By the 1980s, perms were common, along with short bobs - always a favorite of Chinese women.īy the late 1990s, hair dye became a significant trend. In the late 1970s, permed hair, such as afros and long permed waves again became trendy. In an essay entitled Records of 19, writer Yang Jiang describes an incident in which half her hair was cut off, giving her a 'yin-yang head', an insulting punishment often used during the 'cultural revolution'.įrom the late 1970s, when China began to implement the reform and opening-up policy, hairstyles became purely a personal choice to demonstrate individuality and aesthetic preferences. Harsh treatment toward 'capitalist-roaders' could also start with their hair. Gu said at that time one braid was seen as feudalistic, two capitalistic, and shoulder-length hair purely revisionism. Women Red Guards cut off their long braids and opted for the movement hairdo to show their revolutionary spirit, as scholar Gu Nong wrote in his article Cultural Revolution and Hair, published in the bimonthly Xun'gen magazine in 2000. Long braids were cut short, and the 'capitalist-style', permed waves, disappeared. When the 'cultural revolution' (1966-76) began, Chen said, 'corrections' started with women's hair. But from 1957 on, in conjunction with several political movements, women cut their hair even shorter, which was often referred to as the 'movement hairdo'. A typical compliment paid to a girl at this time was, 'she has two pigtails that dance to her movements'.Ĭhen said that in the 1950s, many women chose to perm their hair into loose waves. But Chen said that younger women were still in favor of braids, one on each side of the head.

The only sign of individuality was the different hairpins and silk flowers. In the 1950s, a short bob, cut just below the ears, a simple style favored by female communists and soldiers, was widely imitated by Chinese women.Īuthor Chen Mingyuan's book Dress Warmly, Eat One's Fill and Be Well-off, dubbed this style the 'liberation hairdo' as it signified women being liberated and becoming their own master. That same political symbolism carried on to the later years of Republic of China (1912-49) when it was against the law to have pigtails.Įven after the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, hair's complicated relationship with politics did not end. The most typical example was the rebellious Taiping armies who were cursed by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) rulers as 'hairy thieves'. Unshaven heads therefore became a clear sign of dissent. When the Manchu people took national sovereignty, one of the first things they did was to order civilians to shave their heads. In his article The Psychology Behind Chinese People's Hairstyles, published in Beijing Science and Technology Life magazine in 2005, author Zhang Minglu said that in addition to being the symbol of ethnicity and class, hair's foremost function was a declaration of political alignment and a political weapon. In the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), hairdos with different shapes evolved into a symbol of class status. Hair in prehistoric times helped distinguish between the Han people and other ethnic groups, as the former tended to have it bound, while the latter usually grew their long hair to be disheveled.

Significant proof of how seriously people took their hair in ancient times. Compared with other physical punishments this was considered more devastating because it insulted the soul.ĭuring the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), the famed General Cao Cao was spared the death sentence, but instead of losing his head he had his hair cut off as a punishment for disobeying military orders. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), a punishment called kun required sinners to shave their hair and beard.

In ancient times especially, people cherished their hair as a symbol of self-respect. Until as recently as the 1970s, hairstyles were not an easily changeable outlet for personal expression, but a symbol of everything from status and ethnicity, to political ideals. In China, possibly more than in any other culture, hair has long had strong political and social meaning. To describe the significance of China's changing hairstyles is no simple task. Wang Wenlan / China Dailyįrom sinners to stylists, from a famed general to ordinary women, Chinese hairstyles have evolved from symbols of ethnicity, class status and political alignment to an expression of individuality and style. In the 1980s, perms were common, along with short bobs.

Xinhuaįor a long time girls favored braids, one on each side of the head. In the 1950s, a short bob, cut just below the ears, was a simple style widely favored by Chinese women. Young women and their photographer pose in front of a giant photo, which is on display in Wangfujing Street, Beijing, to mark the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up.

Chinese queue hair cut