When we picture the Middle Ages, it’s easy to get swept up in tales of knights and castles, but the real magic lies in the details—especially the hairstyles. Medieval hair wasn’t just about looks; it told stories of status, romance, and rebellion. These styles turned heads in royal courts and village squares alike.
We can still draw inspiration from those centuries-old trends. Whether we’re dreaming of intricate braids or dramatic veils, medieval hairstyles offer a touch of timeless elegance that’s hard to resist. Let’s explore how these ancient looks can add a bit of old-industry charm to our modern lives.
Exploring the Origins of Medieval Hairstyles
Medieval hairstyles started as clear markers of status and identity across Europe. People from noble families favored complex braids and elaborate arrangements, signaling their rank and wealth with every strand. Villagers and working-class citizens often kept hair practical with simple plaits and head coverings because comfort mattered as much as modesty.
Ecclesiastical influence shaped how many people, especially women, styled their hair. Religious leaders promoted veiled hair as a sign of virtue, so we often see paintings from the 12th and 13th centuries depicting married women covering their heads with wimples and veils. Social customs sometimes required unmarried girls to wear their hair long and loose at festivals, contrasting the covered styles of their married counterparts.
Regional traditions blended over time, driven by trade routes and crusades. Hairstyles that began in the courts of France and England soon found their way to the streets of Italy and Scandinavia. Monarchs and their courts set trends, and craftsmen started designing jeweled pins and decorative nets known as cauls, which women wore to add a touch of elegance and complexity.
Weather and resources influenced which styles survived. In colder climates, people turned to woolen headgear and thick braids for warmth and practicality, while Southern Europe saw lighter, loosely woven styles prevail. Over centuries, these adaptations gave us the diverse and iconic medieval hairstyles that still captivate us today.
Identifying Popular Medieval Hairstyles for Women
Let’s explore the standout looks that defined women’s medieval fashion. Each style came with unique cultural meanings and visual appeal we still admire today.
The Braided Crown
We see braids woven into striking designs that wrap elegantly across the head. Aristocratic women often created double braids, with each side carefully sectioned and shaped into symmetrical crowns. Sometimes, smaller accent braids highlighted the main crown or lined the hair’s center part for a graceful finish. People in all classes admired the braided crown, often tucking thin ribbons or gold bands through the braids for extra status.
The Veiled Updo
Nothing signaled marital status more than the veiled updo. Married women pinned their hair in neat updos, covering them with veils secured by circlets or metallic bands. Veils ranged from plain linen to fine embroidered pieces, while colorful hairnets and white fillets added prestige. Wearing a veil in public clearly marked a woman’s social and marital position—especially once chinstraps and fillets entered the picture.
The Plaited Bun
Tradition saw long hair split into two plaits, then coiled and pinned flat into a bun around the head’s crown. We often spot silk or metal tags fastening the plait ends, turning these buns into decorative, stable shapes. Many concealed their plaited buns under practical wimples or hooded cloaks when privacy or modesty required it, making this look deeply versatile.
Loose Tresses with Ribbons
Some women let waves fall free, especially in youth or festive settings. Loose tresses often began with a sharp center part, since exposing the forehead was considered high fashion. Ribbons, beads, or even tiny braids slipped through long hair as subtle decoration. Occasionally, women would shave their hairlines to make their foreheads appear even larger, boldly chasing the era’s preferred beauty ideal.
Uncovering Iconic Medieval Hairstyles for Men
Let’s explore how men’s hairstyles in the Middle Ages told just as much about status, practicality, and fashion as women’s looks did. From the functional to the symbolic, these styles helped shape the identities of everyone from knights to monks.
The Pageboy Cut
This classic cut stayed popular between 1000 and 1300. We’d see men sporting moderate-length hair, usually curling right at the neck. Picture a clean line that curves inward near the collar, making it as functional as it was easy to maintain. Knights, scholars, and townsfolk wore this style, since it balanced fashion with everyday ease.
The Shoulder-Length Waves
Waves reaching the shoulders came into style in the late 1400s, especially in places like Venice and Florence. A style called the “zater” or “frisette” became all the rage. Imagine men’s hair covering the ears, ending right at the shoulders, and finished with a tidy rolled-under bang. Artists and merchants often favored this look. It brought a touch of Italian flair to medieval cities striving for sophistication.
