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The History of Hair
A woman with fine braids threaded with amber and silver beads against a terracotta wall.

The atlas · 6 regions

Hair is a map of belonging

Lineage, faith, status and resistance — written in braids, wax and razors across the world.

Explore six regions ↓
Back view of a sculpted traditional Japanese updo with a tortoiseshell comb and hairpin.

01

Japan

Shimada mage, bintsuke wax and the tokoyama hairdressers of the sumo stable.

Back view of a man in a blue silk robe with a long single braided queue.

02

China

From Han topknots to the Qing queue and the cutting of 1911.

A woman with fine braids threaded with amber and silver beads against a terracotta wall.

03

West Africa

Yoruba threading, Fulani braids and hair as a map of lineage and status.

Back view of a long black braid wound with white jasmine flowers above a silk sari.

04

South Asia

Oiling rituals, the jasmine-wound braid and temple tonsure offerings.

A woman with braids crowned around her head and woven with bright ribbons.

05

Mexico

Ribboned trenzas of Oaxaca and Frida Kahlo's crown of braids.

Two long dark braids tied with leather beside a feather on a woven blanket.

06

Indigenous Americas

Hopi squash-blossom whorls and braids as living prayer.

All images on this page are AI-generated, anonymous style interpretations made for The History of Hair — not archival photographs or portraits of real people. See image credits.

New in Cultures

Deep dives

Cultures · Japan · Heian period to today

The Chonmage

For two and a half centuries a man's topknot told strangers who he was. Then a government decree told him to cut it off.