Ancient Egyptian pharaohs rarely displayed their natural hair in public, instead wearing elaborate crowns and headdresses as symbols of divine power.

In Ancient Egyptian society, hair was deeply connected to social status and personal hygiene. While common people wore their hair naturally, royalty and the elite typically maintained shaved heads or very short hair. This practice provided crucial protection against Pediculus humanus capitis, the head louse, which was a persistent problem throughout the Nile Valley. Archaeological discoveries in tombs reveal fine-toothed lice combs crafted from wood or ivory, underscoring the importance of this hygiene concern.The pharaoh was understood as a living manifestation of the god Horus on Earth. To preserve this divine image, they were almost never shown without a royal headdress. The most iconic was the nemes, a pleated linen cloth that covered the crown and back of the head. This distinctive headdress first appeared as early as the Third Dynasty, visible on statues of King Djoser dating to approximately 2650 BCE.Beyond the nemes, pharaohs wore various crowns, including the Pschent, which unified the Red Crown of Lower Egypt and the White Crown of Upper Egypt. These were far more than fashion statements—they represented political authority and the integration of a unified kingdom. By concealing their natural hair, pharaohs cultivated an image of eternal, unchanging divinity that transcended ordinary human characteristics.Paradoxically, while pharaohs themselves were often bald, they frequently donned elaborate wigs made from human hair or sheep's wool during important ceremonies. These wigs were typically coated with beeswax and fragrant oils. This arrangement allowed rulers to maintain an impressive appearance while enjoying the cooling comfort of a shaved scalp beneath, particularly valuable in temperatures that regularly exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.