A Brief Look at Braided Hair
Mothers who are practiced at braiding their daughter's hair love the fact that they can do the child's hair and not worry that at bedtime or bath-time they will face the headache (for the girl, often literal headache) of combing out tangles and snarls.
Or, perhaps, the level of detail and "sophistication" of modern hairstyling techniques is so far removed from the looks achieved by braiding that these older techniques seem immature by comparison. There are many exceptions. Many simple, sophisticated looks are created using braids that both fit any occasion and flatter a woman's face. Yet in spite of this, the opinion that most braiding styles look better on younger women is nearly universal. This was not always the case.
We are all aware that hairstyles have changed throughout history. It is a fact well-documented by paintings, tapestries, and other artwork through the ages. Modern women have the benefit of changing mores and advances in styling technologies that allow them the freedom to wear their hair virtually any way they want. In earlier periods of history, we see that for women, long hair was the custom. Artwork from the Medieval and Renaissance periods show us many women who wore their hair in elaborate braids and styles, with hair that fell well past their hips in most cases.
It should be noted that these styles did not reflect the norm among the populace. Elaborate hairstyles were not to be found among the average woman in the periods, in spite of their prevalence in portraiture artwork from these eras. We, the viewers, must remember that only in very rare cases was a "common" woman ever depicted in an artist's work. Most artists created their pieces when commissioned by wealthy merchants and nobles, and these pieces were usually done to immortalize a favored family member.
Because of this, elaborate and complicated braids would be created and worn for days at a time, which seems less unusual when you consider that women's dresses of the period were usually sewn directly onto the woman with detachable portions such as skirts and sleeves that could be removed for sleeping. Particularly in Medieval periods, braids were the fashion because of the long-wearing nature of the styles. The amount of time required to braid hair that was often several feet long was lessened when the presence of grooming maids is factored in.
As mentioned earlier, women today wear their hair much shorter than in eras of the past. Even the long hairstyles of the modern woman would be less than half the length of what would be considered "long" in ages gone by. Furthermore, modern styling techniques and advanced understanding of the chemistry and physical properties of the hair allow modern stylists to create varied and attractive styles that last without hours of weaving, twisting, and binding the hair into elaborate braided patterns.
It's because of this that most of today's braiding styles are much simpler overall than in previous times. It also accounts for the fact that the basic styling techniques like braiding have been relegated to use on young women and girls for whom chemical services and high-maintenance styles are not suitable.
Just remember, if your hair is long enough for a braided hairstyle, you shouldn't be afraid to wear it. These styles can be practical as well as flattering, and can serve you well in a variety of situations. Do your homework and look at the many intricate styles available in braids, and go for it. You will be pleasantly surprised.
©Hairfinder.com
See also: More about braiding hair
