Egyptian women loved showing off and even back during ancient times they were known for their looks and locks, so much some say they’re the inspiration behind today styling products.

Not just the pyramids, everything about Egyptians is awe-inspiring and they’re studied a lot around the world. Egyptian women perfected the art of styling their hair and even back then, used wigs.

Do you know they even used extensions? Surprising isn’t it? But they weaved in the extensions into their hair and braided it or even attached them to their original hair using beeswax and resins. The wigs were to protect their hair and scalp from scorching sun and lice, whereas the extensions were for styling or for lengthening their hair.

Henna – Redheads have a reputation and it appears Egyptians were partial to that color. They loved sporting red hair and used Henna to dye their hair red naturally.

Oils & Resin – Fir resin was applied to scalp to promote hair growth, where as oils were used to condition and promote hair growth. Egyptians relied a lot on oils for their hair care.

They used a combination of oils usually Castor Oil, Almond Oil and Rosemary Oil for long and strong hair. This mixture is also said to condition hair and leave it soft, silky and smooth.

Aloe – Aloe Vera ranked very high among the preferred ingredients for beauty and hair care with Egyptians. Aloe Vera was used widely and in a variety of recipes or methods for hair care.

Citrus Fruits – Citrus Juice and Water were used to wash hair back then. The citric acid broke down the oils and sealed their follicles after cleansing. Their long hair stands testimony to the fact that their hair care regimen was one of the best.

Hair Masks – Egyptians used hair masks for different purposes. The ingredients chosen varied according to the purpose. The most commonly used hair mask was made of Olive Oil and Coconut Milk. Do you know a paste made of Lettuce Leaves and Fenugreek Seeds was widely used for hair and scalp care?

Hair Setting – Did you think setting hair is a new concept? Apparently, Egyptians used beeswax to set their hair after styling. After applying beeswax they exposed it to sun to help set and dry. Not just beeswax, Shea and Cocoa butters were also used to hold hair in place, sometimes combined with Coconut Oil. They prepared a natural version of what we use as hair gel today using these ingredients!

Hair Straightening – Apparently this is not a new concept either!  A mixture of Honey and Castor Oil was used to straighten and repair hair. Cleopatra is known to have used this mixture widely.

Animal Fats & By Products – Animal fats were a big part of their hair care routine, especially to counter baldness. Oils from crocodile, hippopotamus, goats, snakes and even lions were used to care for their hair. They also used hair oil with animal blood in them believing it could darken graying hair – they believed the dark pigment from blood will transfer from hair when boiled with their oils.

They worried about their looks and wanted to look their best, at all times. They were not only regal but also looked seductive and flawless. They adopted extensive rituals and methods to preserve their looks and locks and these are just a few methods they used that are still valid and fairly practiced to some extent albeit with modifications today.

We will also be exploring other hair care methods from around the world and intriguing ancient practices to get a look into the lives of our ancestors. Until then, use our Vitamins Argan Oil for Hair Care and Scalp Care Range of Products for stunning locks.