:8
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were
as [the teeth] of lions.
https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/Revelation/9/