{"id":1998,"date":"2024-10-14T06:00:53","date_gmt":"2024-10-14T06:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lnb.pgm.mybluehost.me\/website_d4a54302\/?p=1998"},"modified":"2025-01-25T21:24:50","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T21:24:50","slug":"ancient-egyptian-hair-gel-the-secrets-of-egyptian-mummy-hairstyles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/ancient-egyptian-hair-gel-the-secrets-of-egyptian-mummy-hairstyles\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancient Egyptian Hair Gel | the Secrets of Egyptian Mummy Hairstyles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For centuries, the mysteries of ancient Egypt have fascinated historians and scientists alike. From the pyramids to elaborate burial customs, the ancient Egyptians left a legacy of innovation and cultural sophistication. Now, thanks to new research, a surprising revelation has emerged that takes us closer to the personal grooming habits of this enigmatic civilization: the use of what could be described as ancient Egyptian hair gel<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Plates 81a\u2013b: 3D CT scan of the mummy\u2019s head revealing intricate hair preservation in both frontal (a) and left profile (b) views, showcasing the possible use of ancient Egyptian ‘hair gel’ to maintain the hairstyle during mummification.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Plates 81a\u2013b: 3D CT scan of the mummy\u2019s head revealing intricate hair preservation in both frontal (a) and left profile (b) views, showcasing the possible use of ancient Egyptian ‘hair gel’ to maintain the hairstyle during mummification.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Preserving More Than the Body<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we think of mummification, images of bandaged bodies wrapped tightly in linen come to mind, the ancient Egyptians\u2019 method of preserving the deceased for the afterlife. However, a recent study has shed light on an often-overlooked detail in the mummification process \u2014 the treatment of hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While bodies were carefully preserved using a variety of materials, it turns out the hair of ancient Egyptians received a special touch, one that points to the use of fatty substances akin to modern hair gel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The mummy of Sitre-In (KV60 B),
the wet nurse of Queen Hatshepsut.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Science Behind the Discovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Researchers analyzed hair samples from mummies dating back to the late Ptolemaic-Roman period (about 300 BCE \u2013 300 CE) from the Dakhleh Oasis in Egypt. Using advanced techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and microscopy, they discovered that the hair of these mummies was coated in a fatty substance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the resinous materials used to embalm the body, this fat-like coating appears to have been specifically applied to the hair, possibly to preserve hairstyles in the afterlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also read:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n