Tibetan Hairstyle Guide
Photo by Harrison Forman
Featuring Yuen Shenye, photographed
Photo by Harrison Forman
Photographed by Chapman
Tibetan hairstyle
Symbol of identity
A deeper understanding of Tibetan culture can be achieved through many different fields and perspectives. One unique but important aspect of Tibetan culture is the interpretation of Tibetan hair styles from both an aesthetic and cultural perspective.
Throughout history, people in different regions of Tibet have had varying preferred hair styles that have continued to evolve over time. The choice of hairstyle and the hair itself hold a wealth of complex information that may go beyond our daily understanding.
Tibetan hairstyles are perhaps among the most charming and distinctive in the world's ethnic cultures. In addition to considerations of aesthetics and functionality, different hairstyles in Tibet also reflect a person's marital status, social status, and spiritual pursuits, especially for women.
The law of development of things dictates that traditional customs will inevitably be improved, updated, or even replaced with the emergence of new things. However, as a long-standing aesthetic standard, even as the world changes, the cultural connotations it contains will never dim, and may even become more dazzling with the passage of time, showcasing a whole new meaning.
Noble Paradigm
Through some early images, we can understand the daily attire of Tibetans in earlier times.
Generally, the hairstyle of Tibetan men varies according to the class they belong to. The upper class, consisting of nobles and aristocrats, required their male family members to adopt a specific hairstyle starting from the age of 16. This hairstyle typically involves long hair being tied up into a topknot or bun, adorned with gemstones, primarily turquoise. The topknot would also contain a Ghau box made of gold or silver, used for protection against evil spirits.
Photography: Frederick Spencer Chapman
The hairstyle for men in the middle class is mainly a long braid, with the front hair parted in a slicked back style with hair oil attached to the scalp and split towards both sides. Men in pastoral and ordinary people areas tend to be more casual and free, usually opting for loose hair or a long braid. There are almost no expensive gemstone adornments.
Aesthetic remnants
Of course, the elaborate traditional hairstyles are rarely seen among young Tibetans today. Cultural trends are becoming more homogeneous in the rapid spread of the internet. Historical reasons and social changes have significantly influenced people's actual lives, leading to changes in social structures and cultural customs. As a result, people's concepts and habits have also changed. For both aesthetic and practical reasons in daily life, traditional Tibetan hairstyles are clearly becoming less prominent.
However, the fading functional significance of Tibetan hairstyles, which were once closely linked to daily life, does not diminish their role as an aesthetic, an art, or as a magnificent symbol of Tibetan culture that shines like never before.
Photography: Sodo Abo