Hair as Identity: A Handbook of Tibetan Hairstyles
Different fields and perspectives can provide a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture. The Tibetan hairstyle is a symbol of identity. Aristocratic hair ornaments existed in Tibet during the 19th century. In Lhasa in 1938, Ernst Krause photographed the precious pearl jewelry of the Phalha family. A Tibetan men's headdress featuring Yuen Shenye appears in a photograph. Harrison Forman took two photographs both titled Tibetan Men's Hairstyles, while Chapman photographed hair accessories made of pearl, green turquoise, and coral.
Throughout history, different regions of Tibet have seen shifting preferences in hair styles, which have kept evolving. Viewed aesthetically and culturally, the interpretation of Tibetan hair styles stands out as a unique yet important element of Tibetan culture. Both the hair itself and the choice of style carry a great deal of intricate information, potentially exceeding our everyday comprehension. In the panorama of the world's ethnic cultures, Tibetan hairstyles are perhaps among the most charming and distinctive.
In Tibet, both men and women traditionally wear their hair long, with women's locks typically braided with great care and embellished with colorful gemstones including turquoise, red coral, amber, and agate, along with silver coins, colorful threads, white shells, assorted rings, and ivory rings serving as further adornments. Beyond aesthetics and practicality, however, the various hairstyles found in the region also convey a person's marital status, social standing, and religious aspirations—this holds especially true for women. Photograph by Hank Cao.
In the Changdu region, men generally favor a traditional hairstyle that involves gathering long hair atop the head, often accented by a bright red tuft that winds through the hair or drapes down from the side. This rough, archaic look carries a distinctly local character and dates back a long way. Sources: Pinterest、tibetecotravel. As with all things, traditional practices are bound to evolve—being refined, updated, or ultimately replaced—as new influences arise.
Through certain early photographs, we can observe the everyday clothing worn by Tibetans in past eras. Generally speaking, the hairstyle of Tibetan men differed based on their social rank. Nevertheless, as a lasting aesthetic ideal, even when times change, the cultural significance embedded within it never fades—and with the passage of time, it may shine even brighter, taking on a fresh significance. Photo: Tenzin Samphel Noble Paradigm
From the age of 16, noble and aristocratic families required their male members to wear a specific hairstyle. Typically, their long hair was tied up into a topknot or bun, decorated with gemstones—chiefly turquoise. A Ghau box, made of gold or silver, was also placed inside the topknot as protection against evil spirits.
Photography: Frederick Spencer Chapman. Expensive gemstone ornaments were almost completely absent. Men in pastoral and common people's areas were, on the other hand, more casual and free, usually opting for loose hair or a long braid. For middle-class men, however, the main hairstyle was a long braid, with the front hair oiled, parted, and smoothed back against the scalp so that it divided to either side.
In aristocratic circles, this distinctive hairstyle is generally viewed as a ticket to important government meetings and entry into society's upper class. It is typically paired with a gold earring on the left ear and a long turquoise earring on the right. Should such an official be dismissed and forfeit their position, however, the hairstyle may also be revoked. Photography: Eric Valli
Photographed by Heinrich Harrer, the Haircut Ceremony shows Lhasa aristocrats of the last century. In Tibetan tradition, the vast majority of women are used to braiding their hair, a style that is richly ethnic and exquisitely beautiful. The braiding, however, can be an intricate and tedious process, and the weaving of the hair also possesses unique symbolic meanings.
In the movie stills featuring actress Lhakpa Tsamchoe, the weaving of hair braids centers on meticulous arrangement, with colorful silk threads, coral, turquoise, amber, coins, shells, and other precious ornaments incorporated to heighten the braids' visual richness and opulence. This style reflected a particular fashion among local women of that period while also revealing the owner's economic resources and social position.
In the lives of Tibetan women, the coming-of-age ceremony carries nearly the same weight as marriage. For its preparations, a senior female relative is specifically chosen to help in arranging and adorning the young woman's hair. This role, central to the ceremony, is not one that anyone can assume; the selected relative must be diligent, kind, intelligent, and sincere. Image: Footprints Tours.
The selection typically favors elderly women of good standing, while those with questionable character or troubled marriages are usually not chosen. In addition, the candidate must be strong in both body and mind, with no past injuries or illnesses. The hair styling ceremony often requires a team of several people collaborating for many hours. If the styling is accomplished successfully, the host family may offer substantial rewards to the person in charge.
The appearance of braided hair is not universal among Tibetan women, as the region's enormous geographic spread and the cultural significance behind different styles create considerable diversity. Local traditions and customs lead to markedly different hair choices across communities. In farming areas, women typically keep their hair in a pair of braids for everyday wear. These braids frequently feature colorful threads woven in as distinctive ornaments. They may be left to trail down the back or wrapped around the crown of the head.