The Tonsure
Clergy and monks distinguished themselves with a very different style. Many shaved the crown of their heads, keeping only a ring of longer hair around the sides and back. We recognize this as the tonsure. This wasn’t just about fashion — it served as a religious symbol, instantly marking someone’s spiritual devotion. You wouldn’t find this look among regular townsfolk, but it was essential in abbeys and monasteries.
The Knight’s Crop
Short hair ruled battlefields and courts alike by the 1400s. We call this the “Knight’s Crop”—sometimes seen as a cropped bowl cut. Men’s hair was clipped high above the ears with everything below closely shaved, making helmets more comfortable and daily life less tangled. Everyone from kings to commoners, including children across England, Germany, and France, adopted this no-nonsense style. It reflected shifting attitudes, where practicality joined hands with clean lines and status.
Highlighting Accessories in Medieval Hairstyles
Accessories weren’t just finishing touches—they brought meaning, class, and artistry to medieval hairstyles. Social rank and personal taste often shaped which items we’d find adorning a braid or updo.
Decorative Hair Combs
People used decorative hair combs all across medieval Europe for both style and function. Crafted from bone, wood, or sometimes metal, these combs kept hair tidy while displaying personal flair. Many featured carved designs or had colored elements tucked into the teeth. Nobles might show off combs decorated with precious metals, while commoners preferred simpler wooden versions for their daily routines.
Ornate Hair Nets and Cauls
Noblewomen loved ornate hair nets and cauls, turning practical hair coverings into artful statements. Nets made from fine silk, gold wire, or even silver thread often glimmered over carefully braided styles. Cauls hugged the head, sometimes lined with colored fabrics or pearls, protecting hair while advertising status. Women wore these over buns or plaits to keep strands elegant throughout the day, especially for court events or religious gatherings.
Jewelled Circlets and Fillets
Jewelled circlets and fillets topped many high-status looks, acting as both accessories and markers of importance. Royals and noblemen wore intricately designed bands set with gems, pearls, or enameled motifs. Women often paired these with veils, transforming ordinary hairstyles into symbols of wealth and family prestige. During ceremonies, we’d see elaborate arrangements featuring multiple fillets layered above ribboned braids or twisted locks, highlighting just how much value society placed on hair’s presentation.
Understanding the Social Significance of Medieval Hairstyles
Medieval hairstyles weren’t just about style—they marked our place in society and quietly told others who we were. Each choice we made with our hair communicated messages about our class, faith, and personal situation.
Indicating Class and Status
Among the upper classes, every hairstyle became a statement. Nobles and aristocrats often chose elaborate styles: detailed braids, custom wigs, and headpieces crafted with beads, ribbons, or fine fabrics. These features weren’t affordable or sensible for daily labor, sending a clear message about wealth and privilege.
For commoners, basic and practical styles reigned. We see men with simple cuts and women with loosely tied hair, showing they lacked both leisure and resources for extravagance. The gap in complexity and ornamentation between social groups highlighted the hierarchy in public and private spaces.
Signifying Marital and Religious Roles
Marriage and faith played huge roles in shaping our hairstyles. Unmarried women typically wore their hair loose or fashioned it in unadorned braids, signaling their availability and youth. As soon as a woman married, her hair might be braided more elaborately or covered with veils and wimples—a visual sign of her new social status and expected modesty.
Inside religious circles, distinct looks emerged. Monks adopted the tonsure, shaving the crown and leaving a band of hair, to express humility and spiritual focus. Nuns covered their hair completely, using veils or wimples, emphasizing both modesty and religious devotion. Every hair arrangement, from a knight’s cropped cut to a cleric’s shaved head, reinforced our collective values and the intricate web of medieval life.
Learning How to Recreate Medieval Hairstyles Today
Bringing medieval hairstyles into our routines is easier than we might think with just a few simple techniques and the right accessories. Let’s break down exactly how we can transform our look with authentic braids and period-inspired adornments.
