Hairstylist Unlocks Ancient Roman Hair Secrets

For centuries, scholarly consensus held that the complex, gravity-defying hairstyles of ancient Rome were created using wigs. This long-standing belief has been overturned by Janet Stephens, a professional hairdresser turned "hair archaeology" specialist. Stephens' journey began in 2001 after a museum visit, where her unique perspective as a stylist allowed her to question the academic assumption that wigs were involved in Roman hairdressing.

Stephens dedicated years to both practical experimentation and historical research. Initial attempts to recreate the styles on practice dummies with modern tools proved difficult. However, by delving into academic articles and even deciphering Latin texts using Google Translate, she sought practical insights. In 2005, she identified a crucial clue in the Latin term 'acus', which, beyond meaning 'hairpin,' also translates to 'needle and thread.'

This reinterpretation of 'acus' led Stephens to successfully recreate the ancient hairstyles by sewing braids into place. Her groundbreaking discovery, demonstrating that ancient Romans sewed their hair, was published in the Journal of Roman Archaeology. Her work has been recognized through presentations, including a video at the Archaeological Institute of America in 2012, and she recreated the hairstyle of the Roman Vestal Virgins in 2013. Stephens now shares her expertise on her YouTube channel.