The dressing and decoration of hair by human beings is as old as civilization itself. Even in the very earliest times women had combs. In fact, the most primitive people somehow managed to make combs of one kind or another, of wood, bone, and metal.

But what about hair styles? It is a curious thing to notice how important the style of hair worn by men and women has been down through the ages. Savage tribes in all parts of the world have developed peculiar hair styles which have great significance for them. The Chinese originally wore their hair in a knot at the top of the head. But when the Manchu conquered their country, they were forced to wear the pigtail as a sign of slavery. Eventually this style became popular among the Chinese and they kept it.