Step-by-Step Braiding Techniques
We always start with a clean, central parting to create that signature medieval foundation for our style. Next, we divide our hair into two even sections, because symmetry is key to achieving an authentic look. For most medieval looks, we braid each section into long, even plaits using a classic three-strand technique or, if we want more detail, we try something intricate—medieval women loved complex styles for festivals and important gatherings. Once we finish braiding, we take each plait and carefully coil it around our head, mimicking those regal, crown-like arrangements popular among noblewomen in the Middle Ages. We use silk or metal tags to secure the ends, as women of all classes did, with the choice of material reflecting either nobility or practicality. Finally, we adjust the braids to keep everything neat, making sure nothing peeks out under our headwear—just as women did to maintain modesty and style.
Choosing Modern Accessories with Medieval Flair
For that extra touch of authenticity, we add accessories that bring old-industry charm to today’s styles. Headbands and wimples work beautifully for recreating the covered looks married women wore, especially if we pick fabrics like linen or silk for that period-perfect touch. Sometimes, we try hairnets or cauls, since both options were just as common in medieval times and instantly transform a basic bun into something more historically inspired. If we want something elaborate, using a caul decorated with small vials or ribbons gives our hairstyle a courtly vibe, perfect for events or themed parties. We don’t forget to secure wandering wisps with metal or silk tags, just as medieval women did for both function and flair. Hair pins tucked in place keep everything secure, helping us maintain that neat, modest medieval appearance—no matter how modern the occasion.
Conclusion
Medieval hairstyles offer us a fascinating glimpse into the past while providing endless inspiration for our own style journeys. By experimenting with braids, veils, and decorative accessories, we can channel a sense of history and individuality that never goes out of fashion.
Let’s celebrate the creativity and meaning behind these iconic looks as we find new ways to make them our own. Whether for daily wear or special occasions, medieval hairstyles remind us that beauty and self-expression truly stand the test of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role did hairstyles play in medieval society?
Hairstyles in the Middle Ages were more than fashion statements; they reflected social status, marital status, religious values, and even acts of rebellion. The way someone wore their hair could signal their place in society, faith, and personal identity.
What were some popular medieval hairstyles for women?
Popular styles for women included the Braided Crown, often with ribbons or gold bands; the Veiled Updo, signifying marital status; the Plaited Bun, typically covered by wimples; and Loose Tresses adorned with ribbons for a more relaxed look.
How did men’s hairstyles indicate status or occupation?
Men’s hairstyles varied by class and profession. The Pageboy Cut was popular among knights and townsfolk, the Shoulder-Length Waves among artists, the Tonsure among monks, and the Knight’s Crop among various social classes for practicality and status.
What accessories were used in medieval hairstyles?
Medieval hairstyles featured accessories like decorative combs, ornate hair nets and cauls, jeweled circlets, fillets, and veils. These were not just decorative—they also signaled wealth, marital status, and personal taste.
Did religious and marital status affect medieval hairstyles?
Yes, both played a significant role. Married women often covered their hair with veils or wore elaborate styles, while unmarried women typically wore their hair loose or in simple braids. Religious figures had distinctive styles, like the tonsure for monks.
Can medieval hairstyles be recreated with modern tools?
Absolutely! Modern braiding techniques, headbands, hair nets, and decorative clips can help recreate medieval styles. Using simple techniques and accessories, anyone can achieve a medieval-inspired look suitable for today’s fashion.
Were medieval hairstyles influenced by regional and cultural factors?
Yes, regional traditions, available resources, and cultural exchanges all influenced medieval hairstyles. Monarchs set trends, while local craftsmen created region-specific accessories, resulting in a wide diversity of iconic hair fashions across Europe.
Why are medieval hairstyles still influential today?
Medieval hairstyles offer timeless elegance and unique inspiration for modern fashion. Their intricate designs, rich history, and symbolic meanings provide fresh ways to enhance contemporary looks and express individuality.
Where can I find tutorials to try medieval hairstyles at home?
There are many online resources and video tutorials that offer step-by-step guides for medieval braids, buns, and more. Start with basic three-strand braids and gradually incorporate accessories for authentic, eye-catching results.