In Buddhist culture, the number 108 holds deep symbolic meaning; Tibetans often recite mantras while counting a mala of 108 beads, each bead representing the removal of one of 108 afflictions. This same number is reflected in eastern Tibetan women’s hairstyles, as they commonly choose a specific count like 108 for their multiple braids. In contrast, large, vivid gemstones intricately woven into braids are uncommon, and for festive occasions only a few extra ornaments are added. Image: Mardiana Ika
With the evolution of times and society, people's lifestyles and beliefs have changed markedly from the past. In earlier contexts, a practitioner might use this to attain wisdom and focused concentration, and in a parallel way, a woman who has 108 braids in her hair often signifies spiritual completeness and enlightenment. Particularly in the current era of greater women's rights awareness and rising female status, excessive focus on women's hair and elaborate adornment can make them feel burdened. Image: dailytravelphotos
In the end, society holds men to a far less demanding set of expectations than it does women. By pursuing both spiritual and personal freedom, women are able to move beyond long-established conventions, and the layered symbolism attached to hair becomes less significant in the process (in the Kamba region, for instance, a woman's hairstyle once signified her marital status—an unmarried woman wore a single braid, whereas a married woman wore two or more—and the ornaments she used in her hair could further reveal her economic and social standing).
Sodo Soduo's photograph is titled 'Metaphor of hair.' The Confucian classic Xiaojing asserts, "The body and skin, which we received from our parents, we must not injure or damage; this is the beginning of filial piety." This reveals the significance of hair in traditional Han culture. Similarly, traditional Tibetan culture did not permit casual treatment of hair. Though such customs became widespread under specific historical conditions, evolving eras and social lives gradually alter how tradition is understood in light of new ideas.
In every cultural context, hair carries considerable weight, whether viewed as a core cultural element or a traditional practice. Tibetan culture displays this significance through its widespread emphasis on hair. Unlike Han culture, where hair is tied to filial piety, Tibetans regard hair differently—as a symbol of positive energy, health, vitality, brightness, and prosperity. As a result, both the value placed on hair and the corresponding care given to it are exceptional.
Photography: BetterWorld2010、Rosemary Sheel Hair serves as an important medium in certain special rituals, whether religious or secular. For example, when a newborn baby receives its first haircut, the hair must first be kept safe, just as is customary on the mainland. In Tibetan areas, though, the reverence is valued more than the commemorative aspect. If fetal hair is not handled correctly, Tibetans believe, a child's health, future, and family prosperity may all be affected.
Among the older generation in the Amdo region, a devout tradition concerning hair remains alive. When combing, they gather the hair that falls out and hide it away in a secret spot. Where the hair is concealed matters as well: it ought to be placed in a location holier than ordinary ones—for instance, inside a niche, in a small wall hole, or on a prayer wheel turned clockwise.
In Tibetan areas, fallen hair must never be carelessly thrown away. According to Tibetan folklore, if birds discover and collect such hair to build a nest, the person from whom it fell may turn grey prematurely. This belief reflects the traditional importance placed on hair in Tibetan culture, which is also seen in a practice among some women: they save loose strands and, once a sufficient amount has accumulated, work them into their braids while combing—an aesthetic preference that gives the hair a longer and thicker appearance.
In Tibetan culture, a proverb states, "without skin, how can hair adhere," reflecting the belief that hair serves, to a certain extent, as a direct mirror of one's health. As a result, hair is regarded as an essential element in the treatment of specific illnesses in Tibet. It is also considered improper to discard hair into fire without care, since such an act is perceived as an offense to the deities and could provoke the anger of spirits. In retaliation, the person to whom the hair belongs may be afflicted with disease.
With the internet spreading rapidly, cultural trends are becoming ever more uniform. The intricate traditional hairstyles, meanwhile, are now seldom seen among Tibet's younger generation. Photography: José Jeuland Aesthetic remnants. While such traditional practices may appear implausible when judged by modern standards, they were uniquely Tibetan habits rooted in the beliefs of that time and hold anthropological and sociological significance.
People’s daily lives have been strongly shaped by historical circumstances and social transformations, which have in turn altered social structures and cultural practices. As a result, mindsets and daily routines have shifted as well. Traditional Tibetan hairstyles are now clearly less visible, due to both aesthetic choices and practical needs in everyday life.
Although Tibetan hairstyles once held deep practical importance in daily life, their declining functional role does not undercut their value as an aesthetic, an art form, or a brilliant symbol of Tibetan culture that has never shone brighter. Photography: Sodo Abo. The sight of streets full of people wearing traditional Tibetan hairstyles brought comfort to many, and it is reassuring that some from the older generation remain committed to preserving these traditional styles.
Cultural memory is embedded in hairstyles. Today, amidst the thriving tourism sector, Tibetan hairstyles, clothing, and other facets of everyday life are certain to serve as a distinctive charm of Tibetan culture, enticing individuals worldwide to converge on the plateau to admire, witness, and experience.